They’re under 30. They’re smart. They wear flip flops to work and listen to their iPods at the office. They want to work, but they want to have a life too.
If this sounds like you, you’re likely a member of Generation Y, a force of as many as 70 million born between 1980 and 1995, and a force to be reckoned with. But, if this resembles a co-worker or employee, take heed. Gen Y’ers are a creative, tech-savvy, independent bunch who embrace change and have financial smarts. They also have the reputation of being high maintenance. And one thing is for sure – they are here to stay. So, when it comes to working with Gen Y’ers, here are a few dos and don’ts:
Do:
Acknowledge generational differences at work and talk about them. Boomers and Gen Y’ers both want the world to stop for them, just for different reasons. Talking about them can help.
Let them initiate. Play to their creativity and revel in a fresh perspective. Give them a project with some guidelines and let them run with it. Remember, no risk, no reward.
Encourage professional development. Let them participate in seminars, workshops and conferences. Better yet, pay for them.
Be flexible – in terms of how, where and when they work.
Give them company. Make sure there is more than one person under 30 in the office. Sometimes it’s hard to relate to things like children, spouses, and health issues. Having a like-age colleague can help ease the tension.
Don’t:
Emphasize age. If you start a sentence with “Well, you’re so young…” they’ll run for the hills.
Set them apart from the rest. Putting Gen-Y’ers in their own little bubble and treating them differently will result in little progress. Give them a place at the table and incorporate them in decision-making.
Dismiss their concerns. Even small concerns can have a huge impact. Take them seriously.
Think they are different than everyone else. After all, everybody wants flexible hours, meaningful work, a nice office environment, and ongoing training. Gen-Y’ers might just be more vocal about it.
So, put on those flip flops, turn on those iPods, and turn to Gen-Y’er for new, more creative ways to work.
So I've finished my required classes, have promising job leads and I am basically at college wrapping up loose ends until I begin my transition into the working world. But there is just one thing holding me back, a case of senioritis. Senioritis means a lack of motivation when it comes to finishing up those last requirements in college. Why does this happen? I think that in part this is due to looking forward to an exciting job and seeing college as a part of the past before it is actually in the past. Who can focus on writing a Chaucer paper when looking up office furniture on ikea for my new dream office is so much more fun. But alas, I must bunker down and finish strong so that no obstacles or C minuses will hold me back from my job!
Although losing your job may seem like your world is crashing around you, there are many career opportunities waiting in the wings. Instead of looking for a full-time job, you may find more success when looking for temp work or interning opportunities at a company that has room for upward expansion. These jobs can 1) help pay your bills 2) become an impressive addition to your resume and 3) may lead to future job offers. These part-time jobs can give you some additional experience that future employers are looking for.
Remember, just because you have found temp work or internship opportunities does not mean that you have to stop searching for that full-time job. Finding a job is a full-time job, so devoting a significant amount of hours each week to the job search can be very beneficial in the long run.
"When one door closes, another door opens," as they say. Now, I'm not really sure who THEY are, but I can tell you that they are often times right. Being let go from a job does not have to mean you have reached the end of your time as a contributing member of society-- it can be used as a means to do something even better than you previously have.
Although I have only been employed as a part-time worker, I have worked long enough to know that there are some jobs that you take in order to make a paycheck, essentially working just because you have to pay the bills. But eventually, you can find a job that satisfies you both financially and emotionally... which in my opinion, is kind of like winning the lotto.
As you make your way into your career and establish relationships with coworkers and do great things, just remember that nothing is ever guaranteed. Your company may need to let you go or it may shut its doors... and if that happens, just look for another door that is open, ready and waiting for you!
Whenever someone is fired, they immediately think about landing another job. And usually the job they imagine is exactly like the job they just lost, except with a different company name on the letterhead. This is because people are comfortable in their jobs and dislike change for the most part. So when people get a pink slip, they automatically seek out a similar job so that they can replace that missing part of their life and will give them a comparable paycheck since they have accustomed to a certain income. But if seeking out only a certain, specific type of job, they may not have much luck. So if I were in that situation, I would start looking into a wide variety of types of employment. Even if these jobs don't offer paychecks like you used to get, they can help you keep current on your bills so your credit doesn't suffer while you reestablish your life. Think about nonprofit or charity centers that need employees, being a nanny (that is if you life children), managing a retail store, being a 2010 Census walker, teaching, or e-bay people's collectibles for commission. Although some of these jobs are not long term, or may not be relevant to your area of interest, they could pay your bills until you find your perfect job. Again.
