Cristina Viray, Summer Associate, DTG
Generation Y, The New Millennials, Generation Next…
(Born from approximately 1979-2000)
“If you know the people you’re hiring, you’ll be able to evaluate and work with them more effectively.” (John T. Adams III, HR Magazine, October 2000)
As a 23-year-old recent college graduate, now current graduate student, I represent a growing population unique to my generation, coming from a racially mixed background (in my case, Filipino, Italian, and Polish). I am generation Y (born immediately after Generation X, the last generation wholly born in the 20th century). I am one of approximately 76 million people in this country changing both the face and the focus of today’s workplace. My generation rivals the baby boomer generation in size and is the most racially diverse in the history of the United States. I grew up with, formed friendships with, and studied with people outside of my ethnic background. Furthermore, as a female, I represent the number of women of my generation who are increasingly better educated than past generations. We are quickly catching up to the number of men earning advanced degrees in all academic fields, thereby further narrowing the gender gap in educational attainment. It is definitely to any employer’s great advantage to educate themselves on who they are or will be hiring in the very near future.
Some Gen Y characteristics employers should keep in mind:
Frequent and experienced use of Technology
 | With Instant Messaging, TheFacebook.com, myspace.com, and craigslist.org: we are one of the most technologically-savvy generations ever, constantly in touch with our friends and family online, maintaining relationships and keeping tabs. |
| Google is becoming the primary resource for information on almost anything- research, statistics, etc. |
| Almost everyone you know owns a cell phone (not only for emergency purposes or the car as before) |
Financial Realities
| “Boomerang” tendencies: many of us have had to move back home after graduating from college due to a poor job market and rising costs in housing |
Political Affiliations
| Fifty-four percent of voters younger than 30 voted for Sen. John Kerry last year -- the only age group the Democratic presidential candidate carried |
Cultural Influences
| MTV plays more than just music videos (popular shows such as 8th & Ocean, The Real World, etc. consistently earn high ratings) |
| More have traveled to a foreign country for study abroad or volunteerism |
Recent History Still Fresh in Our Minds
| Columbine High School shootings |
| Oklahoma City attacks |
| 9/11 Terrorist Attacks- (most of us were just entering our first year of college at this time) |
| Clinton/Lewinsky scandal/impeachment |
| Death of Princess Diana (most of as are around the same age as Prince William and Prince Harry) |
| War in Iraq and the war on terrorism |
With this data, employers can earn a better understanding of young people in their mid and early 20s preparing for or are already in the workforce, such as myself. By keeping these facts in mind, one can also properly restructure or reorganize their company’s strategies in hiring, retention, etc. in order to meet this new generation’s specific needs.
We’re changing the face of the workforce. Companies unable to connect with ‘Gen Y’ will lose out on a new, promising market--and could find the doors thrown open to other competitors. ''Think of them as this quiet little group about to change everything,'' says Edward Winter of The U30 Group, a Knoxville (Tenn.) consulting firm. (Business Week, 1999). With our diverse perspective comes an increase in potential for businesses and more opportunities for success. As Dave Verhaagen, the author of Parenting the Millennial Generation states, Generation Y “will rise to the occasion and show courage, character, determination, innovation and vision in ways that really make the country a better place.” I couldn’t agree more.
Sources
Adams, John T. III. (2000) “Soon you’ll be hiring employees who never saw a
shag carpet.” HR Magazine, October.
Neuborne, Ellen (1999). “Generation Y” Business Week.
Topper, Mark. “The Changing Nature of the Workforce: Leading and Training the
New Generations.”
Velez, Brenda (2006).“Harsh Reality for Young Women of Color.” DiversityInc.
Wetzstein, Cheryl. (2005) “Generation Y embraces choice, redefines religion.”
The Washington Times.
