I have waited over a year to broach the subject of millennials. I know it can be controversial, and if you are over 50 you have likely been talking about it in your work place for the last 10 years. It is eye opening to think about how we viewed millennials 10 years ago versus how organizations are reinventing themselves to attract millennials today. The fact is, a millennial is anyone between the ages of 23 and 38 years old – what? Apparently when I wasn’t looking quite a few millennials grew up!
While there are stereotypes that exist for women over fifty, stereotypes exist for female millennials as well: “they don’t have a strong work ethic,” “they want to be rewarded just for showing up,” “they think they have all the answers – even with no experience,” etc. Just like we resent be categorized, these women do too. When I realized recently that a millennial can be someone in their mid-to-late 30’s, I looked around my office. I work with a number of women in this age group (and men) who are smart, hard working employees. They are educated, and have at least ten years of experience under their belt. So did we have it all wrong? Yes, a little bit. Here’s my theory: the negative stereotype is tied more to someone in their 40’s & 50’s looking at someone in their 20’s through their own lens. Any generation will think they worked harder and had to make far more sacrifices than the generations coming up behind them. This has been true for centuries.
That said, there was (and still is) something going on that is a little different than with prior generations: the millennials often (although not always) had a safety net that we did not have. Somewhere along the way it became perfectly acceptable (and sometimes encouraged) for kids to stay at home or move back home with their parents after college. I do recognize that the first wave of millennials were trying to enter the job market at a really tough time. However, that safety net meant recent graduates could afford to quit and walk away if they perceived the company they worked for didn’t have their best interests at heart. When you have rent and car payments to make, when you are no longer on your parent’s health care and/or car insurance, and nobody is contributing to your monthly budget but you – you learn coping skills, work hard and learn to deal with stressful and uncomfortable situations. You have no choice.
Personally, I couldn’t wait to have my own place and be financially independent. I love my family but I saw it as a personal failure if I had to move back home. The truth is I did move back home for three months after college. I graduated in June, and had my first job and first apartment by that September. Being independent (and I personally believe you can’t be truly independent until you are financially independent) doesn’t seem to have the same badge of honor it once had. However, as millennials have grown up and started their own families they have naturally moved out of the nest, become independent and now face the question their parents faced: how do I protect my child from the harsh realities of life, while also teaching them how to deal with those realities?
This week, when that 23 year old with the attitude (that comes from being 23 by the way, and not because they are a millennial) starts driving you crazy and indicates they can handle change better than you, think about how you acted at that age – and smile. Before you and I know it, that millennial will be Fabulous After Fifty! Be strong!
