How To Defy The Gen Y Stereotype
It's no secret that Generation Y workers-also known as Millennials-don't exactly have the best reputation in the workplace. Perhaps you've heard some of the following comments made about your generation (not you, of course...just, um, other people your age...)
"They don't want to pay their dues."
"They act entitled."
"All they want to do is play on Facebook."
Ouch!
No stereotype is ever 100 percent true (and lots of people have good things to say about today's young workers), but it's important to know that this perception is out there. Why? If most people-bosses, colleagues, recruiters-believe that young people are entitled, coddled and permanently connected to their iPod ear buds, then you can really stand out by being hard-working, respectful and well-mannered. Here are some actions to take if you suspect you might be a victim of Gen Y typecasting:
Engage a kind critic. First, find out what your professional persona really is. Seek out someone you respect-a mentor, friend, family member or professional coach-who will tell you the truth about the impression you give in a professional environment. Create a list of questions to ask this person and be as specific as possible (Do I project overconfident or defensive energy? Do I say "like" or "you know" too much?). Once you have this valuable information, no matter how hard it might be to swallow, your next step is to ask this person how he or she would advise you to improve any not-so-hot habits you may have.
Rewrite your cover letters. Rather than emphasizing how much you want to learn and grow by working at XYZ Company, instead tell the employer how much you want to contribute to their success. Instead of this writing, "I am eager to use and develop my sales ability," try the "what's in it for them" approach. For example: "I am eager to apply my proven sales ability to help increase the bottom line of your new department."
Change your voicemail greeting. If a corporate recruiter calls five job candidates and you are the only one with a professional-sounding voice mail message, who do you think will get the interview? Courtesy and maturity count. A lot.
Listen more than you talk. Studies have shown that the more a job interviewer talks during an interview, the more likely the candidate will be hired. It's no secret that people love to talk about themselves, and beyond that, asking an interviewer questions and listening politely to the answers indicates that you are curious, gracious and modest. The same goes for meetings with your boss or important clients.
Be a mutually beneficial networker. In other words, don't be a "user." Networking has to be win-win to be effective. Be the first to ask what you can do to support a professional contact. Simply say: "Is there anything I can do to help you right now?" Or, if you are hoping for some immediate assistance: "I'm looking for a job and would love to ask you for some advice about your industry. What could I do to make it worth your time to have coffee and a chat with me?"
Email for the job you want. You've probably heard the advice to "dress for the job you want, not the job you have." This is absolutely true, and the guidance extends to the way you communicate, especially online. Take a look at your recent emails: Do you write in all lowercase? Use lots of text-message-style acronyms? Pepper your emails with loads of exclamation points? If so, these are all red flags to your reader that you are young, young, young. In some casual environments these habits may be the norm and that's fine, but I bet you won't see "LOL" in an email from a senior exec at a Fortune 500 company. The best tactic for de-Gen-Y-ing your email communication is to study the emails of people you admire professionally and model your style on theirs.
Clean up your online persona. On the topic of online communication, a big key to overcoming the Gen Y stereotype is to check yourself out on the web: Google yourself and look at your Facebook profile from the perspective of an employer. If you see any, er, unprofessional photos, nicknames or language associated with your name, do your best to delete it yourself or ask the person who posted it to take it down. Virtually every employer I speak to admits to checking out potential and existing employees online (it's a free background check, after all), so make sure what they find about you is rated PG.
Say thank you. Thank you notes never fail to impress, and I am shocked at how few young people send them. In my opinion, expressing gratitude when appropriate is one of the most important elements of professional etiquette. Never let a good, helpful deed go un-thanked. This is particularly important for young professionals, who are usually on the receiving end of advice.
I hope these suggestions will help you to be a model Gen Y citizen on the job hunt and in the workplace. And I hope someday you will pay it forward and share similar tips with your successors-Generation Z?
Lindsey Pollak is a college campus speaker and the author of Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World (HarperCollins, 2007). Known as an expert on Generation Y, you can get more tips at http://www.GettingfromCollegetoCareer.com and ask Lindsey your career question.
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