What Gen Y’s Really Want At Work

This new wave of talent, Generation Y, is passionate, talented and highly ambitious – they want to stretch, learn new skills, and contribute to great causes – but they also want a life. They want balance, to have fun and be part of a great team! But if their managers do not understand what they really need to thrive at work, their ‘I want things to happen fast’ attitude is often perceived as entitled, arrogant and unrealistic.

After talking with thousands of Gen Y’s, here are the top 10 things they have said they want at work that will help them thrive (and also help your business to grow!)

At Work

(1) To Be Challenged
Remember, this is a generation that grew up with technology in an overindulged culture! They think fast, work fast (if they want to), and want to be challenged. Work that is too slow will bore them to death. So give them lots to do! One Gen Y told me that he was so bored that he asked his boss for more work (because he had already finished his assignments) but his boss just brushed his request off. He later quit.

(2) Opportunities to Advance
They are ambitious. Many of them want to be VP or even President someday, and sooner rather than later. They want to work for companies that can partner with them to help them achieve their goals – short and long term! Pay attention to what they want for their professional goals, voice your expectations of what you need from them, but also let them know what you think they need to do to reach their goals.

(3) Training
This is the most educated generation in history! They love to learn and stretch their minds
(remember: it just has to be done in a fast paced way). Provide practical training in a variety of
areas. One of the best types of training can be mentoring if its done properly.

(4) To Know that Their Work Matters
Gen Y’s want to know that their work or smaller project is part of the companies bigger picture
and goal. They want to know that all their work actually counts for something. So explaining how
their project contributes to your companies overall vision is important!
  
Management Style / Team

(5)Team / Extended Type of Family
Unlike Gen X, many of whom grew up as latchkey kids with parents working all the time, most Y’s
grew up with very involved parents. Because of this, Gen Y’s are used to lots of input and
feedback! Many want their colleagues at work to be like an extended family. People who can
support them and who they can joke around with but who will also challenge them.

(6) Feedback
They grew up with constant feedback from parents, teachers, tutors, coaches etc., often telling them they can do anything. As a result, Gen Y’s need regular, specific and concrete feedback and I’m not talking about the traditional bi-annual performance review. One Gen Y told me that he started his job in September but didn’t get any feedback till almost January. In his frustration he told me “Karyn at university I’m getting constant feedback and grades about how I’m doing – right now I have no clue if I’m even close to what is required of me.” Getting regular, respectful and timely feedback is critical to engage and motivate this generation.

(7) Respect
Unlike previous generations, this generation strongly believes that respect is to be earned, not given. So just because you are a manager, president, teacher, HR professional (they probably don’t care about your title), realize that they care first if you will respect them. In fact I don’t use my “Dr” title with them because it creates a barrier and most of them don’t really care.  What they mostly care about is genuine respect. When managers treat them with respect, honesty, and authenticity, they will not only listen but will want to please you.
  
Environment

(8) Up to Date Technology
They want everything to happen fast and quick (after all that is what they are used to) so making sure that they can have the best and fastest technology to do their jobs will not only help engage them but also be their most efficient!

(9) Balance / Flexibility
I strongly believe that every generation can learn from each other and one strong area the rest of can learn from Gen Y is their desire “to have a life”. They want balance and flexibility. They love goals and projects, so companies who have learned to be flexible around schedules but who have focused more on getting the job done with excellence have succeeded with this generation! After all, working at 2 am for most generations is unappealing, but for young creative Gen Y minds that is sometimes when their best creative energy flows.

(10) Caring & Casual Environments
Remember: they want their work environment to be a kind of extended family. A place where
people genuinely care about each other, work together and support each other (sounds good!)