You’ve met all of your academic requirements, you’ve walked across the stage and collected your diploma. You’ve done everything you were “supposed” to do up until this point, but suddenly you’re feeling a lot less prepared than you thought you would. Congratulations! You’re officially a Gen Y college graduate.
We were raised by Baby Boomer helicopter parents and teachers. They lived in an age when education was at the height of a revolution and while trying to instill their strong educational values on us, our parents and teachers led us to believe that if we went to college, we would graduate and have the world at our fingertips.
This messaging has led to a serious misunderstanding of the process behind the job search. A lot of us went to college because we felt like it was what we were “supposed” to do and we figured that if we graduated, we were entitled to our dream job, too. Graduates are expecting opportunities to find us, because we have that piece of paper in our hands and we were always shown that if we did what we were told we would get whatever we wanted. Well wise up, Gen Y – that’s not how the world works! Going from diploma to “dream job” requires a process. But don’t blame the negligence on yourselves, blame the Boomers.
Boomers are caught in a similar dichotomy. They don’t understand us, are apprehensive to hire us, and criticize our lack of a work ethic. On the other hand, our parents are allowing us to live in their homes until we get our “dream job”. They think they are helping us by paying for our cell phones and keeping us on their health insurance, but in reality, this behavior is creating unmotivated, spoiled twenty-somethings and is enabling the very same behavior that they criticize us for.
So how do we fix this? We can start by nurturing kids’ interests at an early age instead of putting families into tens of thousands of dollars of debt hoping college steers kids in the right direction. Better yet, why not agree that if kids want to pursue higher education, we should help them understand the value of it by requiring them to take on some of the debt. Moreover, let’s prepare them early on to be decisive and proactive with their futures. Encourage high school students to explore all of the options available to them, including trade school or civil service, before blindly shipping them off to college.
Boomers, be proactive parents by teaching your teen how to balance a checkbook and write a resume. Stop criticizing Gen Y and take responsibility for your role in our shortfalls.
How can Gen Y help themselves? Let’s assume you already have at least a vague idea of what you want to do. A great place to start is by contacting your college’s career services office. Ask them to critique your resume or recommend databases where you can access job postings.
Another way to get your feet wet is by finding someone who has the job you want. Request an informational meeting and find out where they got their start. Better yet, ask if they need an apprentice. Reach out to others in related positions and request an opportunity to job shadow.
It’s always a good idea to find a flexible, part-time or weekend job, too. While you’re investing time into your career, it will be nice knowing that the 10 hours you spent answering phones or mopping floors will keep your belly fed and your phone bill paid.
And take up a hobby! You never know where you will meet your next great career connection. Social Boston Sports is a great example of a fun and physical networking opportunity in my ‘hood. Jobs are rarely found by sitting on your parents’ couch trolling corporate listings.
But, Gen Y, don’t be so hard on yourself! There is a whole community of people in the same boat you are, stuck in the middle of a jobless sea.
Photo credit: clgregor
Great Article – as a twenty something (on the late side) and a lecturer I echo your thoughts, student motivation seems to be falling all the time and it's a fight to get some of them thinking like this.
Thanks
Matt
Nice piece. Recognizing that a degree only puts you in the middle of the pack, and that experience and ingenuity counts for a whole lot more, puts you in slightly better stead. I recently wrote a long blog post about my experiences post-degree and I think it pretty much echos the though that you have to make your own luck in the end. Just make sure you don't leave yourself looking like you have no direction, no self-motivation and nothing of use to offer potential employers. And what is a 'dream job' anyhow?
This is a great post. I do feel like a lot of people our age just go to college because it's what they're “supposed to do,” and then realize that it isn't the right place for them. I definitely came out of college (just recently, in May) thinking that my diploma should have a job attached to it, which was horrendously unrealistic thinking. I'm lucky enough to know the type of position I'm looking for, which is nice. I have a lot of friends who have graduated and still don't know what they want to do.
I think our boomer parents grew up in the age of tough love, and thus hate to instill that on their kids. They realize that maybe the “School of Hard Knocks” isn't the best education, and are spoiling us because of it. While I enjoy the stability (financially and emotionally) of being offered a place at their house, I definitely feel like I need to find a life of a my own.
