Professionalism

Paying Their Dues

August 27, 2007

 

Increasingly, I have the opportunity to talk to clients and members of the media about Gen Y, the generation that is just now entering the workforce. There is absolutely no doubt that many Gen Y new employees and their Boomer bosses are clashing. Gen Y seemingly wants it all—A fun job, a good salary and lots of time for family and friends. Their bosses often complain that these newest hires have no concept of “paying their dues.”
 
While Gen Y may share that reputation, last week I encountered several examples of young people who are pushing themselves hard to achieve what I suspect will eventually be very great things. 
 
In L.A., for example, I met Gabriel, a soon-to-be college graduate, who I am convinced will one day accomplish every one of his dreams. Last year, a bunch of his friends, none of them business majors, by the way, entered a consulting case challenge at UCLA and beat out all the competition. Now, in addition to his class work, Gabriel works three days a week with the consulting company that he, his friends, and one of the challenge judges formed.
 
Then, last night I had the opportunity to dine with members of the career services department of Loyola (New Orleans) University Law School and six of the school’s students. Two years ago, two of the women students and their families lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. Now, both of these young women work full-time in order to pay for their law school educations.
 

In many ways, Gen Y is a very pampered generation. All the years they were growing up, Gen Y had their own rooms, TVs, and computers. The young people I met throughout the past week, however, suggest Gen Y is a generation that doesn’t expect the world to be handed to them on a silver plate. They are willing to work. And I’m betting they’ll accomplish tons.


 




 



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