Generation Me

“Generation Me”
The “New” Millennials
-By Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D.
MGySgt Archibeque
Recruiter Instructor,
RS Los Angeles

Objectives
1. History of the Millennial or
Generation me.
2. Who are they and where have they
come from?
3. What do they want?
4. Predictions…
5. Employers use.
6. Future planning…
7. MC3/Listen with Purpose

“The Different Generations”

“I’m a Millennial and I’m Sorry”

History…what do they believe?
• GM’s are twice likely to agree with this
statement then any other generation
before them…”There is no single right
way to live”
• GM’s feel that the most important
quality a child can learn now, is “to
learn to think for themselves”
• Only half of the GM’s feel that
obedience is a good lesson for children.

cont.
• Current movies dramatize the fall of
social rules and the rise of the
individual…pick a movie…
• GMs feel that the days of conformity
are over.
• GMs “refuse to do something because
it’s what everyone else is doing, or
because it’s the socially acceptable
thing to do at the time”

cont.
• Divorce is now completely acceptable
in today’s society to include souly just
living with each other.
• Even for single mothers, this is not an
issue…”in today’s society our own
happiness is more important then that
of our own children.
• Homosexuality, Bisexuality,
Transgender and equal rights for all to
include illegal immigrants ect.

Where have they come from?
• Social rules are declining greatly.
– Slowing in school zones
– Item limits in grocery stores
– More people drive across parking lots to
avoid stop lights
– Cheating in school has increased
• 34% in 1969
• 61% in 1992
• 74% in 2002
– Texting, Smart Phones ect.
– 2010 82% of all students at Texas A&M admitted
to cheating at some point in their lives.

cont.
• Business scandals:
– World Comm.
– ENRON
These MAJOR companies demonstrate that
many people have little problem with
breaking rules and telling lies in an
attempt to make more money.
These are supposed to be people they want to be
like…what is happening? What has happened?

cont.
• Authority
– The majority of GMs completely
disrespect authority. However in the
1960s and 70s, they just questioned
authority.
Respect:
- “This is not given anymore and is rarely
earned…however, respect is not as
important as me getting what I
deserve…what I naturally should have”

cont.
• Teachers:
– They are now “facilitators” and no longer
“Authority” figures.
Lecturing is frowned upon…”Collaborative
Learning” is now the best way for all to
learn.

cont.
• In 1957, those who didn’t get married
were called “sick, neurotic or immoral”
and “Social outcasts”.
• When they were young, young people
today were called:
– Special
– They were told they could do anything
– They were told they could be anybody
• They have been let down…why?

Who are they?
1. GMs want instant feedback, straight forward &
uncomplicated.
2. GMs will critique older people without a second
thought.
3. They do not keep their opinions to themselves, they
feel they are being true to themselves…this helps to
build their self-confidence.
4. They have the highest levels of self-esteem then any
other generation yet are lacking the experience.
5. 53% of H.S. kids say that growing up is harder to do
today then it was for their parents.
6. They wonder “where is my house, my car, my job…
ect.”

Who are they?
cont.
7. Teen Pregnancy is down.
8. Violent crimes are down 53% from the early 90s
9. Alcohol use is down.
10. Fewer Teenagers are carrying weapons.
What is the single biggest stressor in most young
peoples lives today?

GRADES!
They have figured that if they are good then their
rewards will be there waiting for them after H. S.
just like their parents told them…
so where are they?

Predictions:
1. Experts are predicting a “full scale collision”
between high expectations and the unfortunate
realities of modern life:
1. They will be disappointed…why?
1. They cannot pursue their chosen profession.
2. Their job performance will be criticized.
3. They will not be able to afford to buy a house
unless they are married to a dual income
spouse, educated or experienced
4. This will lead to anxiety, depression and
complaining.

Employers:
1. Young employees seek instant gratification and
fulfillment.
2. They expect to be quickly promoted.
3. They have strong feelings of entitlement…this is
what they have been told.
4. They have a strong desire to have families to
include children however:
1. Do not feel that they will be able to support a
family.
2. Child Care and health care will only be for the
rich and or successful.
3. The Jury is still out on the new Health Care Bill

Employers:
cont.
5. Employers must realize that they are not spoiled,
they have been told that they are special, could do
anything, sky is the limit…NO PLAN was put into
place for them to achieve these things…the realities
of a fairy tale…
6. GMs are not motivated by duty…this means nothing
to them because those who were did not get what
they deserved…parents, family members, friends…
7. Working hard must mean equal or greater
recognition, if they don’t receive this, they will look
for it else where (pool program)?

Employers:
cont.
8. Trophies for all…Self-esteem programs, aren’t
working.
1. Praise based on nothing teaches only an inflated
ego.
2. Purpose of school has changed from learning to
feeling good about yourself…until what?

Employers:
cont.
9. “children learn by having their mistakes
corrected, and their self-esteem is hurt when
they later find out that they’ve been doing
something wrong for years and aren’t
prepared “ ” We are in danger of producing
individuals who are expert at knowing how
they feel rather than educated individuals
who know how to think…they are more
focused on feelings vs. facts”.

Employers:
cont.
A. “They need to learn how to deal with criticism, in
preparation for the inevitable day when it is not
delivered as gently as you – or they – would
like…?”

Employers:
cont.
“A few years ago the book called “The Ambitious
Generation” reported that young people
overwhelmingly expect to attend college, go on to
graduate school, and pursue professional careers.
The subtitle of the book was America’s Teenagers,
Motivated but Directionless.”
That is because young people are usually not told
how to achieve those goals….

Employers:
cont.
“ Young people who enjoy mechanical things and
have little interest in college should not be
browbeaten into going (although 97% of all
parents feel they should). If they learn a
skilled trade, they’ll often be making more
money than a college graduate of the same
age…Students who do go to college are not
getting the career direction they want or
need…they graduate ill equipped to choose a
future profession…” (pg. 228).
***73% of College Graduates are working in
professions outside their degree…?

Future planning…
**For those wishing to have a family “the U.S.
government already subsidizes day care for
hundreds of thousands of children right now:
the children of military personnel. The
government pays an average of $3,400 a
year per child to offset the cost of child
care…” (pg. 230). This used to be the only
organization that did this. Now, many
fortune 500 organizations are doing so but
without the experience, how likely are they
to get hired?

Future planning…cont.
“Teenagers are bored, they often get into
trouble however, petty. A large percentage
of teenage pregnancies occur between 3 and
5 p.m. as do a large percentage of teenage
crimes…

Future planning…
Teenagers need to stop over thinking…they
mull a decision over and over in their head
until they end up in a period of depression
over something that hasn’t even happened
yet…

Finally…
Millennials or Gen Me’s, need “realistic
expectations”! They must be able to grab
hold of these expectations and put them into
immediate action…
How are you helping them with
this?

“Mental Prep and Mad Skills”
In order for you to truly understand this generation, you
must realize that many of you are from this generation.
1. Listen with purpose, then listen…
2. Have a purpose for meeting.
3. Ask them “Why are you here…no, why are you
really here”?
4. Ask them who knows they are here and what they
talked about prior to coming.
5. What websites did they visit for information prior to
coming in? What did they GOOGLE?
6. Explore deeper then you are exploring now?
7. In “Gaining Commitment..”It makes sense to me,
what do you think”?

Generation Me

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Editor's Notes