I can vouch for this story 100% - we have exactly the same problem in my department. Fully 80% of GenYs we've had cycle through our group had the right resumes, interviewed well, had solid education, and generally passed our technical tests.

However, they were more interested in socializing, surfing the web, or taking 10 days to accomplish what should have been done in 10 minutes than actually doing the work they're supposed to be doing.

Upon receipt of poor performance reviews, rather than trying to shape up they have left for "greener pastures"--either elsewhere in the company or left the company entirely (except for the one that's currently stuck with us due to stipulations on his visa--he'll be fired and deported soon enough at the rate he's going).

Following up on a few of these guys I've found they change jobs every 2-3 years--just enough time for their managers to realize they're a lost cause.

It's gotten so bad that for the current job opening we have (soon to be 2!) we got special dispensation from our director to hire someone with 5-10 years' experience rather than fresh out of school. Normally we are required to hire directly out of MS or PhD programs.

I guess I'll have to give a big "+1" to the other old farts' comments regarding this latest generation in the workforce. We, too, have hired quite a few in recent years. Not many directly into my specific work group (we do have one, and he is the notable exception), but quite a few into groups we work with.

All I can say is that their work ethic and motivation just doesn't seem to be there. A general malaise and laziness seems to permeate them. Granted, they are more than happy to tell you how much they know about damn near everything, but it's getting them to do anything about anything that just isn't happening. "Work" just seems to be something they might squeeze in (if they are interested in it) when they run out of other ways to entertain themselves. Doesn't seem to affect their self-image, though.

Even my own two sons, now in their mid 20's, recognize this and mention it quite often. So it's not just my age tainting my perspective - these two young men see it all around them. It frustrates them no end, because they are afraid that guys my age will paint with a broad brush, and include them in our image of the lazy, spoiled gen Y's. Both have managers that have commented on just how "different" they are than most of their peers. The oldest has been working at a local engineering firm for about the last three years. He has now been made an off-site lead in charge of the biggest contract they have, working on-site with their biggest customer. And his mom didn't even have to call his boss...

The problem with pigeon-holing Gen Y'ers, is that it's a pretty broad spectrum. Gen Y started in January 1977 (me), and runs through today. That's a HUGE range, and I'd say those of us on the front end have a completely different mindset than the "young" ones do.

My wife and I have a metric that we use instead of Gen X / Y / Whatever: Before or After Star Wars. :D

She barely squeaks by but I'm solidly in the BSW camp. :)

I had to look up the designations.

Generations X,Y, Z and the Others...Social Librarian Newsletter - WJ Schroer Company

I'm 3 months older than Star Wars...lol.

I'm reassured to know that the GF's son is not the only one.

He's 26, has been sent off to college twice (quit both times), doesn't have a GF (or a BF that we know of), lives at home with mommie, watches TV and plays his X-Box and talks on his cell phone with his buds, quit his last full time job because his supervisor put too much pressure on him to perform, has a bad back that prevents him from doing any manual labor (including cutting the grass), and after taking a YEAR off to decide what he wants to do, now works 20 hours a week as a cashier in a dry cleaners.

In my youth, this person would have been called a loser, or worse.

And he is the reason my GF and I have not gotten married, despite being engaged for 5 years. I can't live in the same house with somebody that worthless and she can't throw him out or move out. He would last maybe a week without somebody to pay the bills and feed him.

Sometimes, that's exactly the kick in the ass they need.

send your step-son here.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1406849152.jpg

+1. My wife is VP of HR for a software company, she could have written the above... They even discuss this phenomenon at HR seminars now... it's not a myth... Turnover is incredibly high in that age group vs. the rest of the company.

I can tell you that right now I have about a half dozen "Ys" working on a project. To a person they work their butts off, and two of them we basically have to force to leave work and go home. They are incredibly motivated and dedicated to our work and their project.

I've seen lazy sloths and hard workers in every age bracket.

Shouldn't we be blaming the past generations that invented (and got rich) off inventing video games, cell phones, and crap media that is poisoning the minds of our youth?

Oh wait... that would be my generation... nothing to see here... move along!

Doesn't it have to do with getting into a field of interest and not just a job.

I used to work with some young folks from Bain and McKinsey. You had to kick them out at night they were so motivated. They worked because they loved the challenge.

Then there are those that work as a means to an end, toys, booze, girls, drugs etc.

I never wanted a career, just a steady paycheck.

I stumbled upon my career. What I did in the Army kinda/sorta translates to what I do now, and that's how I got in. It's fun, money's good, but it's not what I envisioned myself doing when I was a kid. That's cool, though. To me, the important thing is to be able to support my family. I can have "fun" outside of work.

Same here in the interns I've had over the years. And it seems to be an international phenomenon not limited to the USA.

I prefer to think of myself as thoughtful and calculating

A joke for those with Navy experience:

q: do you know how many people work at SPAWAR?

a: about half

I think every branch of the government has a version of that joke.

Last one I heard was something along the lines of 2 guys admiring the new NSA complex (huge). One turns to the other and asks...well, you know the rest.