Reality Bites: Generation Y Goes to Work

by Alex Steed

Published January 02, 2009 @ 05:45PM PT

[Many thanks to Jen over at the Women's Rights blog for bringing this to my attention.]

The Economist published a story called Generation Y Goes to Work, which is about the importance (and precariousness) of managing Millennials in a downturn.

"Reality Bites"

I found the subheading of the article, "Reality bites for young workers," to be hilarious. It remains my favorite line from the entire article. The reference is, of course, to Reality Bites, the 1994 Ben Stiller-directed film that carefully observes and pokes fun at the idiosyncrasies of the [media-purported] shallow, pop-culture obsessed Gen-X and the role that "growing up" and facing "real life" issues (death, AIDS, freedom of sexuality) plays in the destruction of the superficiality of its pop-cultural obsessions.

The reference is smart, as the article aims to dissect what issues the Millennial Generation faces during the economic downturn (especially with regard to finding, holding onto, and appreciating the once-frowned upon merits of steady, long-term employment). Cinematic memories of a snarky, super-stylized/hip Ethan Hawk and Winona Ryder, however, leave me with a bad taste in my mouth, which is particularly ironic (the humor of choice for said caricatures of said generation) considering how much of an influence growing up in the shadow created by Generation X's over-reported ego has helped to shape many of the attitudes of the Millennial Generation.

Where did we come from?
Where will we go?
Blah blah blah.
Cotton-eyed Joe.

Overall, the piece is particularly in sync with my varied observations from the tour. It is written by addressing one realization I had while on the road:

Why look for where we've come from (as I went on the road intending to do)? We know why we're like this for the most part, right? Where the hell are we going?

The article suggests where Millennials are going (if gainfully employed): Nowhere. We're staying put in our jobs, as least for a little longer than we hoped we would because, as it turns out (in 2009 at least), "Recession" is the new "Barack Obama" as far as media buzzwords go.

While on the road, where my aim was to talk with as many Millennial activists and altruists as possible, I found myself occupied by hearing repeated testimony regarding hope inspired by Barack Obama's victory. Then, a week after his victory, I began to hear what would become (in retrospect) the solidification of a mass-realization that the recession is here to stay. We are Millennials changing America, yes. But how do we imagine that America is changing us?

And now that we're no longer a generation characterized by our general optimistic dissidence (pro-Obama, and largely anti-Bush), which has been — for at least the past two years — the lens through which we had identified the examination of our origins — I am brought back full circle to the initial question at hand. Now that we know where we're going, and have a new context for understanding who we are, what of our origins will become pronounced as we face hard and uncertain times?

Hi. My name is Alex. I'm an "inter-generational expert."

According to Cam Marston (who is quoted in the article), "The recession is creating lower turnover, but also higher frustration among young people stuck in jobs."

The first part is certainly true, but I don't necessarily buy into the second part as a long-term assessment. Yes, it has been tough for those I know who thought they were going to work at some firm for a bit, and then go to hand out meal rations in the Palestinian Territories next month (or whatever). However, as the recession becomes more "real,"  the "Oh crap - I've actually got to keep working here" turns into a reassessment of values more than it does an "I've been wronged and now I'm irritable and pissed" feeling. "This isn't ideal, but how do I turn this into an opportunity for growth and learning?" is a much more common attitude than, "Boo. This job is totally lame." (Although admittedly, I have seen some of the latter manifest itself.) An optimistic generation, I've seen far more peers and colleagues take the former attitude, seeing this as an opportunity for growth, than I have sensed irritability, frustration, and depression.

[Beware: Bracketed statements ahead.]

• [I, too, advise companies on inter-generational matters! It's easy! All you have to do is read some books and white papers, buy a domain-name, and purport expertise! It's just that simple! Who do you trust regarding Millennial attitudes? A Gen-Xer with a suit and tie, or a Millennial in an American Apparel polo. "Authenticity," Cam! Authenticity!]
• [The cheap-shot above is probably why Cam can afford a suit and tie and while I can only afford a polo. It has nothing to do with authenticity. The truth is I'm just poor.]
• [Sorry, Cam. Low-blow. I just lost my cool, man. By the way - you're not hiring, by chance, are you?]