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Lisette Diamant and Ruth Johnston

Bentley University’s Millennial Preparedness research study raised a number of issues about millennials in the workplace. In the coming weeks, PreparedU, in a series entitled Generational Voices, will present opinions from millennials and non-millennials alike on a wide variety of these issues. These views may contrast or coincide, but each will provide perspective designed to enhance insights resulting from the PreparedU data.

The Millennial Point of View

Lisette Diamant, Traffic Manager at George P. Johnson (Experiential Marketing Agency)

“There were peers of mine in college who wanted to get a job at one of the Big Four accounting firms, stay there, and rise to partner there.  I’ve never thought of myself doing that.  I work in the advertising and marketing industry, and am always looking at what’s next and where the next challenge lies. I’m curious and eager to leap into new things, new roles in new environments to grow my career.

You can do this at the right company if there’s a good fit – and if you have a good boss who will create new opportunities and responsibilities for you. This is one way companies can instill long-term loyalty in the Millennials. This doesn’t necessarily mean promotions; it means helping us to hone skills, work on our weaknesses, leverage our strengths, and fulfill our aspirations.

I’m always looking for a Baby Boomer mentor who will fight for me.  I had strong professors at Bentley and had guidance from strong older students who guided me in college. These were my advocates at Bentley but I don’t see the same kind of structure in the real world.  Not many of my Millennial peers have found this kind of mentorship in the real world. But I know we engage in companies that offer this type of mentorship. It has been quite a contrast.”

 

The Baby Boomer Point of View

Ruth A. Johnston, PhD, Associate Vice President and Associate Vice Provost, University of Washington

In my career at the University of Washington, I have supervised or worked with hundreds of young people — many students and many new staff members. I find millennials to be curious, smart and engaged, wanting to soak up knowledge fast, apply it and move on. They challenge us to think differently and act at a more rapid pace.  

Aside from being current with technology, and often just graduated, one thing they don’t always know is how to work in an office, and with a group of people from many generations. That inexperience doesn’t seem to limit them — I find they bring an energy and inquisitiveness that compels us all to keep learning.

Many are also ambitious, and it frustrates them when they don’t move up fast enough. But they care deeply about the world and helping it improve.

It’s good for us baby boomers to think about the world of work differently and respond by giving millennials challenging assignments, helpful feedback and opportunities to see the whole.