What do I know – I'm Gen Y?
UncategorizedPublished August 11, 2006 at 11:33 am 1 CommentSo, ERE gave me my own blog – Who is she and what does she know about recruiting? If that is your first thought – I don’t blame you. In fact, I realized that having a blog named Gen Y’d probably would make a lot of people question my experience given that most places classify Gen Y as those people born between 1977 and 1996. But, that is OK – I am comfortable with my age and my experience and really believe that I can bring a different perspective! Combine that with my belief that I can change the world of recruitment simply by having a vision and a passion for talent acquisition (OK, so maybe that shows my age) and you are sure to get some interesting, maybe controversial, blogs.
Last month, Human Resource Executive magazine did a cover story on the next wave of talent coming in. What most of us call Generation Y – they refer to as the “Millennials” and long story short, they talk about how we rival in number to the baby boomer generation and how those born from 1978-1989 already account for 21% of the total workforce. Just think, the youngest of the Gen Y group is still only 10 years old and already we account for 21%? When the rest of my generation catch up and enter the work world after college in 2018 how different is life going to be – let alone recruiting?
For those of you that think that there isn’t a real difference between X and Y, let me share some odd examples with you from my own life.
- I never had to dial a phone with a rotating dial.
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I had a computer in my classroom every year since 2nd grade – and one at home by 3rd grade.
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I don’t know 1 person who had/has a stay at home parent.
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I don’t really remember a time before the internet or MTV existed. (at least that I was old enough to care about)
Even scarier – look at the Generation after me (Thanks to examples brought about by my 5 year old son)
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He has an ipod shuffle and knows how to use it.
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He has never seen a car with roll up window. (Yes, I still remember them from when I was little)
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He saw twins at the store and asked if one was a clone.
All true examples of why companies have to start looking at a whole new way to approach the talent acquisition process. As technology has changed and improved, not only has the younger generations jumped on board, but the boomers, generation X, and even the Greatest Generation has joined the ride. The new way of life will effect everyone and some companies are jumping on board. The rest will need to – not only for my Gen Y crowd that will be hitting the job market over the next 12 years, but because of the generation after that too.
And that is the whole purpose of my blog. From job postings to college recruiting to succession planning the way our generation looks at the world is different – Not better or worse, just different. I invite you to join me on my blogging adventure!
[...] blogging and speaking on Gen Y issues since 2006 when ERE gave me a blog called Gen Y’d (See my 1st post). As one of the “old” Gen Y’ers – I have watched the evolution of [...]