Comments on: The Differences Between Boomers & Gen Y http://blogs.jobdig.com/diggings/2007/08/08/the-differences-between-boomers-gen-y/ A blog about recruitment advertising, media, publishing, HR, work, & technology, among other things Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:42:15 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 hourly 1 By: Toby Dayton http://blogs.jobdig.com/diggings/2007/08/08/the-differences-between-boomers-gen-y/comment-page-1/#comment-17707 Toby Dayton Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:37:08 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/diggings/2007/08/08/the-differences-between-boomers-gen-y/#comment-17707 Uturn - In my experience, and the majority of employees in our company are between the ages of 23-30, you could not be more flawed in your thinking. We absolutely hire and evaluate our people by their skills and abilities rather than age, and nothing in my post suggested that we or any company should do otherwise. Contrary to your erroneous generalizations, this age group can 'word process' (or as I personally like to call it - write), can use databases (usually they build them and/or improve them before utilizing them), and can use spreadsheets. And the last time I checked (this morning), the phenomena of the workplace 'water cooler' was not a generational anomaly, but simply evidence of our species' inherent propensity towards socialization. As far as your 2nd paragraph is concerned, I cannot begin to make sense of the point(s) you are attempting to make (perhaps you should work on your word processing skills. Or, would that be writing skills?). What newer generation is going to be put out of work by Generation Y? The generations ahead of Gen Y are typically referred to as older generations (unless you mean to imply that Gen Y is going to be taking jobs from their children). I have no ability to follow your logic about entrepreneurship becoming the only method of survival, though perhaps you're implying that people considered to be part of Generation Y are incapable of working in a large organization given what you mistakenly perceive to be their character flaws. If you are attempting to argue, and given your meandering, borderline nonsensical line of reasoning I cannot be certain one way or another, that 'corporate giants' are going to collapse for lack of sufficiently capable workforce, I'd argue vehemently to the contrary. I'd also suggest that a massively flawed, grossly underfunded public education system in this country and increasing pressure from globalization as just two factors among many that will contribute to the challenges that companies in this country face. But again, I am having trouble deciphering what you are trying to say in your comment, so I cannot be certain how to adequately respond. As I pointed out earlier, nothing in the post, and certainly nothing in John Sumser's presentation, advocated for the abandonment of hiring based on skills, talents, and fit. But the fact remains that Baby Boomers will eventually retire (though I would argue more gradually than predicted for many, many reasons), and Generation Y will become the dominant generation in the workplace. Companies that are not already successfully adapting to the changes being precipitated by this transformation will be, without question, less competitive than those that are. If you feel differently, and conduct your business accordingly, I certainly wish you the best of luck and I'd be curious to know how it works out for you down the road. Please keep me apprised of your success. Uturn – In my experience, and the majority of employees in our company are between the ages of 23-30, you could not be more flawed in your thinking. We absolutely hire and evaluate our people by their skills and abilities rather than age, and nothing in my post suggested that we or any company should do otherwise. Contrary to your erroneous generalizations, this age group can ‘word process’ (or as I personally like to call it – write), can use databases (usually they build them and/or improve them before utilizing them), and can use spreadsheets. And the last time I checked (this morning), the phenomena of the workplace ‘water cooler’ was not a generational anomaly, but simply evidence of our species’ inherent propensity towards socialization.

As far as your 2nd paragraph is concerned, I cannot begin to make sense of the point(s) you are attempting to make (perhaps you should work on your word processing skills. Or, would that be writing skills?). What newer generation is going to be put out of work by Generation Y? The generations ahead of Gen Y are typically referred to as older generations (unless you mean to imply that Gen Y is going to be taking jobs from their children). I have no ability to follow your logic about entrepreneurship becoming the only method of survival, though perhaps you’re implying that people considered to be part of Generation Y are incapable of working in a large organization given what you mistakenly perceive to be their character flaws. If you are attempting to argue, and given your meandering, borderline nonsensical line of reasoning I cannot be certain one way or another, that ‘corporate giants’ are going to collapse for lack of sufficiently capable workforce, I’d argue vehemently to the contrary. I’d also suggest that a massively flawed, grossly underfunded public education system in this country and increasing pressure from globalization as just two factors among many that will contribute to the challenges that companies in this country face. But again, I am having trouble deciphering what you are trying to say in your comment, so I cannot be certain how to adequately respond.

