Whether you’re a baby boomer, a Gen-Xer, or somewhere in between, you’re facing some harsh truths when it comes to the millennial workforce. The fact of the matter is, they’re growing up, and no longer the interns loitering around the office. Millennials might even start to be … gasp … your bosses. Here’s why that’s OK.
(Photo Credit: Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr)
1. Millennials Are the Majority Now, and It’s Good
I, for one, welcome our social media-savvy overlords, don’t you? According to a PEW Research Center study that came out this year, millennials now represent the largest share of the American workforce. That means that more than one in three workers were born sometime between the early 1980s and early 2000s. So they’re not just the quirky guy or gal someone hired on a whim because “they know computers” and maybe can handle the Twitter account, too. They’re becoming a force for change within offices, which is also great for those of us who want more modern perks like working form home, mentoring, skill improvement and training, and work-life balance.
2. They Aren’t So Young (Whippersnappers)
Millennials also aren’t the fresh faces out of college anymore. In fact, they might be your 30-something boss or an entrepreneur creating an exciting new company. If you’re on the boomer end of the workforce, you might have some prejudices working for someone so much younger. Best advice? Get over that now. Every generation thinks they’re the best captains of the ship. It’s not a new thing. But getting your hackles all raised up just because of something arbitrary like age is just as foolish as being annoyed that you’re working for a (gasp!) woman or someone who likes (gasp) tuna sandwiches when you don’t. Here are some quick tips to surviving and even excelling in a millennial-run workplace.
3. You Used to Be That Young, Too
Look, we all started out at about the same time. And time marches on. If you work in an office that has multiple generations working side-by-side, then that should be seen as an asset, not a problem. You can embrace the different viewpoints that come with a variety of ages, experiences, backgrounds, and outlooks, or you can fight it. But I’ll tell you who ends up on the wrong end of that equation, or maybe I don’t have to.
Tell Us What You Think
Are you a millennial in the workforce? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.
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