This week I was lucky enough to participate in a panel at South by Southwest Interactive, the world's largest annual interactive media conference, discussing Generation Y (also known as millennials), our approaches to work, and our usage of technology and social media. Panelists included Ryan Paugh, Sydney Owen, Elysa Rice, and moderator Ben Smithee.
Generation Y is loosely considered to be anyone born between the years of 1980 and 2000. However, the exact years can vary; but they key thing that most of this generation shares is that they have grown up with an abundance of new technological tools that now have shaped the way they approach their educations, careers, and lifestyles. Unlike the generations before us, we've grown up accustomed to using computers, the internet, digital cameras, smartphones, and now social media tools. These have given us a different perspective on how we communicate and work with other people, which leads to stereotypes of Gen Y being "entitled" or many other negative stereotypes. The goal of this panel was to address some of these stereotypes, which we feel are misconceptions about our generation, and have a dialogue about how and why young people sometimes approach their careers differently.
Instead of having the panelists talk ad nauseum, we focused most of our time on the Q&A portion and took questions from the audience, which created a really great back-and-forth. Here are a few highlights of what people were tweeting about at the panel (tagged #sxgeny):
On Whether Gen Y is Loyal To Employers
aignacio09: panel is about to address the presence and/or absence* of loyalty within generation y #sxgeny
monicaobrien: Gen Y is loyal when they have good opportunities and they know what those are, when they're coming, who is promising. #sxgeny
AndreaGenevieve: interesting point, loyalty in the workplace in #genY. I struggle with when to leave my job everyday #sxgeny
patrickbjohnson: There is loyalty to a company when your co workers and company value one as a person. #sxgeny
WilliamBeutler: How does a company appeal to Gen Y?@NishaChittal gives shout-out to annual @NMSosphere flip cup tournament.#sxgeny
Entitled or Empowered?
aignacio09: generation y doesn't feel 'entitled' but more so 'empowered' - talking about how to break the resentment between X and Y at #sxgeny
SaraBAllen: #sxgeny What can gen y do to not act entitled? I feel like we just don't know we aren't entitled to talk to the president of the company.
passingthemic: Amen! GenY is empowered not entitled #sxgeny /RT @SarahatDell
wbernuy: #sxgeny empowered by technology. Tools created in the past 10 years: google, twitter, facebook, mobile internet....etc
On Work/Life Balance
PRjobs: #sxgeny GenY wants a work/life blend, not so much about work/life balance. #sxswi
JackieDuhard: Working for a pension, job security, and lots of money is not the focus of Gen Y. It's about life quality. #sxgeny
movin2TX: Work/life blend and balance definitely a driving force that keeps someone w/ their current company. #sxgeny
What do they want in the Workplace?
kkingston: In this economy esp, the empowered Gen Yers have incredible opportunity. Lots of room for advancement. #sxgeny
mikediliberto: Everyone wants to be successful. GenY and GenX have a different understanding of the path to success #sxgeny
HannahDeMilta: It's important for me to live passionately. #sxgeny
PRjobs: #sxgeny "The workplace is changing, just get on the boat." Thank you. So over the generational stereotypes.
doniree: AMEN. "I'll follow anyone around for a day if they'll teach me something."@elysa #sxgeny
Does the Gen Y Label Even Mean Anything?
edwardboches: Labels suck. We are individuals. #sxgeny
tmssxsw: Great generational discussion about Gen Y. Remember though our behavior is determined by the values that define us. #sxgeny
edwardboches: Clay Shirky says that human motivations do not change. GenY is just a media label that stereotypes #sxgeny
aignacio09: there is a TON of lazy gen Y'ers out there. true, true. good argument: gen Y may have the biggest gap WITHIN its own generation #sxgeny
cariegrls: it's not about what generation you are a part of. it's if you're happy and you like what you're doing, therefore making you loyal. #sxgeny
aignacio09: don't say your age. do you work. let it speak for yourself. focus on the personalities you work with. not the age.#sxgeny
l1br4r14n: I feel like it's really a matter of life stage and attitude rather than generation #sxgeny
They Really Like Technology
AndreaGenevieve: so true I skype with grandparents and (grrr) my mom is on Facebook #sxgeny
1br4r14n: Are GenYers really influencing older gens more because of new tech, or were they simply the first to adopt? #sxgeny
HannahDeMilta: My grandma is definitely not on ichat. #sxgeny
And some final takeaways from the audience...
l1br4r14n: "focus more on personality type rather than age" #sxgeny
PRjobs: #sxgeny "The workplace is changing, just get on the boat." Thank you. So over the generational stereotypes.
l1br4r14n: "everyone has something to bring to the table" regardless of generation. THANK YOU! #sxgeny