Generations @ College

This is the first time in American history that we have four different generations learning and working side-by-sidein the university.

Four Generations @ College

The Generations Defined
Silent Generation: BORN 1925-1942
Baby Boomers: BORN 1946-1964
Generation X: BORN 1965-1979
Generation Y/ Millennials: BORN 1980-2001

Significant Influences on Silents

About the Silents…
Born during the Great Depression and the Second World War, so small cohort in number
Little competition, so very successful – in terms of economic success, 1938 was the best year to be born in North America
Too old to be war heroes and too young to be rebels
Value thrift, hard work, and respect for authority
Believe in paying their dues
Value lessons from the past
Committed, responsible, patient and conforming
Command and control approach comes naturally – respect for rules
Duty before pleasure

Significant Influences on Baby-boomers

About the Baby-Boomers…
Generational distinctiveness and identity
Grew up with the Cleavers but became disillusioned and distrustful
Driven to success and measure success materialistically
They want it all and will work long hours and be ruthlessly competitive to get it
First generation to claim a higher priority for work over personal life
Suspicious of institutions

Socially-oriented but seek personal gratification
Advocates of individual freedoms
Not naturally “budget minded”
Uncomfortable with conflict
Overly sensitive to feedback
Judgmental of those who see things differently
Self-centered
Lost retirement savings

Generation X Influences

About Generation Xers…
X originally meant to denote namelessness of a forgotten and overlooked generation
Street-smart, latch-key kids – self-reliant – children of workaholic baby-boomers and socialized in an era of downsizing, divorce, and rising national debt
Take the money and run attitude toward organizations
The Slacker Generation
Free agents
Balance demands between work, family and personal life
Looking for quick score (Internet companies and dotcom gurus)

Always wants to have input
Results matter – not how many hours you work
Trust only the competent
Informal and casual
Pragmatic
Less socially skilled and gregarious than generations before and after
No heroes
Other generations often confused and confounded by Xers
Silents see them as rude
Baby-boomers see them as slackers
Millennials see them as too pessimistic and cynical
Moving into management more quickly than previous generations

About the Millennials…
Very competent multitaskers – have been doing it since birth
Used to frantically busy schedules and structured lives
Proficient with technology
Global and multiculturalism – the first global-centric generation
More spiritual, patriotic and family-oriented than their parents – resemble the Silent in this regard
More aware and depressed than any other generation
Raised in affluence, always nurtured and told they were special – they now believe it
They set meaningful goals and are achievement-oriented
They honor their parents and silent generation grandparents
Can-do attitude that others may perceive as naive

Resilient, optimistic, adaptive and sociable
Following failure, they expect another chance or someone to bail them out
Arrive in workplace with very high expectations
Have always felt needed and important
Patriotic and traditional in their value orientation
Least rebellious and most conforming generation since the Silents
Will depart disenchanted if they feel underappreciated, disrespected, betrayed or disappointed
Maintain wide and dispersed social networks

Generations @ College

by plp6475 on Jul 06, 2009

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Generations @ College — Presentation Transcript