When Gretchen Neels, a Boston-based consultant, was coaching a group of college students for job interviews, she asked them how they believe employers view them. She gave them a clue, telling them that the word she was looking for begins with the letter "e." One young man shouted out, "excellent." Other students chimed in with "enthusiastic" and "energetic." Not even close. The correct answer, she said, is "entitled." "Huh?" the students responded, surprised and even hurt to think that managers are offended by their highfalutin opinions of themselves.
If there is one overriding perception of the millennial generation, it's that these young people have great -- and sometimes outlandish -- expectations. Employers realize the millennials are their future work force, but they are concerned about this generation's desire to shape their jobs to fit their lives rather than adapt their lives to the workplace.
~ Ron Alsop, from The 'Trophy Kids' Go to Work
Friday, October 14, 2011
Quote of the Day: Ron Alsop
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Hey...you oughta see them at the community college level. Sometimes I feel that I am the first person ever that some "students" have come in contact with that tells them the work they have done is unacceptable. They are used to getting trophies for just showing up!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, but I was just discussing how entitled some members of the millennial generation are with a fellow alumni earlier today. There's a lot of work to be done, and the attitude doesn't help anyone.
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