The Millenial Resource Network

Welcome to The Millenial Resource Network, an online resource for people of all generations to learn about the Millenial Generation.

Millenials will find links, articles, and blog posts mainly written by other Millenials which will show them how to get along in a work place still dominated by older generations. Non-Millenials will be able to use those same resources to gain insight into the mind of a Millenial and the best way to deal with them in the "real world."

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Millennial Survey... first response

About a week ago I was reading some various blogs and contemplating the validity of my own. I then realized that what seems to be lacking in the blogosphere and twitterverse is some honest answers from those in the trenches. I mean Boomers who are hiring (or would be if their companies were hiring) and Millennials hitting the job market. This got me motivated to create and impromptu survey style interview of Millennials I know who have just entered and or are just entering the job market.

The following is the first survey response I have received. It is from PAT S. and he will go on to tell you what he thinks about starting work as a new Millennial:

How old are you? Where do you go to school? What is your major? When do you expect to graduate?

I am 21, I go to the University of Arizona, my major is business management and I expect to graduate in December of this year.

What are your plans after graduation? Travel? Grad School? Job Market? Or do you have a job already lined up?


My plans after school is to try and get a job, I have little intention of trying to go to grad school because I figure if I can find a job in a couple years I will be at nearly the same place I would be if I simply stayed in school. I do not have a job lined up but I have a couple promising opportunities with different companies that may end up offering me a job.

What do you think of the job market that exists today?


The job market today is definitely better than last year; however I still think there is a big question mark as to how easy it will be to get a job in the current market. Yet, I am confident when I truly begin my job search I will find a company that fits with what I am looking to do.

How many of your friends that are graduating have jobs? (rough percent estimate) Would you say they love their jobs? What do they complain about the most regarding their job? What do they rave about the most regarding their job?

I would say that roughly 60% of my friends that are graduating have jobs so far. Some of them really do love the opportunity that the job holds but I wouldn’t say that any of them love their current entry level positions. Most of my friends that have jobs their only complaint are the switch from college to main stream society, in the sense that they are working a ton of hours and are not having nearly as much free time as they used to in college. They all rave about how much they are getting paid because when you come straight out of college you don’t really have any concept of what money is besides that part time job.

What are your professors teaching you and your classmates about getting a job in the current labor market of today? Have you taken any of their advice? Do you find their advice useful?

Most of my professors gave their suggestions about getting a job between the career fairs on campus and various connections they have or other of their colleagues may have. They talk mostly about being flexible because companies are looking to hire college grads because we are flexible and eager to learn as compared to someone who has been tenured at a company and will be resistant to any change in the organization. They also suggest talking to as many people as possible including family friends and especially recruits in order to gauge their feedback in terms of how to go about searching for your ideal job. I have tried to take their advice when I was looking for an internship and for the most part it has been useful, the problem that I found is that I need to get paid for my internship and there are not all that many internships that pay.

What type of company are you looking to work for?

I am looking for a company that really will invest in me and develop me both personally and professionally. I want a company that will make me work hard however that I will find it rewarding in the end either with a pay raise or simple career development. I need a company that offers some kind of benefits for me and also a company that I agree with what they are trying to do or sell. For example I would never work for Phillip Morris because I don’t want anyone to smoke. So in general I want a place that will make me work hard but will be rewarding in the end.

Are you looking for core values? Size? Pay rate? Industry? Flexibility? Career progression? In other words, what would drive you to work for one company and not another?

I would like to start in a big company so I can understand the ins and outs of corporate America. In doing that I do not have a preference of size however flexibility would be ideal considering if I am flexible I would like my company to be willing to do the same. I also want a company that will offer a solid training program that will enhance my skills both with the company in general and the outside business world. If a company is flexible pays competitively and enhances my career I would enjoy working for them. Preferably in some kind of sales position due to the challenge that each client will offer. As I said earlier the industry also matters I want to “believe” in what the company sells.

What do you think your first job will be like in terms of responsibility, engagement (your level of interest), and your satisfaction with it?

I think my first job will at first be many new things all at once that are being thrown at me. However, as I understand my job function I am pretty confident that it will become easier for me. I also believe that initially I will have a high level of interest because this will be my first true experience at working a non-service position and will allow me to use some of the skills I have acquired through my education. I believe again that my initial satisfaction will be high however; I fear that as time progresses that it will not continue at such a rate. I believe when each task becomes repetitive that I will lose interest in my job.

If you worked at your ideal company for your first job, how long would you be willing to wait for a promotion? Why?


I would say I would be willing to wait up to two years for my first promotion. However, if it was to be long that than I would need something to incentivize me to want to stay with the company rather than pursuing other opportunities at a different organization. Two years is also a solid milestone to see how my performance is coming along. If I have shown improvement in several areas of my professional life than I would expect some kind of promotion however if I had not improved and still needed more training than it would be wrong for me to expect to get a promotion while not improving at my current job function. Basically I would expect with the first two years to receive a promotion or I would be tempted to go elsewhere.

If you worked at a company that wasn’t your ideal for your first job, how long would you be willing to wait for a promotion? Why?


I still would say somewhere in the neighborhood of two years. Whether or not I am working for my ideal company most likely will not affect my commitment to my current job. I believe that if I work hard enough I should be rewarded, in this case since it is not my ideal company I would be less likely to wait longer than two years because there are companies that fit my needs better out there. I still would commit to my current company however in my head two years is the benchmark of how long I am willing to wait for a promotion when I first begin a job. The average job lasts about 16 months and I am willing to stick to it for up to two years as long as I can get some kind of promotion in that time.

What do you hope for in a boss/manager/supervisor?

I hope to have a boss that believes in my ability along with one who challenges me so I can truly become great. I want to have a boss that everyone respects yet has an open door policy if you have any questions or concerns. I also want a boss that is willing to help employees achieve their potential, in the sense they want to continue to my development in terms of a mentor. A boss who is accommodating would be nice as well, and by that I mean one who is ok if you have some sick days or need time off for whatever reason. If I can have a boss that is challenging and accommodating along with one who believes in me that would be my ideal boss.

Do you think you are ready to lead a department/company in your field? Why or why not?

I think I am ready to lead by the book, in the sense that everything I have learned about my field of management has been from a textbook. Now, I know I will develop my own style when I go out into the work place however in the mean time with no real experience it would be hard for me to go out and not use the stuff I have learned in business school. Of course I would not be word for word from the book and I would add my own personal touches to my basic management style, but I know once I have been out in the workplace and dealt with numerous different situations I will be much more qualified to lead any department not just my own.

1 comment:

  1. You have highlighted many important points. I got reminded of this video post which you might be interested to see. "Jack in the box" http://www.vineetnayar.com/jack-in-the-box/

    ReplyDelete