The Y Generation
I remember sitting in class listening to a professor ramble about generations. How each generation is different. Marketing to each generation is different. They have different needs. They have different desires. They enjoy different things. I understood what she was saying but I really didn’t care. It seemed common sense to me. My mother cares about different things than I do. The things I care about will one day appall my son. Each generation is brought up in a totally different world. We are exposed to different music, different political figures, different leaders, different rules. Of course we are going to turn out differently.
I never really saw how this could help me in the job force. I didn’t see how being a millennial was going to be beneficial to my employer. It wasn’t until I read this article about generation Y and what we bring to the workplace. The ability to multi-task and see things in a different light. Tonight I came across this blog post about the millenial generation. I have had to explain, train, and beg friends to get on Twitter. After joining many became bored. Why one hundred and fourty characters? Why do people care what I am doing? Where I am going? There are so many great points in that post I encourage you to read it.
More to come on this topic. Promise
p.s. This is one of the many reasons I am ecstatic about working for Jennifer Brown Consulting!
3 Responses to "The Y Generation"
Sandy
July 8th, 2009
It’s interesting, this theory about how generation Y is different in the workplace is also relevant to how kids are educated. A lot of teachers believe in giving students the opportunity to multitask, as that’s what they are used to and therefore how they learn best. Others stick with the old model of making them focus on one task at a time. So, do we encourage multitasking or try to build up their focus and attention span? It’s a huge dilemma.
Alyssa
July 8th, 2009
Totally get what you’re saying. I’m in this generation too, but so many of my friends aren’t. I tend to be friends with people that are older than me. I”m not good with “generation” names so I’m not sure what generation that they belong to, but they are between the ages of 30-40 and I’m 28. NONE of my friends in “real” Life get Twitter. I tell them it’s about “networking” and they totally don’t get that b/c well they network in real life and I network online. They don’t get what I do online either. It’s an ever going cycle. But hey at least my online friends get me right?
Mary @ Parenthood
July 8th, 2009
I get it, but I’m not sure I agree… Maybe I’m too old :)
The thing about “multitasking” is that study after study shows that our brains aren’t wired to efficiently switch between tasks.
Eg. http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2007/03/study-says-leave-the-multitasking-to-your-computer.ars
So, while I agree that you can improve your ability to switch from one thing to another (and frequently do so myself), I’m not sure this is really desirable behaviour.