Break out the tissues. This post contains sensitive material.
Today someone got laid off. Or, in politically correct speak, their “position was eliminated.” Perhaps they knew it was coming. Perhaps not. But the worst of it is this: they had just embarked on a new career and had a bright, exciting future in front of them. Could this be you?
This is how it works. First you’ll hear rumors of layoffs. The rumors result in office-wide shock and paranoia. Your colleagues begin to console each other. A co-worker assures you that you “deserve to stay” because you are smarter, more skilled, more attractive and generally all-around cooler. You’re glad that all your hard work went noticed by your superiors, but worry that those who mandated the layoff at the national level don’t know you — you are just a name that fills a position — and the newest person on the team. What’s more, according to the rumor mill, the positions being eliminated may solely be decided by how recently people were hired.
So there you have it. You went through four years of college and graduated. You land the job, are praised for a job “well done” and then all the sudden, your high expectations are dashed and you are no longer employable.
Getting laid-off is a humbling experience, especially if you’ve never experienced real financial hardship or big disappointment. But there's plenty of time to fix things and get back on track. Look at the situation as an opportunity. Consider an unpaid internship or temp work while you search for another job. Think about moving to a place where there are more career opportunities in your field. What about graduate school? Perhaps this is best time for you to get that advanced degree.
But, while you spend hours looking for jobs, be sure to make time for yourself too. Hit the gym five times a week. Use your free time to blog more. Rent multiple seasons of your favorite TV melodrama.
A youthful outlook helps too. That great next job might not emerge next week or even next month, But, remember, time is on your side -- so take a deep breath. You’ll likely be working for decades!
Mediocrity is NOT a desirable trait in the job market of today. If you are one of the lucky people who have been able to secure a job in this time of economical hardship-- don't take it for granted! Actively try to improve and innovate in your work environment. Set weekly goals for yourself in order to show your employer that you are constantly trying to make a difference with your job. Make yourself heard in your weekly meetings and give your employer fresh new ways to approach the same old situations. It is important that your employer sees you as an asset to their company, or else you may be left jobless just like millions of other Americans struggling to make a name for themselves in the job market of today!
In short, do not sit around waiting for your fate to be handed to you, become an active participant in your life and the decider of your own fate.
A good friend of mine was let go from her job just two weeks ago after being a valued employee for over two years. She said she was blindsided because she was rarely tardy, had contributed many ideas and was friends with everyone in the office.
Because of her layoff, she is now scrambling to update her resume and find a new job before her severance pay runs out. Although I love her dearly, I have to say that she should have been better prepared for bad news.
Job security, especially in these tough times, is not what it used to be. Update your resume as you accomplish big projects or tasks at work. Make constant connections to use as references in the future. Most importantly, work every day like it's your last, because it just might be!
Although this may all sound very ominous and negative, remember that if you do a great job day in and day out, you may not ever need to worry about being laid off. Prepare for it, just in case-- but chances are, you'll be safe if you are an all-star employee!
Whenever I go for a job interview I carefully pick my out my outfit to look my best, arrive 5 minutes early and put my perkiest and most enthusiastic foot forward. Flash forward 8 months after I have landed the job and I am suddenly running late to work, in whatever I threw up that looks half-decent and probably forget some paperwork that would have been great to have at the meeting. Face it, it's hard to resist the temptation to slack off as the months go by. I get comfortable in a jobs. At first you are employee of the month, and then you are just like all the other employees that have been at the companies for years. But the difference is that I haven't been there for years and I lack the seniority and staying power that they have. So although my offenses are no worse then what the average workplace employee does (I mean I'm not stealing office supplies or anything) but as a new hire, I am also most likely to be fired. In tough economic times when companies are looking to downsize, it's the employees that bring less to the table that are most expendable. So although everyone, including myself, has one or two "bad days", and just be your skirts isn't ironed doesn't itself mean you will be fired, all these things together can suddenly make you the least valuable employee. So although it may seem fruitless to be on my A game all day, every day, if I know my job was on the line I would definitely step it up and impress my bosses.
