In response to the AP Entitlement Generation article that came out last Sunday, a member of this so-called generation wrote the following open letter:
Dear current Management-Generation of Cubicle Land, please understand that:
1. My generation was misinformed—by elders and fortune—about the value of our college degrees. $120,000 of your/our money now buys, career-wise, just a hair more than your free high-school diploma used to. As many of my peers now lament, “A law degree is the new B.A.” We’re the best-educated generation in American history, yet the job requirements haven’t changed.
2. We are treated, at the entry-level, quite poorly, though it’s understandable that you might not realize it. Though we’re without your valuable professional experience, we just might be smarter than you and, if you keep us subservient though boredom, we will owe you no loyalty. You must challenge or educate us. Otherwise we’re leaving.
3. Are you aware of how little time it actually takes us to do things? One reason my peers ask for schedule flexibility is because much of their day is spent killing time. If we can’t contribute something valuable, we want to waste time at home with our friends, families, pets, books, and X-Boxes.
4. If you’d let us, we could make the computer system work right.
5. Having specific educational training, for example in Computer Science or Business Management, indeed justifies higher salaries. But, employers for other lines of work in metro areas: if you don’t start paying salaries commensurate with the cost of living, a) you’ll be left with 50 software engineers and 0 sales associates and b) there’ll be no one supporting your costs in old-age, let alone anyone younger able to support their own. We understand all of this is based on market conditions. But really. We know how much you make, and we know how things fall apart when we’re not there. We’re valuable.
6. Watch out, particularly if you’re at a bigger company. It takes us less than a year to learn your systems, copy your skills, and identify your company’s flaws. 10 million unchallenged, vindictively creative young people will decimate your business.
So. The entitlement generation? No. That assumes we think we’ve earned something from an educational system and media infrastructures provided by the last two generations. We’re more humble than that. We’re thankful. We are. As the most promising generation since the last, we’re ready to work harder than anyone expects.
Just stop getting in our way.
Giovanni Rodriguez
Elizabeth Albrycht
Dave Desforges
Jim McGee
Jim Ware
1. Brian Weaver on June 29, 2005 11:07 AM writes...
Well yes entitlements...hmmm...I saw an ad for a job the other day on Craigslist that said in part if you were unemployed then they weren't interested in hiring since being unemployed meant that one was "out of the loop" in terms of keeping up with current technology. Apparently they had never heard of "networking" among peers.
Permalink to CommentNow not being part of the "entitled generation" but old enough to be one of their fathers, it makes me think that there is a lot of rampant stupidity passing itself off as thought being generated by businesses that are in the position to not waste thoughtful human resources that might have better ideas than a slavish attention to marketroid slogans regardless of age. Oh well that's idealism for you.
2. Jim Ware on June 29, 2005 11:29 AM writes...
I've argued for years that employee attitudes are a direct reflection of the way they are treated, and that organizations systematically underutilize talent. So I loved the letter from the FungibleConvictions website.
I've written more about this subject in two posts on my own Future of Work blog this last week.
"Managing Those Younger Whipper Snappers"
and
"Managing Those Pesky Young Folk - Part Two"
Permalink to Comment3. John Franklin on June 29, 2005 11:59 AM writes...
Fascinating letter. I posted a long, irritated comment about it on their site. This gist? I don't buy it. I grant Jim Ware that management is often terrible. But as one who always bent over backwards to listen and train, I have to say I've been grinding my teeth at the attitudes displayed by some of these highly-educated younger folks. And I'm 36!
JF
Permalink to Comment4. Joan of Argghh! on June 29, 2005 3:30 PM writes...
You can grind your teeth or just accept that these kids aren't going to do it your way, even though you're kind, intelligent and caring.
I agree that today's grads are smarter in so many ways...and yet can't grasp the idea of punctuality or schedule. You can fight that or judo it to your advantage, but you sure aren't going to change it. As I get older, I see the pure sense in their approach, and envy their power in achieving a better standard of work environment than I ever dreamed of at their age. Good on 'em!
Permalink to Comment5. Jory Des Jardins on June 30, 2005 5:14 PM writes...
Having been on both sides of the spectrum--a young gun wondering why I couldn't be trusted enough to do what I was capable of doing, to being a manager in charge of a bunch of people who insisted on doing things their way, I think I can now say the following: We DO underestimate the ability of younger workers to get the job done. They DO learn quicker and can learn even better methods than we teach them. What they can't replicate is EXPERIENCE. They've got nothing on their bosses in terms of the pure intuition necessary to create and move toward a vision. I would have worked my tail off and taken all of the promotions handed to me. But God forbid I would have REALLY received a leadership position. I wouldn't have had the compassion, humility, or sense of timing that I've only earned by watching and keeping my mouth shut.
Permalink to Comment6. Andrew on June 30, 2005 7:55 PM writes...
The discussion continues! http://fungibleconvictions.com/?p=62
Thanks for all your thoughts so far, guys. It's really clarifying the issue for Fungible Convictions' young readers.
Permalink to Comment7. Kenny H. on July 7, 2005 9:34 AM writes...
Interesting comments Elizabeth. I worked in the software industry for 15 years in jobs from programmer to vice president with 100+ people on my team. I agree that twentysomethings learn very quickly and can get things done fast. However, your point that you can "copy my skills" in less than a year is insulting and naive. I've worked in several countries on many systems, for many companies, and in many industries; negotiated multi-million dollar deals; presented business plans to the world's top executives; run multiple successful projects concurrently; started my own business; interviewed, hired, and fired a great number of people; had P&L responsibility for a $15M business unit; expanded a company's business to Australia; and led dozens and dozens of software design sessions.
Looks like you're in for a busy year. Oh, and while you're learning all that, stay out of my way.
Permalink to Comment8. Elizabeth Albrycht on July 7, 2005 11:07 AM writes...
Kenny - I didn't write that letter (I don't fall into the generation being described here), I just quoted and linked to it.
But I think the point that you and others have made in the comments here are important: experience counts. However, we experienced people need to be very aware and open to the changes suggested by those who have grown up immersed in technology rather than, feeling threatened, shutting down any conversation because it appears a bit naive or hyperbolic to us.
We can learn from each other.
Permalink to Comment9. doug on January 27, 2006 7:41 AM writes...
Entitlement generation is a decent term for the generation in question, but I have a better name...THE BABYSITTING GENERATION. I am CONSTANTLY doing all the things parents do for their children on a daily basis!!! I should charge parents a babysitting fee for watching their 20 something infants! Calling to see why they are late, taking care of them when they are sick, dealing with their hangovers and all night x-box party. Seriously,there are standards for he work force, why do we older generations have to wipe the snotty noses of the younger generation? I started out doing crap jobs, and I LEARNED FROM THEM. I am a manager now and I still to the jobs noone wants to do because they NEED DONE!!!
Permalink to CommentGet over it and GROW UP if you want respect!!!