How to Overcome Negative Gen Y Stereotypes
Gen Y has taken plenty of flack in the media for being spoiled and demanding, and while twenty-somethings know from personal experience how off the mark these stereotypes are, unfortunately, many of our colleagues may believe the bad press. When Gen Yers join the workforce and encounter these negative impressions, what can they do to counteract them? On Ad Age's Gen Next blog Adrienne Waldo runs down some common misconceptions about the youngest generation at the office and offers tips to convince colleagues these stereotypes are unfounded.
- Stereotype: entitled. We see ourselves as driven and confident and we take pride in that, but the generations before us want us to slow down and pay our dues.
- Suggestion: take the time to really learn your job. Don't insist on a promotion just because you've been at the company for six months. Earn the promotion by working hard and becoming excellent at your job, then present your managers with the tangible reasons you deserve it.
- Stereotype: lazy. I thought about it, and I can see where they get the idea, but it's on a very superficial level. We want to dress comfortably in the office. We have myriad commitments after work, so we can't always stay late. We listen to our iPods to drown out the overwhelming noise of working in a cubicle environment. You can see how these things could be misconstrued -- sloppy, lazy, unfocused.
- Suggestion: once you've mastered a task, volunteer to take on additional responsibility. Don't just sit around and wait for new assignments. Ask for them. Your supervisors will have no valid basis to call you lazy (even when you wear flip-flops and listen to your iPod) if you're enthusiastically putting out quality, timely work and always going back for more.