It’s sad but true: job security is an oxymoron. The workplace is simply not as crowded as it used to be. But, if you are fortunate enough to have a job, especially one that you enjoy, now’s the time to keep yourself from becoming a statistic and take hold of your career.
First of all, this is no time to be invisible. If they don’t notice you, you’ll be one of the first people to receive a pink slip. Instead, adjust that attitude to fit the seriousness of the times, and safeguard your position. How?
Perform! Being a valuable contributor to an organization has never been more critical. Be a good employee. Be a team player. Be a top-producer.
Stay tuned in. Skip that $4 latte in favor of the office coffee klatch. Eat at your desk instead a grabbing a sandwich at the local café. Move your lunchtime workout to after work instead. The more you’re around the office the better plugged in you’ll be.
Talk up your contributions. Make sure you're adding value by going above and beyond your basic job responsibilities. Then make sure your boss knows it -- without being obnoxious. Document what you do, and how successful you are at it.
No whining. If your workload increases, deal with it. If you have to come in early, stay late or work a weekend, suck it up. This is not the time to be thinking about work-life balance. Remember, happy campers are less likely to get laid off than chronic complainers.
Never stop networking. The day you’re let go is not the day to start calling old colleagues and asking former bosses out to lunch. You should be doing that right now. How quickly you land a new job after a layoff often depends on how consistently you've networked.
In this economy, preparation is just as important for those who still have jobs as it is for those seeking them. So, stay focused on what you’re doing, but have an exit strategy in your back pocket. Good luck!
As graduation looms and seniors send off resumes and attend interviews, one thing is certain: life after college is uncertain and a bit scary. There are plenty of ways to combat that fear and prepare yourself for "the real world."
Although you may have had a part-time job and juggled other activities while taking classes, many students will find that the balance of a career and social life is much easier to maintain. Because they have already mastered the art of time management and scheduling, they have no problem acclimating to a 9-5 workweek and using outside time to relax or enjoy their hobbies.
The biggest shift for many is becoming completely independent from their parents and college lifestyle. While the hours may be earlier, many will find that their 40-or-so-hour workweek is much more lenient than the crazy noon-4 a.m. schedule they previously enjoyed.
Seniors should just remember that everything leading up to graduation can prepare them for life afterward, if utilized correctly. College is a time for learning and growing, both in and out of the classroom.
I always find it a little strange how people keep saying "college prepares you for the world" or "once you get out in the real world...". Since I have been in college for four years, it seems a lot like the real world out there waiting for me. Some professors give you breaks, and some do not, just like your bosses in the real world. I pay my bills, manage my time and keep appointments, skills which I have mastered in my years as an undergrad. Although college allowed me more room to make mistakes and learn, I didn't always get a "do-over" in college. Students in college today arn't the stereotypical college student portrayed in movies. Many people see college students as partiers who slack off and may or may not hold a menial part time job. But today's college students are quiet diverse. Colleges have opened their doors to single parents, older people who have decided to go back to college, people working full time and taking night classes, etc. College students now a days have a car in their own name, pay rent or hold a lease, have credit cards and other lines of credit, soley in their name and some have not been dependent on parents for a long time. So by saying college prepares people for the real world, you are forgetting that for a large population of college students, they are already in the real world.
"Simple. It is those college graduates in the Class of 2009 who are willing to think outside of the box, be creative, be flexible and execute an effective job search strategy."
There are three ways to start doing that: 1. Look and go where the jobs are. 2. Think beyond your college major. 3. Remember your "on-land" job search strategy.
Does College Really Prepare You For The Real World?