As for finding a job, it's time for us to stop complaining and feeling sorry for ourselves and actually get out there and DO something about it. There are simply too many channels of communication to use to our advantage; moping about being unemployed is just a waste of valuable time. I wrote a post today about how we can use social media to help find a job. It's here, if anyone wants to check it out: http://bit.ly/byN1qq
Great Post!
Tom Miesen
@tmiesen
Thank you for the feedback, Matt! And thanks also for the Tweet. I have considered breaking into the education field to help in the fight for Gen Y success. Do you enjoy being a lecturer?
My father always tells me “I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up!” and I think I adopted some of that mentality from him. Would you mind linking me to your blog post about your post-degree experience? I'd love to read some like-minded thinking!
Thanks for the feedback, Tom! I think that while the “school of hard knocks” isn't necessarily the best method for parenting, I also think that spoiling our kids is equally detrimental. I'd like to see Gen Y parent our children with a healthy balance of both.
Your father is right. Though my father prefers to tell me … there is a fine line between being self-employed nad unemployed
The blog post is entitled “Life so far … and a Degree in Politics” http://www.vincentroman.com/blog/life-so-far-an… Hope you find it of interest 
Part of the problem here is that we are just going through the motions without being taught to ask 'why?' or 'why not?'. We cannot simply accept things at face value, but rather we must go deeper. We need to stop assuming that things will automatically happen and start asking 'what if?' more often. This must be conditioned into us at an early age and then continue to be nurtured. Don't just settle for the status quo.
I just graduated Emerson College- and this post hit me hard.
When I graduated I envisioned having a job, having medical benefits a consistent salary. It doesn't work that way. I have been scheduling a ton of informational interviews which keeps me motivated and excited about the marketing field I am looking to dive into. However, it doesn't make up for not having a job. Nonetheless, it's a process and I am growing to understand that. When I do get that very sweet job- it will be worth it. I believe it will be.
I completely agree that we shouldn't be taught there is “one path” at an early age. You don't go to college, get a job, get married etc etc. That's not the way it is, and we need to realize that.
However, I often get frustrated when people generalize Gen-Y as the “takers.” All my debt is my debt, my loans are just co-signed by my parents but all those payments are being made by me. I pay for my rent, my bills and as an unemployed individual- that's not too easy. I know many individuals of my generation who are doing the same and that's why the stereotype of a spoiled Gen-Y'er is wrong. It is merely a stereotype.
Nonetheless, we are a generation who is less aware of finances, investing, “real things.” Now, that we are growing up in a recession I think those ideas are becoming more and more tangible and realistic to us.
Great post, Kaitlin!
As the Community Manager for this lovely group of young people on TNGG and an employee of Mullen, many recent grads have come to me asking for advice and “a way in” to the advertising world…
Here's the number one mistake made by recent graduates in this field: They expect that because they know the theory and have “an interest in learning,” that's enough to get them hired. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but these days that is nowhere near enough. You must have experience and you must seem to be extraordinary.
Think it's a catch 22 to be looking for your first job and they already demand that you have experience? Too bad. Start doing it for free. There are tons of nonprofits and startups who would be glad to be the guinea pig to your first advertising/PR/social media efforts.
Your response is all too familiar, Marissa! While you (and I!) and a few of your friends are fully supporting ourselves financially, haven't you noticed that we are in the minority? I hate to be the one that throws around a cliche but “stereotypes are often stereotypes because there is truth to them.” It is frustrating to be put in the spoiled 20-something category if you're not, but I'm starting to realize that spoiled 20-somethings are the norm! I am on an entry level salary, but there is certainly a part of me that is bitter, because why should I have to suffer on the same entry level salary as my co-workers when they don't have the same amount of bills and debt? If their parents are still paying for their rent, shouldn't they get paid less? Gosh, if only the world were “fair!” but… alas… it's not. And while I hate it, I still think the stereotype of spoiled Gen Y'ers is true, but only to the fault of their own parents for enabling it.
Hear, hear!
YES. Thank you! Informational interviews…talking to your college career center…being *proactive*. Honestly, college isn’t enough anymore. Sorry. Everyone has a college degree these days. You have to go above and beyond to stand out and get the job you want. Great advice!