A Word From the Youngins

One of my favorite Millennial employees speaks the following words of wisdom.

20-something: will work for (food) purpose and praise

by Raymonda Doncev

I'm not saying part the red sea and lead me to the promise land holding my hand. But a one ounce shot of daily praise and a goal in earshot will certainly do the trick. You can call us, the Millenials, spoiled (we were), you can call us needy (we kind of are), and you can call us self serving (but that's where you would be wrong). We care about adding value, we're smart, and we'll work, but we need wooing to prove our worth. And we are worthy.
3 key components to mixing the perfect 20-something employee:

1. Point to a goal of value as we want and need to matter.
2. Train us and provide structure so we can matter.
3. Praise us often so we feel we do matter.

Goals.
Goals are important to everyone, but especially to us. Tell us where the light at the end of the tunnel is and what that light means so we have something to work towards and be certain that goal is going to have an effect on the company. We want to be a lucrative asset; we want responsibility (the more, the merrier, and we certainly have the energy for it thanks to Red Bull); we want to matter. We need to feel important and by setting a goal of significance: something that will make a difference to our peers, our superiors or overall company objective, reaching or exceeding that will justify our work and our time. It will give us a purpose. And keep it coming. We can handle it. We have grown up with goals: go to school in order to learn in order to get straight As in order to graduate with honors ahead of everyone else in order to apply to a competitive college in order to get into an even better grad school in order to get a great job in order to take over the world in order to be a multi-millionaire by 30 in order to make our parents proud. Get it? Goals. We started our days, weeks and school years with goals; why would we change now?

Training and Structure.
Some people can be given a "big picture" project and run with it. We'll run alright, but it will be straight to your office to get more details, ask for instruction and beg for structure. To do lists are our best friend. Check. Check. Check. *sigh* sense of accomplishment. While we are sharp, we are speedy learners, and we can be efficient, we have ADD from a childhood of overstimulation and multitasking so we need guidelines and proper training to calm our minds (Ritalin in a non pill form). Show us the way or show us the door. And if you show us the way, we'll work long and hard and make it to the end of that tunnel, in record time. We don't want to disappoint you, which is precisely why we need your schooling and a check off list. Give us the opportunities to accomplish something fantastic but give us the tools because we would hate to fail you based on a lack of “how to” knowledge. So tell us what you want, how you want it, and the rules of play and we'll hand it to you on a platter: silver, gold, platinum; your element of preference.

Praise.
Schmooze us! Tell us how fabulous we are! Our parents did, our coaches did, our teachers did; basically everyone taller than us did. This is how we were raised: on praise. So we want, expect, and need this to trickle into our jobs. We don't expect you to pour our coffee but we do expect a lil' sugar in our day. We thrive off of encouragement, a daily reminder that we are making a difference; that we are doing a great job; that we matter (re-occurring theme?). A spoon full of sugar helps the 8 hours pass and keeps us happy, refreshed, and hard at work. If we feel appreciated, we will do what is necessary to keep that sense of appreciation and value. And your ra ra ra's and pats on the back will drive us.

From the mouth of a 20-something: give me a noble goal, show me the way and tell me I'm great, and I'll show you I'm loyal, hard working, and absolutely worthy. And I am worthy.

Would You Hire an Ass Squirter?

Every day in my little world of HR, I get some doses of comic relief from the silly and insane things people do as part of their job search. I don't know if it's a "kids these days" trait, or if it's ageless, because I hardly take the time to meet the people who make these mistakes.

Shout Out!
Ask a job seeker when their first impression is formed and they may respond, "at the interview". It goes much further back than that. With more and more applications and resumes being submitted on line, I need to encourage you to spread the word. Shout it from the rooftops. Prevent someone you know from being the office water-cooler story of the day. A job seeker's e-mail address is their TRUE first impression!

Last week, I got a resume from an asssquirter@.... I'm omitting the aol, yahoo, hotmail or others to protect the innocent. Would you spend your time with a person who is an ass squirter? I didn't either. In recent recollection, I've encountered a recentlyreleased@... and a hitlersfriend@....

This stuff matters! I wish that over the years I had taken the time to write the most entertaining email addresses down. When I have seen them, I would literally will get out of my chair and bring the message or resume to my staff for reaction, which most often was roars of laughter or complete dismay.

I probably should have contacted the person and advised them to change it, and maybe I will some day. But not today.

