Paul Tasca's Blog

Paul Tasca's Blog

Paul Tasca  //  

May 12 / 4:10am

Graduation, Occupation, Generation, Refrigeration

Warmer greetings,

 After a very snowy winter, spring has finally arrived in Eastern PA and I’m jazzed!  May and June are exciting months! Consider some of the significant events of spring.

Graduation from college, high or tech school occurs.

Occupational decisions for recent high school and college grads are pondered and finalized.

Generational differences between potential employers and young job seekers become more apparent.

Refrigeration is responsible for the ice surfaces on which the National Hockey League’s 2 month long extravaganza the Stanley Cup playoffs (my favorite sporting event) takes place.

Perhaps you’re wondering what on earth does refrigeration and hockey have to do with graduation, occupation and generation?  Well aside from rhyming nicely, and being my favorite sport, ice hockey is a great simile to illustrate some of the challenges and harsh realities that recent graduates will face as they attempt to get jobs this spring.

Successful ice hockey players recognize that in order to be an effective player you must be willing to be knocked down repeatedly and have the willingness to get back up and re focus on playing your position without letting the knock downs become discouraging or distracting.  There is only one puck and there are twelve players who seek to gain control of that same puck.

So too must recent graduates who are seeking jobs in our restraining economy be prepared for some job and career knockdowns that will inevitably require them to pick themselves  up off the ground, dust themselves off and get back in the job search game.  Additionally, there are many other recent graduate candidates competing for the same job just as the 12 ice hockey players pursue a 1 inch by 3 inch frozen rubber puck.

Those who are fortunate enough to land jobs will likely find that their personal beliefs, habits and expectations may not mesh with many of the older individuals with whom they will work and to whom they will report. The majority of these differences in job, performance and communication expectations can be directly attributed to the attitudinal differences that exist among the three primary generations; baby boomers, generation X ers and the incoming Millennial or generation Y’ers that make up our modern day workforce.

If you were born after 1980, you are a member of the Millennial Generation often referred to as Generation Y.  Most businesses are run and managed by persons who are from either the Baby Boomer Generation (born 1946-1964) or Generation X (born 1965-1979). Each generation has its own tendencies, beliefs and behaviors. 

For example Baby Boomers are often driven to succeed and often practice a “live to work” mind set. Boomers typically have a need to please bosses, family and friends. Boomers are typically passionate about participation and expect a spirit of achievement and accomplishment in the workplace. 

Generation Xer’s grew up as children with baby boomer parents and often had to learn to take care of themselves while their parents were out working long hours and likely climbing the corporate ladder. Accordingly, Gen Xer’s saw their parents working long hours and sacrificing their free time and made a choice not to follow in their footsteps.  Gen Xer’s view work differently than boomers and though they are willing to work hard they want to do so on their own terms.  Xer’s consider work as a means to and end not the end all. Gen Xer’s are the first generation that had to deal with a 60% divorce rate and consequently have become skeptical, self reliant, and unimpressed with traditional authority.  Gen Xer's have a tendency to practice a communication style that can be brutally honest and can hinder their ability to build and cultivate relationships with those who are put off by their direct approach. 

Generation Y (the Millennials) are sometimes referred to as the Echo generation or echo boomers, as they often bear some resemblance to their boomer parents.  Many boomer parents felt guilty about the way that gen Xer’s were raised and made a conscious decision to spend more time with their Gen Y children.  Consequently Gen Y’s were surrounded by parental sponsored activities and involved in youth sports, camps, family vacations, music lessons etc.  Millennials tend to have close relationships with their parents, sometimes to the frustration of their employers as some Millennials have actually brought their parents to job interviews or had them call an employer to discuss their “child’s” progress or lack thereof.  Because Millennials have been coddled and nurtured by their parents they often lack the self starter savvy that gen Xer’s exhibit. Millennials have grown up being told that they were winners often despite less than winning performances. Gen Y often needs to have more structure and specific directions with timely follow up and constant approval in order to achieve consistent results.

Today’s employer expects their workers to truly own their jobs and to take possession of their personal development. As many business organizations continue to reduce employee staffing, each employee is expected to do more with less, and effectively function both independently and as a team member. Few Boomer and Gen X employers have the time, patience or know-how with which to coach their new millennial employees to higher levels of responsibility and success.

If you are a Millennial (Generation Y) and want to learn proven ways to increase the likelihood of getting a good job and performing well once you do, visit my website and check out my new seminar/workshop called managing the Millennials.

If you are a boomer or gen x employer that would like to gain some perspective and practical tools with which you can better coach and manage your millennial employees, swing by my site and check out my new seminar/workshop called Managing the Millennials.

In the meantime, enjoy the spring and for some genuine sports excitement, consider tuning in to an NHL Stanley Cup Hockey game.

Paul Tasca     

Author of:

Drumming Up Your Career                                        

Email:  paul@paultasca.com                Web:     http://www.paultasca.com

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