Non-Sequitur – So relevant that it hurts!

The September 17th Non-Squitur comic was so on-the-mark that it hurt. In it the “stuffed animal” was saying to the child, “Shouldn’t you be studing for the math test?” The child responded, “Of course not. ‘Cuz it’s the teaher’s job to teach us, so if I haven’t learned enough to pass, then it’s the teacher who actually fails the test, not me.” The final frame says, “Hey, I’m just trying to act like an adult”.
Ouch.
As I recruiter I here many people talk about “Generation Why” . . . “Millennials” . . . or whatever term that is being used to decribe those born between 1978 and 2000. I hear some people say they aren’t sure this generation has the focus or the commitment to spend the hours necessary to succeed. Of course, this is usually said by someone in my generation – the baby boomers. We know how to work! We don’t know how to stop working, however, and for some innane reason we think the world should be like us.
Hold on here – let’s look at who we are.
We are those born from 1946 – 1964. Many of us went to Vietnam or did college protests AGAINST the war. We had race riots in the street of L A and Detroit. We went to Woodstock. Wore love beads. Got married when we were 21. And frustrated the hell out of our parents.
We worked. We achieved. We were results driven.
Then something happened. Something I’ll call personal RESPONSIBILITY. Somehow many of us found reasons to avoid “taking the blame”. We loved “taking the credit”, however.
You just saw it with the Senator from Idaho. You saw it with Mark Foley, the Congressman from Florida, who was once known as a crusader against child abuse and exploitation. Foley resigned from Congress on September 29, 2006 after allegations surfaced that he had sent suggestive emails and sexually explicit instant messages to teenaged boys who had formerly served and were at that time serving as Congressional pages. You saw it with our former President who tried to confuse us by trying to learn what the meaning of the word “is” is.
You’ve seen it with Baby Boomers who are lawyers. They file suit against McDonalds for serving hot coffee. They file suit against tobacco companies because ALTHOUGH THE CIGARETTE PACKAGE SAYS THAT CIGARETTES CAN CAUSE CANCER, they actually DID and people were surprised. (Duh) They protect the guilty and abuse the innocent. They make “logic” a four-letter word.
So here you are, the new generation, getting ready to find a career. Please do us baby boomers a favor. Show us how to take responsibility. Remind us that people who make mistakes can actually admit they made them without checking themselves into a rehab center, making up lies, or simply EMBARRASSING the rest of my generation. Tell us in your interview that you want a mentor who will guide you, support you and be honest with you. Tell us that you will probably make mistakes – but you will own up to them and try not to repeat them.
When I look at what the experts say about your generation this is what I read:

• Positive, future-oriented
• Flexible
• Want meaningful work
• Want ongoing feedback – not just annual reviews
• Technical
• Quick learners
• Ambitions, demanding

Hey, I think this is EXACTLY who most of us are looking for as we look to hire.
I’m glad your generation is here. We baby boomers need a break from ourselves.
Valpak Mark