As I pointed out earlier, nothing in the post, and certainly nothing in John Sumser’s presentation, advocated for the abandonment of hiring based on skills, talents, and fit. But the fact remains that Baby Boomers will eventually retire (though I would argue more gradually than predicted for many, many reasons), and Generation Y will become the dominant generation in the workplace. Companies that are not already successfully adapting to the changes being precipitated by this transformation will be, without question, less competitive than those that are. If you feel differently, and conduct your business accordingly, I certainly wish you the best of luck and I’d be curious to know how it works out for you down the road. Please keep me apprised of your success.

]]> By: Uturn http://blogs.jobdig.com/diggings/2007/08/08/the-differences-between-boomers-gen-y/comment-page-1/#comment-17705 Uturn Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:13:15 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/diggings/2007/08/08/the-differences-between-boomers-gen-y/#comment-17705 Funny, I was just thinking that potential employees need to be judged by their skills and abilities rather than their age. I guess this sort of backward thinking will lead me to "suffer greatly," especially when people who are assessed as comfortable with technology can not word process, use a spreadsheet or a database, or conduct an effective web search (Let alone type in complete sentences...but I digress). Their social networking will be invaluable as they monopolize the water cooler as profits break through the floor. But, I forget, their unmatched skill in the art of text messaging will save the day. I just wish I knew what fyrite meant. When the newer generation that is put out of work by these supposed superior workers, entrepreneurship will be the only method of survival, and ultimately will lead to the collapse of this "new" hand-holding managerial style and the corporate giants. Unless you boomers don't really want to retire, and are content to remain on and do all the work of all those you manage repeating to yourself "I'm just helping them out, just holding their hand." Ask yourself one thing before abandoning the search for qualified people in lieu of generational hiring: Do I really want an employee who will talk, text message, play solitaire, watch a movie, conduct an online chat AND sit at their desk; or should I just settle for the one who does the job? Funny, I was just thinking that potential employees need to be judged by their skills and abilities rather than their age. I guess this sort of backward thinking will lead me to “suffer greatly,” especially when people who are assessed as comfortable with technology can not word process, use a spreadsheet or a database, or conduct an effective web search (Let alone type in complete sentences…but I digress). Their social networking will be invaluable as they monopolize the water cooler as profits break through the floor. But, I forget, their unmatched skill in the art of text messaging will save the day. I just wish I knew what fyrite meant.
When the newer generation that is put out of work by these supposed superior workers, entrepreneurship will be the only method of survival, and ultimately will lead to the collapse of this “new” hand-holding managerial style and the corporate giants. Unless you boomers don’t really want to retire, and are content to remain on and do all the work of all those you manage repeating to yourself “I’m just helping them out, just holding their hand.”
Ask yourself one thing before abandoning the search for qualified people in lieu of generational hiring: Do I really want an employee who will talk, text message, play solitaire, watch a movie, conduct an online chat AND sit at their desk; or should I just settle for the one who does the job?

]]> By: TIm Harris http://blogs.jobdig.com/diggings/2007/08/08/the-differences-between-boomers-gen-y/comment-page-1/#comment-15002 TIm Harris Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:07:02 +0000 http://blogs.jobdig.com/diggings/2007/08/08/the-differences-between-boomers-gen-y/#comment-15002 Generations need to be measured by their traits and tendencies rather than that of age. Your article shadows what we have been thinking all along. Visit our profile at www.generationalprofiles.com and take your profile for free to find out for yourself. Generations need to be measured by their traits and tendencies rather than that of age. Your article shadows what we have been thinking all along. Visit our profile at http://www.generationalprofiles.com and take your profile for free to find out for yourself.

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