Yikes! You’ve got the diploma in your hand and that first job lined up – and you begin to wonder if all those thousands of dollars spent on tuition and books truly readied you for the working world. After all, some say that the “real world” is cold and harsh, where second chances are rarely offered, deadlines are hardly ever extended, and the concept of “fairness” doesn’t exist. It is rumored to be a barren, desolate place where work days actually begin at eight in the morning and the coffee? Well, it just plain stinks.
So after enduring courses in astronomy, memorizing little known facts about ancient philosophers, and carefully planning your class schedules (some that no doubt included three day weekends and nothing before 11 am), was your college education relevant to what you’ll be doing and experiencing in the workplace going forward?
Many times students end up pursuing careers that are not even related to their majors. So if what you learned in college does not directly apply to the specific job you’ll be performing, don’t freak out – not all has been lost. The fact is much of what you learned in college outside of the classroom has prepared you quite well for navigating workplace culture — which is just as important as the work itself.
Take, for example, the time management skills you’ve acquired. While tending to your studies at school, you’ve had to complete projects and meet deadlines as you balanced a job, parties, and hang time at your favorite Internet café. You’ve learned to text during classes and listen to your Ipod while cramming for an exam in the library. This is called “multi-tasking” and it is something you’ll be required to do pretty much all day long. You also have acquired teamwork capabilities by working on group projects in college – as painful as some of them might have been. And, just think about that professional network you’ve built without even knowing it. Your connections with professors and other students can potentially be quite helpful when it comes to landing a job in the future. Yes, a little Facebook each day is a good thing…
Most importantly, your college experience has prepared you well for managing day-to-day responsibilities like being punctual, balancing a checking account, doing laundry and going grocery shopping on a budget. You’ve gained a sense of independence that will directly translate to your work experience where you will be expected to finish a task (without being micro-managed) and finish it well.
Yes, college educates you in ways that go beyond what you learned in the classroom. But are you really ready for the real world? The answer is yes. Definitely.
It is very important to remember that as soon as you enter the work force, the once acceptable college dorm room behavior should be thrown out the window and an entirely new set of rules should be adopted. Just as it was in your dorm room, it is still important to maintain a calm and quiet work environment for your cube mate. This means no loud music, loud and obnoxious ring tones, or personal conversations. You should use earphones, turn your phone on silent and save your personal conversations for when you are off the clock. Work is for the workplace, everything else should be left at the door. Although some of the same rules still hold true, most acceptable workplace behavior is foreign and new to recent college grads. So, play it by ear. Don't do anything you don't see your co-workers doing. Once you've been at your job for a few days, you will quickly start to learn the ropes and what is/is not appropriate work place behavior. Every job is different, so it is advisable to be courteous and polite until you've learned the ropes.
Although each company will have its own specific policies regarding dress code, appropriate behaviors, etc. it is important to keep in mind the general rules that Seymour mentioned. There is nothing more frustrating than sharing your workspace with someone who is ignorant, impolite or just plain idiotic.
When it comes to dress code, something to keep in mind in addition to the things Seymour said is being wary of "casual Friday." Feel out the company practices and norms your first few weeks; though the policy may say that jeans are permitted, if the dressed down version of everyone includes khakis I wouldn't recommend denim. Take a cue from your fellow coworkers to see what behaviors they perform.
In addition, noise level is a major component to having a healthy, happy work environment. Between people typing, phones ringing and that hum of computers, the last thing people want to hear added to that is personal conversation or obnoxious music. Keep both your personal and radio volumes low to respect those around you.
Follow these tips and the others provided and you'll be well on your way to a great work atmosphere!
Secrets will be revealed... Scandals will erupt... Time sheets will be filled out!
The Temp Life is a scripted Web comedy about recent college grads Mark and Laura as they try to earn a living working as temps for Commodity Staffing, a notoriously shady temp agency headed by clueless CEO Nick “Trouble” Chiapetta.
In the Season 3 premiere episode, Mark and Laura make a shocking discovery worthy of 'Save the Assistants' when they return to Commodity Staffing to deliver their time sheets. Meanwhile Nick gets a visit from his guardian angel, Tom Cruise.
Interested in seeing past episodes? Check them out at:
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