Thursday, March 13, 2008

Mad skillz? Well sorta.

Although I believe the writer's categorization of Gen X being aged 24-40 is incorrect I think the article is for the most part accurate.

From The Michigan Journal:

Members of Generation X are often viewed as knowledgeable, independent and balanced. Unlike their Boomer parents who embrace a concensus-style of leadership, and the Traditionalists, whose leadership structure is modeled after the military, Gen Xers look for competence among their supervisors and mentors. When hiring Gen Xers, be prepared to earn their respect, not the other way around. Don't worry though, this group expects to be held accountable to their own expectations, so when working with a Gen Xer, describe the desired outcome but leave the process up to them, meaning no micromanaging. With their business savvy and technological acumen, Gen Xers often exceed expectations.

As the most independent generation, Gen Xers are very resourceful and don't believe any person or institution will see them through. As children, they were the latchkey kids responsible for taking care of themselves after school until their parents made it home from work. This independence carries over into the workplace where, after their parents lost jobs following years of loyal employment, they learned that dedicating one's career to a single company doesn't always pay off. Many managers are leery of hiring members of Generation X, fearing that after a year or two on the job they'll abandon ship for a more lucrative offer, but this generalization isn't necessarily true.

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