Millennial Myths

First off, I would like all of you to know, I am a Millennial. I was born in May of 1985. I just recently graduated from college and entered the workforce this past fall in 2007. My parents were both born in the late 1950s and are considered "baby boomers". I am your typical, average millennial.

Recently, 60 Minutes covered a story on my generation entering the workforce and the effect this generation will have on corporate America. You can read this article by going to www.cbsnews.com and searching the keyword "millennial".

Throughout the story, reported by CBS correspondent Morley Safer, Millennials are shown as tech-savvy, coddled, spoiled, disrespectful and lazy.

While reading this article, I felt the need to give the readers of this article a counter opinion to read while they consider what the Millennial generation is all about.

60 Minutes' article is flawed, first off, in many ways. Not only are there "resources" biased to effects Millennials will have on the workforce, they also like to give one sided explanations to their, so-called, statistics on Millennial behavior. Let's address these issues one by one.

1) Speaking of employers working with Millennials, "you can't be harsh. You cannot tell them you're disappointed in them. You can't really ask them to live and breathe the company."

First of all, like many of these statements, this is a generalization, not backed by any statistical data whatsoever. 60 minutes doesn't even reference a survey or someone whose expertise is on generational gaps in the workplace. Who do they cite? Marian Salzman, an agency executive at J. Walter Thompson, obviously an expert (note the sarcasm). Now let's look at her credentials. She has been managing "Millennials" since they have been in the workforce. So, really she has been managing these individuals for, at the most, 3 years. Hmm, sounds like a lot of time to form an opinion about a whole generation. But let's move on.

Since when does anyone want someone to be disappointed in them? Nobody would want to hear that from another individual let alone your boss, but why can you not tell Millennials that you are disappointed in them? Because they will become angry and upset and possibly quit? Hmm, I'm sure they have something to back up the assumption...I guess not.

2) "These young people will tell you what time their yoga class is and the day's work will be organized around the fact that they have this commitment."

Again, a very broad generalization of my generation not backed by any sort of research. I'm sorry, but there is in no way a "you should work around me" mentality to anyone who has a college education. Through college, students are not asked to attend class, they are not asked what days are good to have a test, and they are definitely not asked what their plans are for the day before the university schedules anything. If there is anyone that is more apt to being great at scheduling personal activities around "work" it's college students. Many college students have classes and a work schedule that is not flexible to what their "yoga class" time is, and are great at finding time either between or after classes and work to fit in personal activities.

3) "fewer and fewer middle class kids hold summer jobs because mowing lawns does not get you into Harvard."

I'm sorry, focusing on your education so that in the long term you can apply for a position that is paid higher is a bad thing? Trying to get into a good school is ridiculous when you can mow lawns.

4) "actually be in an office at nine o'clock, with people handing them work...possibly asking them to stay late in the evening or their weekends."

Another great resource of information about the Millennials is Mary Crane, a former Chef for the White House. Apparently being a former Chef means you have all the answers to what the Millennials will be like in the workforce. Ms. Crane is now offering crash course to college students about eating etiquettes and dress requirements (things that not just college students need to learn, but I would say what most of the adult population needs to learn).

All college students are use to specific times for work related tasks. Just ask the kids who have class all day and work all night if they are surprised they have to work from 9 to 5, I'm sure they won't be too shocked. Not only do college students expect working late and working on weekends something that they might have to do, they HAVE to do it now! Homework, projects, and assignments fill their nights and weekends. I'm pretty sure the boss asking them to "stay late" won't be that much of a shocker.

5) "think of themselves like merchandise on eBay. If you don't want me, Mr. Employer, I'll go sell myself down the street. I'll probably get more money."

So every single college student thinks they are a high commodity huh? That is why every single large university in the world focuses on career counseling and resume building so that you can get the best results from your past experiences and extra-curricular activities. College students are such a high commodity and we know it, that we pack our resume with as much experience as possible, get the best grades possible in our courses, double major or add specializations to our transcripts even though we know we can just get a job anytime we really want to. Makes a lot of sense.

6) "I deserve an A because I'm paying for it, What are you giving me a C for?"

So some students went to a few professors saying that their grades were unfair and they deserve better right? Well what about the other students that go up to those same professors asking them what they can do better to improve their grade? What about the other students who don't say anything but try their hardest to get their papers proofread or join study groups so next time they wouldn't get such a bad grade? I'm pretty sure those two situations outweigh the students who "ask for a better grade just because".

7) "more than half of college seniors move home after graduation. It's a safety net.."

As a recent college graduate I tried my best to apply for as many jobs as possible. I unfortunately didn't receive any interviews until after my graduation date, so I moved home and kept applying for jobs. Do you expect my parents to throw me out on the streets? No, and I don't believe parents in the 30s, 50s or 70s would do that either. Parents want to give their kids a hand in getting started, there is no reason recent graduates can't stay home until the find a career.

8) "delay adolescence...getting behind as an economy and as a workforce."

Since when does having fun on the job mean the productivity decreases? For as long as I can remember, a happy worker is a productive worker, and I'm pretty sure there is psychological evidence to back that up. Also, since when is having fun on job "adolescent-like"? I'm pretty sure you can have fun with what you do and still be a respected individual in your company.

Millennials are not young adults to be afraid of as they enter the workforce. Yes we are readily equipped with experience in the new and upcoming gadgets, we can multi-task and perform jobs that would usually take two Baby Boomers to do. We are efficient and we know what we want with a company and with our lives. But don't be afraid, you who are not part of our "group", we also have been working in groups and with other people our whole lives. We have been taught how to work together as a team, and even how to deal with people who do not want to work as a team.

Learn from us. We'll learn from you too. And maybe, just maybe, the workforce that is to come will be a place of enjoyment and efficiency, with people who actually love their jobs, love their lives, and because of that, will do anything for the company that is providing that to them