Hey you kids - get off my lawn!! An observation on Gen-Ys in the workplace

[SDGuy]

PeterB wrote:
My views on this, from the classroom perspective, from a while back: http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1...sg-1148273

From that thread:

sekker wrote:
In college, the biggest difference I see between Gen X and Gen Y is the change between self-reliance versus parent-reliance...I DO think the Gen Xers seemed to be more mature when it comes to work habits and related issues...

Ok...I KNEW it couldn't have been just me observing this...

[wowzer]

I find Gen-Y to be lacking in self reliance and do not have the can-do attitude.


Also, many do not have the emotional make-up to take criticism. Have any of them cried when you speak to them about their lack of performance?

IMO, it is all the child safety laws and helicopter moms.

[Buzz]

Uncle Wig wrote:
[quote=lost in space]
The same.

Blame Google.

That could be the root of it. On the other hand, in a business environment where time is money, whether they realize it or not it is often more efficient to ask someone who knows rather than spend time figuring it out.
It would be good to find out sooner, rather than later, what the employee's skill set really is. If they can't figure stuff out w/o asking for help; how the heck are they gonna be able to perform when help isn't available? Put their noses to the grindstone and see what sparks; if they can't cut it, send 'em home to mommy and daddy for a do-over, and get a viable replacement workerbee asap. These freakin' spoiled, entitled, kids are eventually gonna be trying to run the world; we gotta do a better job of preparing them, or some other country's kids, that are really prepared, are gonna be taking over. We're getting soft, and our kids and grandkids are getting softer. Our parents and grandparents would be proud of our technology (if they could understand it), but I doubt they'd approve of the lack of work ethic all the wonderful technology has begot. Oops.

///

[microchip]

With respect to asking things, I tend to take the approach "Don't Repeat Yourself". (Yes, I've read the Pragmatic Programmer).

Obviously, a very high level of moderation is needed for when to 'repeat previously done work' or the like, but when used correctly, I think it's good. If I need to apply a system hack or something that I know someone else knows how to do in one minute - and can then tell me how to do it in one minute - it's probably worth the teams time for me to work on something else.

[Lew Zealand]

Mrs. Z and I have seen a few of these:

The Atlantic - How to land your kid in therapy

[Ombligo]

You think they are bad, wait another 4-5 years for the kids in high school today. They are the most unmotivated, uncaring, the world owes me bunch of whiners I have ever encountered.

I put it off to the fact that they were constantly told everyone is a winner, there are no losers. They just don't get competition or that they might be held accountable.

[mattkime]

The world is going to hell!

[deckeda]

Niece texts me, at 11pm (I'm trying to sleep): "how do I backup my ipod?"

(thinking) she got it for Christmas ... it's June ... she's never backed it up despite me showing her how. Got it.

My response: "Read this: ... " (included link to apple.com kb support page that answers the question. I got it by Googling something like "iPod backup" and it was a top hit.)

Her response: "ok I'm at the page now what do I do"

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?

(I didn't respond.)

Another text: "how do i add music"

OH, FRAK NOOOO. We're not having this discussion now. Not like this. I turned off the phone.

Next morning a sent her another link that addressed her 2nd question.

"i figured it out last night 2am"

[rgG]

Reminds me of a Talking Heads song, "same as it ever was."

Every generation has said virtually the same thing about every other generation. We will get by, unless of course the Mayans were right.

[Zoidberg]

deckeda wrote:
"i figured it out last night 2am"

What I love is the attitude of "figured it out no thanks to you" as if it is my life's goal to serve people who don't want to put in even the most minor of efforts.