What do generation y value

However, a few people born outside of the traditional age range might have characteristics of the millennial generation, even though they may technically be Generation X or Generation Z. It may be helpful to know where one generation ends and the next one begins. Below is a breakdown of each generation's timeline with common traits.

Seek comfort and financial security, traditional, loyal. Entrepreneurial, value work-life balance, independent.

While each individual has their own unique personality, many people within the same generation share common characteristics. Here are some of the traits you could expect from millennials:. Generation Y is the first generation to grow up with the internet, cell phones and digital communication. These professionals are comfortable learning and using the latest software releases in the workplace. They may find it easier to learn new software, such as shared chat platforms. Many millennials prefer a flexible work schedule and workplace.

Since many millennials hold computer-based jobs, they may seek positions that are at least partly remote and allow them to work outside of a traditional 9 to 5 schedule. Related: 11 Online Jobs for Work Flexibility. Gen Ys usually seek positions in which they can have a solid work-life balance. They prefer a job that allows them to spend more time with their family or pursue personal goals. In some cases, they may prefer a job with more flexible hours over one that offers higher pay.

Another reason why millennials value flexibility is that they are results-oriented. They would rather tell you what they accomplished instead of telling you how long they worked.

If they can complete a project faster than the allotted amount of time, they can achieve more. The ability to list more achievements can make them feel accomplished in the workplace.

Millennials grew up in a world of digital communication and social media, which could make them more dependent on praise than other generations. They grew up during a time of great economic growth and prosperity. Their lives were influenced by the civil rights movement, women's liberation, the space program, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. They place a high value on youth, health, personal gratification, and material wealth.

Baby Boomers are optimistic and believe their generation changed the world. They make up almost half the U. They are driven, love challenge and build stellar careers. Because they have had to compete with each other at every step of their careers, they can be highly competitive. Generation Xers ie, people born between and sometimes are referred to as the misunderstood generation. They are the product of self-centered, work-driven Baby Boomer parents.

Watergate, the advent of MTV, single-parent homes, and latchkey experiences played influential roles in their development. They were the first generation to embrace the personal computer and the Internet. The research sample consisted of subjects from Generation Y that were drawn from a population of college students.

The results contribute to the literature by providing for the first time a segmented characterization of Generation Y consumers. The research provides a detailed perspective of this important market segment and provides marketers with insights on their values, attitudes, and media habits. Valentine, D. Powers, T. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. While they might not have the experience, they are not afraid to think outside the box, and can easily come up with innovative ways of doing business.

They want to know they matter to the organization. Ignoring them when they know they have ideas that could improve the business does not sit very well with them. Even though it might take some time getting used to it, make a habit of asking for the opinions of your Generation Y employees and listen carefully to what they say — they might give you a truly transformative idea.

In most cases, the Generation X employee will find out exactly what needs to be done and then go ahead to start working the project as he has been told. The same cannot be said of the Generation Y employee. In a traditional work environment, this can the Generation Y employee look disrespectful to his boss. However, this is not being disrespectful. Instead, it is a representation of a generation that has grown up constantly challenging traditional approaches.

Driven by impact, millennials want to know that what they are doing counts, and the only way to know that is by asking questions. In addition, they have grown up in a different world than the generation before them and therefore look at things from a new perspective that is full of new possibilities.

They know that there are new and better ways of doing things and they are not afraid of letting their bosses know what they think will work and what will not. They are ambitious and want to make an impact, meaning they will not hesitate to challenge the current state of things if they think they will make a positive change.

As a manger, you should not stifle the seemingly crazy ideas from your Generation Y employees. Actually, you should encourage them to share any ideas they feel will improve the way of doing things. Advances to society and business have always been brought about by people who challenged the status quo. Before the introduction of the iPhone, so called experts said mobile computing would never go mainstream.

The same way, by encouraging your Gen Y employees to voice their opinions and challenge the status quo, you might chance on an idea capable of revolutionizing your way of doing business. When working with millennials, you should also learn to put your decisions into context. Instead of just saying what needs to be done, explain why it has to be done.

Giving them the goal behind the task will encourage millennials to think about the task with the bigger picture in mind and come up with better ways of doing the task. In contrast to their reputation of being lazy and narcissistic, millennials are very philanthropic and care a lot about making an impact to the community.

They want to feel that their efforts are making the word better for others. Actually, millennials care more about giving back to community than they care about getting a fat paycheck, according to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center. Generation Y employees want to work with companies that have a reputation for supporting social causes.

If you want to attract and retain Gen Y talent, you need to show them that your company cares about more than just profits. You need to have in place programs through which they can give back to the community. You can do this through a number of ways. You might opt to hold company-sponsored events for the benefit of the community, come up with a program that matches their donations to charitable organizations of their choice, or give them paid time off to take part in charitable events.

Millennials are serial muti-taskers. Having grown up with computers and cell phones, millennials are comfortable with doing several things at the same time.

They will listen to podcasts while working out or write an article while chatting on instant messenger. If you look around your office right now, you will probably notice a Gen Y colleague talking on the office phone while replying to an email on the computer and forwarding something to another colleague on their smartphone.

Millennials are good at multi-tasking because they have been doing it their entire life. Instead of getting stuck doing one thing, they want to make maximum use of their time by doing multiple things simultaneously. They love the challenge of working on several tasks at the same time, and it might even help to prevent them from experiencing boredom at work.

Generation Y professionals have unique characteristics that differentiate them from past generations. At the same time, they will form the majority of the workforce within the course of the next decade, so it important to understand their characteristics so as to be able to effectively work alongside them.

While it might seem like they are excessively self-centered and entitled, they have several positive characteristics that make them easy to work with. They also love their jobs and are willing to give it their all provided they know that what they are doing counts.

However, it is good to note that, even though Gen Y has its common characteristics, this does not mean that each millennial will behave exactly like the next one.

If you find yourself working alongside Gen Y professionals, take the time to understand them individually. E-mail is already registered on the site. Please use the Login form or enter another.