Career Spotlight: The post-college hangover
Generation Y. The Nexters. There's been no shortage of monikers for the 20-somethings born after 1980. Now that this group is hitting the workplace, there's one more: the "entitlement generation."
Many employers say that their youngest staffers want it all, right off the bat–high salaries, flexible work hours, and perks reserved for older, more experienced workers. Paying dues first seems like an antiquated idea that doesn't apply to the newcomers. Sure, the Nexters are tech-savvy and quick to learn. But they also need more supervision than other age groups do, according to a recent survey by the Society for Human Resource Management.
Part of the problem is that student life is pretty cushy. The transition to the workday grind is harsh. You have to get up early! Camille Cassigneul, a 23-year-old who graduated from American University in Washington, D.C., last year, says she initially found it difficult to reconcile the realities of a 9-to-5 job with what she thought working life had to offer.
"I saw it as more glamorous," she says. "It's nice to be able to support yourself. But work is long hours, and it's not that interesting most of the time."
Mom and dad may roll their eyes, but workplace survival may actually be tougher than in the past. There's more job instability today and fierce competition for open slots. And parents may even be part of the problem. Mel Levine, author of Ready or Not: Here Life Comes, sees an entitlement epidemic that's the result of a generation weaned on instant gratification and overscheduling.
"Kids need to acknowledge that their 20s are going to be a climb," he says.
Besides, some companies are taking the issue seriously. At Archer-Malmo, a marketing firm in Memphis, young new hires are encouraged to sound off but are also trained to do so constructively. Still, the firm struggles to satisfy the newbies without overtaxing them. "It's a matter of trying to find a good balance between not promoting someone too quickly but keeping them challenged at the same time," says Heather Collins, chief talent officer. And doing that without the use of GameBoys.