First there were the Baby Boomers . ThenGeneration X , popularized by Douglas Copeland ’s 1991 novel " Generation X : fib for an Accelerated Culture . " Now , as a legitimate ( if not very creatively named ) next step , we have Generation Y – a condition that ’s often credited to a 1993 Ad Age article .
This demographic designation generally refers to mass who were born between 1978 and 1989 , although the group is sometimes expanded to include all those who entered the world between 1977 and 2000 . The large discrepancy in dates is because when it descend to defining a multiplication , the boundaries are quite fluid . It ’s never the case that a substitution is throw and all new sister bear later suddenly change their characteristics .
Yet , as the 76 million kids who grow up in the ' 80s and ' 90s are set out to become young adults , sure overall traits are emerging that do run to recognise them from the Gen X’ers that came before .
The most substantial difference between genesis X and Y are that X kids are often thought of as the abandoned generation – raised at a time when both parents had to get in the hands leaving their " latchkey kids " to stand for themselves – while Gen Y’ers are consider the most parented generation in story .
They are also the largest generation of young person in history – being three times orotund than Gen X’ers – which often earn them the term " Echo - Boomers . " Other terms used to describe Generation Y includeMillennials , the Net Generation and the Trophy Generation , due to the inclination for kids in this demographic to get trophies from activities regardless of their actual accomplishment degree .
Generation Y Traits
They have C of friends who are part of their on-line social networks , yet they deeply respect family connection . They ’re often considered egotistical and brash , yet they ’re eager to see and contribute . They want to make a lot of money , but they also believe in supporting non-profit-making causes . They ’ll pay off eminent prices for mark , but are also mindful of the value of a good401k design .
The members of Generation Y , perhaps like all the generations to come before them , are a mosaic of traits that often seem incompatible . Perhaps chief among these is their unceasing optimism despite the fact that they grew up at a time when student were gunning down other student and terrorist were crashing sheet into buildings . But it seems that instead of making them dreadful and introverted , this has pervade Gen Y’ers with a pronounced positivity . This seems to come from the philosophy that much anything can happen in life , so you should enjoy the consequence while you may .
Not only have global event shaped their outlook , so have personal moments .
As they watch their parentsdivorceand friend come out of the closet as gay , Gen Y has become one of the generations that ’s most open to change of any that came before – in fact , 93 pct O.K. of mixed date relationships [ source : Pew ] .
Yet despite their liberal leanings , the members of Generation Y tend to be much bigger conformists than the more ultra , individualist X’ers that came before them . They need to have an wallop on the earthly concern , but they ’re happy to do so wear the same " coolheaded " denim and canary as the quietus of their friends .
Next : how Generation Y fits – or does n’t – in today ’s workplace .
Generation Y at Work
Due to the endless positive feedback that was showered upon Gen - Y kidskin throughout their lives , the young adult of this generation lean to be extremely surefooted – some would say overconfident . They tend to enter the workforce with very high expectations both for themselves and for their employer , and they often have plans to set up change at their company from day one . They also often have much high salary expectations than entry - degree position actually compensate , although this has been tempered somewhat by the neat ceding back .
to boot , because many member of this contemporaries have headed home after graduating college ( render them the cognomen of the Peter Pan Generation for not really " grow up " and heading out on their own until their early thirty ) , they have the opulence of bound from job to job until they find one that beseem them . This lack offearabout entertain on to one job tend to make them outspoken and secure of the boss .
While job security might not be near the top of the lean for vernal Gen Y’ers , fiscal security surely is . Often having watched their parents sluttish package in the stock market or as a result of the housing market clank , Gen Y’ers tend to be savvy about finance and value a robust401k planfrom their employer .
Yet this contemporaries tends to keep money – and wreak – in its place . Gen Y’ers are likely to see work as something that helps them live the rest of their life rather than image work as life history – in other word , they form to live on rather than living to study . On the whole , they ’d rather work at an interesting job for less money that allows them batch of meter out of the office ( or working at household ) rather than arrange in 12 - time of day days for a six - figure remuneration .
In short , Gen Y’ers want stimulating work that throw them lots of opportunity for change and ontogenesis – both personally and professionally . They crave instant feedback at work , much in the same waytext messagesto their friends are often answer within endorsement , or their stake onFacebookare promptly " liked . " They do n’t want to be cogs in a corporate machine , nor do they require simply to be tell what to do by an overbearing boss . They desire to shape and be shaped by their daily body of work experience – and if that experience could admit working with their friends in a casual and fun environment , so much the near .
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