[Hidden-tech] Thanks to all those great Web designers - curious about the new generation/work expectations

[nestor at fuzzy-math.com]

Ha, not yet.  Someday....

I think the key is that the boomers got a late start:  their parents  
were a generation that held on to leadership roles long past 'normal'  
retirement age, and so they feel they have to do the same.  I really  
don't think that our generation will stand for that behavior,  
especially in a more progressive economy where lean and mean is fastly  
replacing that good old bloated hierarchy.  There just won't be room  
for the dinosaurs at the top when it's the folks with the short  
attention spans and social networking abilities that will keep things  
moving.


On Mar 5, 2010, at 11:30 AM, Joseph Steig wrote:

> Millenials are generally harder worker, smarter, and funnier . . .  
> in my experience.
>
> I assume I'll be working for a Millenial at some point . . . but my  
> concern is that I'm a member of the slacker generation (AKA Gen X).
>
> I know how to paste an Excel table into Word. And I can do e-mail.  
> That must count for something, no? Hey Fuzzy-Math, you hiring!?
>
> ;)
> __________________
>
> Joseph Steig | more info at http://www.steig.com
> joseph at steig.com | Direct: 617-500-7376
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 1:27 PM, nestor at fuzzy-math.com <nestor at fuzzy-math.com 
> > wrote:
>   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's  
> area.
>   ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
>
> Wow, I don't know where to start on this one.  I'd hate to say what  
> I'm really thinking for fear of sounding like I have a "millenial"  
> attitude, but perhaps you should re-examine your screening of  
> candidates, your expectations, or your reasons for working with this  
> group to begin with.  You say you don't want to beat up on 'us'  
> kids, but you seem to be looking for others who share your  
> experience, rather than those who can share their positive  
> experiences and strategies for fostering such relationships.  I have  
> a feeling that you didn't found this group as a forum to gripe about  
> "today's kids".  The fact is that there is a generation gap, one can  
> clearly see that from the way that your message reads to someone  
> like me.  The experiences you have shared are atrocious, no one can  
> argue with that.  However, I have had quite a few experiences with  
> your generation that could cause me to stereotype anyone over 50 as  
> a doddering, inefficient,  technophobe.  I instead choose to see  
> these interactions as they are: as isolated incidents, and learn to  
> avoid them.  I suggest you do the same.
>
> --Ryan Nestor
>
>
>
>
>>
>> I only mention this because I am curious if others have had issues  
>> with this upcoming generation of this sort:
>>
>> I actually had three kids threaten to sue me for something like $20  
>> withheld when they quit projects because they had better things to  
>> do, or so they said, and didn't feel like working.  Another 20- 
>> something threatened to sue me for $60 when I didn't personally  
>> drop off her check at her house!! This same young woman cited my  
>> violation of HIPPA standards, not having a clue they relate to  
>> health care security. Sigh . . .
>>
>> In all cases, plus the more recent one mentioned with some pique by  
>> me in the last email, I offered to give each a second chance if  
>> they were willing to come back to work and sort out what bothered  
>> them. Also, they exhibited zero understanding of small claims court  
>> requirements and did not seem to understand that people who ditch  
>> out on work don't usually get paid. In fact, they didn't realize  
>> that interns rarely get paid, though I always pay trainees who show  
>> commitment.
>>
>> My aim is to not beat up on kids, but learn a) if others share  
>> these sorts of experiences, and b) what you have done about them.  
>> In 20 years in business, plus 10 years running news desks and  
>> newspapers I have NEVER encountered this sort of attitude. Much has  
>> been written about the so-called Milleniums and their attitude  
>> issues. Now I'm seeing what these writers and business managers are  
>> describing first hand.
>>
>> We want to encourage this generation to succeed, right?
>>
>>  As my new staffer, Ashely Deiana told me when she interviewed,  
>> it's pretty tough out there for college grads today. She was  
>> delighted to get work from me and the payment I offered for  
>> training, which was above minimum wage. I can tell you that Ashley  
>> and Kate Korolov, another recent staffer (now in New Zealand) are  
>> real pros; just the sort of people I would recommend to anyone.
>>
>> So, fill me in on your experiences. I have journalists and editors  
>> out there interested in what we have to say. NO NAMES PLEASE.
>>
>> best,
>>
>> Amy Zuckerman
>> HT Founder
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