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Generation Y: Happy, Motivated and Varied Careers Are Central to Their Future

July 15, 2008 — A strong work-life balance, a personalized workplace, and a happy, varied and motivated career, with a strong sense that what they are doing is important, is important to the members of Generation Y. These were a few of the career requirements of an international panel of 18-year-olds at the seminar “Kids Today, Leaders Tomorrow” held at the London Business School on July 8. Their comments are being reported by Online Recruitment magazine.

The seminar was hosted by consulting firms iOpener and Talent Plus. The event looked at how Generation Y is set to change business, impact the economy and shape the future. Generation Y is usually defined as those between the ages of 11 and 25 and will constitute a majority of the workforce within the next 10 years. The students were from China, Pakistan, Russia, Sweden, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

More than 50% of the student panel said that they would take a low-paid job which they loved and only one member of the panel said that they would consider working for a large multinational corporation. A common theme throughout was the students’ belief that their parents’ generation worked too hard and that a work-life balance and the ability to start a family without one’s career being affected were important prerequisites in determining the paths they would pursue.

All the students were optimistic about the future with no one blaming their parent’s generation for the world’s current economic plight with panelist Usman Nizami saying there was “a need to look forward.” When asked by a member of the audience whether they thought their parents’ generation had mortgaged their future, none of the panelists agreed.

Said Jessica Pryce-Jones of iOpener: “What concerns, motivates and inspires our next generation will be central to how businesses organize themselves in the future.”

“It is clear, however, that many challenges lie ahead — not just in how businesses look to accommodate Generation Y but in how Generation Y adapts to prevailing business drivers. How can one sustain a clearly separated work and private life without jeopardizing customer relationships? What can Generation Y give back to their employers in return? How can businesses ensure that Generation Y remains passionate and committed to their jobs?”

“It was also interesting to see how little attraction the big multinational brand has to tomorrow’s leaders and how money is not the main motivation. What is clear, however, is that with the progress in technology and the current economic climate, today’s generation are entering a very different workforce from their parents and Generation Y is entering it with remarkable optimism. It will be a fascinating journey with a clear onus on the employer to ensure that this talented generation is engaged and developed to their full potential.”