This post will be updated, from this point forward, with REAL examples of e-mail addresses, sent to a prospective employer with a resume attachment. Believe it or not.

From "Workers" to What?

I'm an advocate for change. I'm also an admirer of the process of change. In my business of working with companies providing human resource services, I see various degrees of pain (and acceptance) as change is happening. One change that I’ve seen significant angst over is assigning appropriate and accepted job titles for new hires.

In my blogs and on my website, I refer to people as being part of a workforce. Not so long ago, these individuals were called "workers", regardless of their position and the industry they were employed in. It wasn't a taboo word to refer to your workers, no more than was it a dirty word to be referred to as "the boss".

The average Joe worker’s job title evolved from worker to…

Employees
It does have a less-labor sound to it. This one has been vastly used and is still acceptable today. When I talk to high school students, they understand the title of "employee" and "employer". But, that title is still not empowering enough to some change driving companies, so then comes...

Associates
Ohhh, that does sound important. This one gets used, as "bosses" are now "managers", from the grocery store to the production floor, and every type of company in between. Being an Associate at your company implies a bit more of a level playing field. The title distinction between bottom and top (workers and bosses) is less evident. Let's take it to the next level...

Business Partners
I've seen this popping up a lot lately, again, without being industry or responsibility specific. A machine operator who is now a Business Partner has the title that empowers him to understand his global role and link to the customer and bottom line. Right? Maybe. Another emerging title tactic...

Director of (or VP of)
At one of the major employers I work with, you walk into the company foyer and are greeted by the "Director of First Impressions". She's sitting at a substantial looking wooden desk; has a head set on; and her main job is to greet visitors, check them in, and direct callers who chose to press 0 instead of navigating the voicemail system. You may be thinking she's the receptionist, but that would be so passé. So last century. Just like secretaries are now administrative assistants, receptionists are now directors of first impressions. The company feels she assumes the role of a director because she has been empowered by her title. And it's working.

What's next? I'll keep you posted as I see the trends evolving, but here are a few suggestions that might fare well with the "kids these days".

Peeps
Being a peep means that you're all equals and work is fun.

Brotha from Another Mother or Sista from Another Mista
Working here is like being with family!

Entrepreneurs in Training
Kids these days want to own their own companies, get rich quick, make their own work rules, and invent their own titles. They're seeking stepping stone jobs (wait, they're not called jobs any more, are they). They're seeking stepping stone employment enrichment opportunities with organizations that provide valuable skills enhancement and experience development.

Repeat after me. Change is good. Change is fun. Change is interesting.

The Eagle Scout Who Brought Daddy to the Interview

I was short staffed today, so I was involved with screening our walk-in applicants more than I usually am. It was mid-afternoon when in walked a boy and his dad (they had an uncanny resemblance). The boy is a high school senior looking for a summer job. I didn't learn that from him, his dad was the one that offered the opening statement. I intentionally directed my body, eyes, and voice to the young man (pretending that his dad was a figment of my imagination). "So, what kind of work have you done?” I asked. Dad piped in from over my shoulder that he mowed lawns for his grandmother and volunteered to wrap gifts for the holiday season. Again, I look at this kid and throw out another challenging question. "What kind of work are you interested in?" That must have been a baffler, because he just stood there and stared at me. I knew then that dad had figured out that I was not interested in hearing what he had to say. Let the boy speak!

The boy (whose name I had yet to learn) stood there quietly. He finally looked up from his Clark Kent glasses (his dad had them too) and said, "It doesn't matter". Okay; I can work with that I thought. I actually do have entry level jobs that are perfect for students going off to college. Otherwise, I would have sent him and pop packing much sooner. Another challenging question from myself, "What qualities do you have that might be beneficial to an employer." I might have well asked about the Theory of Relativity or recipe for Toll House Cookies. Long silence. Awkward stares. Beads of sweat. Then dad chimes in, "He's an Eagle Scout".

The story goes on, but it doesn't get better. I sent both of them away, without prospects of a job for the summer. Do I think this 18 year old boy is ready to work a 40-hour week, running expensive production equipment, working at a fast pace, without his dad? Better luck next year, kid. Gain some experience and insist that dad waits in the car next time you walk in for an application.

The Boomer happy ending: we still get to be selective with the entry level layer of our workforce. However, that's changing fast. Enjoy it while it lasts.

The Millennial happy ending: Your bad experience with me will lead to a better experience with someone else. Good luck Boy Scout! I'm sure you'll do just fine.