STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

kenzie · Chanel

anyone else have this experience?

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

Not to generalize an entire generation of people (cuz we Xers certainly didn't (and still don't) appreciate it), but most research on the "Millennial" Generation will say that what you describe is a common problem among new hires. Many people in HR and career services speak about young employees and interns acting as if they know everything regardless of how long they have been at the job. I think it comes from Millennials' desire to achieve and maintain the lifestyle with which many of them grew up (think convenience-minded, fast and easy, microwave, comfortable, name brand, luxurious or almost-luxurious, etc.).

Whille there are as many Baby-Boomers as there are currently in leadership positions, it would be good for Millennials to ease-up on their overconfidence. Many BB's aren't going anywhere, so this conflict will be around for a while.

Meanwhile, we Gen-X'ers will just roll our eyes and mosey on back to our office sans windows...

-- Edited by pollyjean23 at 14:09, 2008-07-11

Suasoria · Chanel

ITA w/ PJ. Young people have always been somewhat obnoxious at this stage, and we Gen Xers were no different, but some in this age group have been coddled to the Nth degree. Their parents have hovered over them their entire lives making sure that their lives are completely perfect and they've never been oppressed by anyone or anything.

Here's an interesting look at this generation in the workplace:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/08/60minutes/main3475200.shtml?source=search_story

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

YES! YES!! A THOUSAND TIMES YES!! You have to remember you are dealing with a generation of people that have no idea what failure is because they got trophies for everything, they never went without, and they are a constant PAIN IN THE A$$!! Do your best to just ignore them...I know that this is hard becasue you probably just want to beat them, but try remember that they suck and you don't and you should be able to maintain.

Kelly · Hermes

I just learned that a friend of mine from high school (who has now graduated and is 21 or 22) is having a hard time at his job as a firefighter/EMT. Apparently, he and the rest of the ambulance crew were in someone's house trying to save her. The guy who was in charge decided that it would be better to quit working on her inside her house, and transport her to the ambulance so they could bring her to the hospital. My "friend" apparently yelled at his boss about how the patient shouldn't go to the hospital or something and tried to keep him from picking her up. Something insane. He also tried to get a lieutenant's job only two weeks after he graduated from fireman school and was really angry when he didn't get it (I don't know if it was a lieutenant exactly, but it was basically a high-up position that was insane for him to even go for)

In short, I've seen this entitlement attitude and it completely baffles me! I don't even see this guy anymore, but I'm angry at him for being so dumb!

blink · Coach

Oh yes, I have experienced this. And it was around 1999-2001, when I worked in the telecom industry which both peaked and crashed right around that time. I think it's just typical attitude that happens with a combination of being spoiled (I don't mean wealth) and being young/immature, whether or not they are of whatever generation.

I also think it's typical in a large company that is fast growing, with the early hires ending up getting way-too-good promotions out of wallstreet circumstances and then letting the HR dept hiring a bunch of 22 yr olds to work for them.

relrel · Marc Jacobs

Man, kids these days.

I feel like such an old fart (Dude! I'll be 29 in a month! That's ancient!

) but the kids coming out of college now are just brats.

While the kids (all interns at work, and what my BF tells me about his work-study students) are all super-confident, which I think is a good thing, they also don't seem to be able to respect authority. It's fine to question somebody about something, but there's a right way and a wrong way to do that.

I must also add that this seems to cut across economic boundaries. I see all cultures, races, and socio-econ levels and the disrespect for authority seems to be the one common thread.

Sibeski · Dooney & Bourke

Suasoria wrote:

ITA w/ PJ. Young people have always been somewhat obnoxious at this stage, and we Gen Xers were no different, but some in this age group have been coddled to the Nth degree. Their parents have hovered over them their entire lives making sure that their lives are completely perfect and they've never been oppressed by anyone or anything.

Here's an interesting look at this generation in the workplace:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/08/60minutes/main3475200.shtml?source=search_story

Man, that article was depressing! I'd like to give those little putz's shaken baby syndrome.

lynnie · Chanel

ugh, yes. yes.

I guess we're speaking about my age group. I'm not like this too often (and don't really have an arena for it) but I've noticed this know-it-all complex amongst my friends and peers. Everyone needs to assert their intelligence and knowledge and it just gets obnoxious. I think in part because we get out of school and realize that no one knows or cares about all of our accomplishments anymore. I think we are of a generation that achieves for the accolades as opposed to any sort of internal gratification. I think it's really noticeable in how many people want to be famous for a minute. We want to be seen and heard. Maybe it's just the rapid spread of information and our generation all feels a bit lost and overwhelmed. Like if we don't post a million pictures of ourselves on the internet (facebook, myspace, blogs, etc), no one will see us. I hope that made a bit of sense.