The following document examines millennials and how growing up in the digital era places them in a different mindset than other generations, which immensely effects their occupations and how they perform in the work environment.
Digital Era
I would certainly agree that millennials have grown up in a digital era with technology surrounding them from young ages. I was using a computer and typing before I could even do simple mathematics in elementary school. I would wake up a few hours before school started so that I could start my day off with some technology time. In fourth grade I got my first cellphone and learned how to maneuver it in just a few short hours of having it. I naturally picked up on it pretty fast which my parents and grandparents
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I understand there is already a lot of that in workplaces, but I could see millenials taking it to a new level. We grew up doing everything in teams at school which rubs off on us millennials and makes it a challenge for many individuals to be indepent. I personally could see myself bringing a new level of dedication into whatever company I end up working for. I feel like a lot of my generation can relate to this since a large majority of millenials have a one tracked mine they can use this to their advantage to zone in and get work done more …show more content…
Such as replacing older traditions and work values with new ideas. Although, I have yet to meet many good millennial leaders I feel like the few that I do know are incredibly influential. Additionally, a lot millenials I know place a major emphasis on wanting to be right and thinking they know what is best which could be beneficial in the work environment since they may not let their employees have too much power over them. Which in my opinion is beneficial since everyone should know who is in charge in such
Stein assists in helping the readers understand that millennials have "just mutated to adapt to their environment"(31) by providing quotes and examples, even of people who may be a part of the older generations. This helps readers acknowledge there has been a change within technology, which millennials have had alongside them their entire lives. Stein points out: "Imagine being used to that technology your whole life and having to sit through algebra"(32). Although millennials seem to be on their phones a great deal, they have not been taught to do otherwise. Millennials did not grow up "trapping their friends in houses to watch their terrible vacation slideshows"(32); they grew up "watching reality-TV shows"(30) and "interacting all day but almost entirely through a screen"(29).
Mark Bauerlein makes it extremely clear that Generation Y, The Millennials, are losing their intelligence and drive to acquire and obtain knowledge. Bauerlein states in the beginning of his book that he is not here to undermine and look down upon this Generation but to share the facts of reality, a reality that the young people of today simple do not care about their education and see social media such as Twitter and Instagram a more important way of spending their free time. This Generation is extremely lucky, never before has so
The digital age has skyrocketed in the last couple of years, some were born into it and most witnessed it. These people had to adapt and use it to their advantage in the evolving workforce. After time went on, they integrated their methods into their systems and kept old habits. Years later, the kids born into this age started to join in and bring their new habits that were unfamiliar to the current workforce. The article written by Lee Rainie on his Pew-Research webpage in 2006, "Digital Natives Invade the Workspace" analyzes the changes they brought it.
According to Professor Jeffrey Bosworth, in his editorial “Hunting for Hope in Modern America,” he discusses the “screwed” millennial generation and the potential they have to be successful, despite current existing United States problems. Bosworth explains this from three different perspectives: the current issues in America, the positive attributes of the millennial generation, and what the millennial generation should do to succeed. In Bosworth’s opening proposition he elucidates the “[millennial] generation is screwed”. He expounds the millennial generation is predicted to “do worse than the previous generation”.
The study found Gen Y are tech savvy but not great team player, Gen X are entrepreneurial thinking but rank low on executive presence and boomers are team player and loyal but do not adapt so well (Giang, 2013). 78% of the responders agree member of Gen Y are believed to be the most tech savvy who know how to utilize social media to leverage opportunities. 68% of the responders agree that this young workers are most “enthusiastic” about their job. In contrast, Gen Y scored lowest on being team player, hardworking, and productive part of an organization. More Gen Y were interested in how to get a promotion compared to Gen X or Baby Boomers (Giang, 2013).
The Millennials As time passes each generation has its mark on the world, and things change. Every generation has its nickname, for those who are 46 to 64 are called Baby Boomers, 30 to 45 are Generation X, and finally 18 to about 29 are the Millennials. Each generation has left its mark on the world and since the Baby Boomers fashion, cars, and communication has all evolved and grown. The Millennials have impacted the world with their internet use and how they share everything.
