I am sick of hearing that Gen Y is too demanding. Yes, they expect to be paid well. Yes they expect good benefits!. But is this really unreasonable. Hey buddy, the world has changed. Just take a look at Free Agents in Sports. Not all of them are Gen Y. Times have changed. According to a survey by CareerBuilder.com and Harris Interactive, 80+% of Gen Y feel a sense of entitlement.

My advice. Forget asking the question of whether or not they are worth it. Just make the call and decide whether you want to keep up to date with the latest technological and internet trends. Unless it is in your blood, it is too difficult to try and catch up.
And you see us older folks trying to catch up all the time — just walk around your office and watch how people type on the keyboard. If they use that chop-sticks style — using just their index finger on both hands – you know they trying to keep up with the Jones Yers!

So join the 15% of companies who have modified their hiring and compensation policies. 15% — that is pathetic! That is almost as bad as not giving a woman maternity leave.

So stop the old music and get iTuned in!

Great stuff…very funny! 

How to write a paper in college/university

1. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well lit place in front of your computer.

2. Log onto MSN and ICQ (be sure to go on away!). Check your email.

3. Read over the assignment carefully, to make certain you understand it.

4. Walk down to the vending machines and buy some chocolate to help you concentrate.

5. Check your email.

6. Call up a friend and ask if he/she wants to go to grab a coffee.  Just to get settled down and ready to work.

7. When you get back to your room, sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lit place.

8. Read over the assignment again to make absolutely certain you understand it.

9. Check your email.

10. You know, you haven’t written to that kid you met at camp since fourth grade. You’d better write that letter now and get it out of the way so you can concentrate.

11. Look at your teeth in the bathroom mirror.

12. Grab some mp3z off of kazaa.

13. Check your email. ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR YET?!

14. MSN chat with one of your friends about the future. (ie summer plans).

15. Check your email.

16. Listen to your new mp3z and download some more.

17. Phone your friend on the other floor and ask if she’s started writing yet. Exchange derogatory emarks about your prof, the
course, the college, the world at large.

18. Walk to the store and buy a pack of gum. You’ve probably run out.

19. While you’ve got the gum you may as well buy a magazine and read it.

20. Check your email.

21. Check the newspaper listings to make sure you aren’t missing something truly worthwhile on TV.

22. Play some solitare (or age of legends!).

23. Check out bored.com.

24. Wash your hands.

25. Call up a friend to see how much they have done, probably haven’t started either.

26. Look through your housemate’s book of pictures from home. Ask who everyone is.

27. Sit down and do some serious thinking about your plans for the future.

28. Check to see if bored.com has been updated yet.

29. Check your email and listen to your new mp3z.

30. You should be rebooting by now, assuming that windows is crashing on schedule.

31. Read over the assignment one more time, just for heck of it.

32. Scoot your chair across the room to the window and watch the sunrise.

33. Lie face down on the floor and moan.

34. Punch the wall and break something.

35. Check your email.

36. Mumble obscenities.

37. 5am - start hacking on the paper without stopping. 6am -paper is finished.

38. Complain to everyone that you didn’t get any sleep because you had to write that stupid paper.

39. Go to class, hand in paper, and leave right away so you can take a nap.

Over the last month, I have had 22 phone calls from business leaders asking the question:

“Do you speak to organizations on how to recruit and retain Gen Y”?

I do indeed speak on this subject, and I want to start by posting some basic information.

As I hear this question, I often respond by talking about the article recently published by the Great Places to Work institute on Google.  I am then met with the response which says “Well, we don’t compete with Google”.  This mindset has to change if you are going to start competing in the war on talent.

You see, simply because you are a 10 person mortgage, insurance or temporary agency does not mean that you are not competing with Google.  The goal here is to look at what some of the larger organizations like Google and McKenzie are doing in order to attract the best and brightest young talent coming into the work scene.

Here are a few thoughts to consider in answering the recruiting/retention quandry (or as I call it an opportunity for your company to advance):

1) Recruits are looking to be tomorrow’s leaders. Provide them with opportunities to advance and move globally will be a means to that end.

2) Recruits want to know that your company is aligned as a team around the company’s vision and mission. The worst thing you can do in a job interview with a young recruit is to bad-mouth or roll your eyes about a fellow employee.

3) Young recruits want to know that you know about them , their lives and their roots. One of the best steps you can take as a company recruiting a young, talented Gen Y leader is to educate yourself about their college, their college sports team, their hometown, their interest, all the while adding in names of people you know who they know into the interview process (commonality is always attractive).

4) Young recruits want to know there is room for advancement in the company with the perks that go along with it. They also want to know what steps they will have to take to get there.

5) Drop the “you have to pay your dues” conversation and the “Gen Y is entitled” mindset. Talk with them about their aspirations in life, where they are going and how you can help them get there.

More to come on this subject