Companies will also need to anticipate and assess which new skills and training older employees will require, particularly in the realm of technology where they may feel less comfortable than many of their younger colleagues. The federal workforce is building toward a potential retirement wave in coming years, with more than a third of career federal employees projected to be eligible for collecting their end-of-career benefits by September 2017, compared to just 14 percent at the same time in 2012. The dynamic of this workforce is the wealth of knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience that will be walking out the door never to return. Millennials will make up 50 percent of the U.S. workforce by 2020 and 75 percent of the global workforce by 2030. At issue is how to attract and retain
On the other hand, Millennials may not have the same opportunities as the generations before them, and they may
“The Beat (Up) Generation: Millennials’ Attitudes about Work” is an article written by Abby Ellin and published in Psychology Today. It talks about the generation born between 1982 and 2004, how they react to working around the older generation and why they are hated by the older generation. The millennial generation was born during the rise of technology. They can do a lot of work remotely and not have to work as hard because of all the technology they have access to and the boomer generation doesn’t understand it they equate working hard with time and physical work. The boomers feel that millennials are just lazy and have no respect.
This generation no longer have to keep remembering every single material they are learning. Or have to go back to the library and spend hours to find the book they used for an assignment. As Kosil and Marcel say, “We are gradually changing from a nation of callused hands to a nation of agile brains … Insofar as new information technology exercises our minds and provides more information, it has to be improving thinking ability” (Source B). This shows people have technology right between their finger tips which enables them to think beyond just the facts. It is no longer only sticking to the facts.
Julie Hanus wrote the “The Kid in the Corner Office” which made many assumptions about our generation in the workplace. She simply thinks that we are self-centered and generally only think about instant gratification and ourselves. Which she believes makes us near useless in the workplace, because we are afraid of taking risks. She also believes that our generation has become one that skips from job to job in search of more praise from management. Counter to this Hanus states that our generation is loyal to our employers.
In her essay “In defence of the iGeneration,” Renee Wilson argues that today’s technology has benefitted not only the students, but also the generation as a whole. The advancement in technology allows for change, innovation and creativity that result in one of the best generations yet. Although Wilson generalizes today’s iGeneration, she succeeds in providing a compelling argument. Much of her argument is supported by scientific evidence and personal experiences that demonstrate the ability of the iGeneration to accept change and provide self-actualization. Wilson’s use of generalizations reveals a degree of disconnect between the current iGeneration and previous generations.
Me-llennials In “The New Greatest Generation,” Joel Steins focuses on his opinion that millennials are “lazy, entitled, selfish and shallow”(Stein). Stein argues that millennials are narcissistic and self-entitled. Also, that technology is weakening millennials brains. He believes that with each generation it get lazier.
Implementing training programs where all generations can learn about each other’s differences can help employees understand how and why each generation works. Workshops in which multigenerational workforces can share work experience and mentor each other can assist in creating a sense of community and a supportive environment where employees can be open and share their ideas an collaborate with each other in order to better their organization. Millennials are perceived as being disloyal and quick to search for new employment when they unhappy in their work environments, but due to starting their careers during times of recession, Millennials try to maintain their roles in the workplace to remain financially stable. The main reason for turnover among Millennials is a result of exclusion, slow growth within the workplace, and limited development opportunities. Finding gratification and meaning to their work is important to Millennials so that they can excel and be productive in the workplace that is supportive of their work.
The article “The Me Me Me Generation” by Joel Stein mentions how Millennials are a self-centred generation who have been raised with many participation awards and parents who mistakenly believed that strengthening their self-esteem was they key to success rather than focusing more on strengthening up their character and skills. Stein mentions that the younger generation lives mostly through screens, whether those on phones, iPad’s, or computers, and believes someway that it is entitled to success without experiencing the rough situations in lifetime. Stein also presented studies showing that the incidence of narcissistic personality disorder among Millennials is massive. Stein concludes the article by mentioning that this has not taken him by surprise, because this began with their parents’ generation, the Baby Boomers, or known as the “Me Generation.” Millennials seek to make their own mark on the world.