Wednesday, May 16, 2007

The Tethered Generation Article

I thought this article might provide some insight into some of our summer associates.
Brief glimpse:

"The Tethered Generation," a recent article in HR magazine, is a must-read for anyone interested in compelling insights on how this breed of employees (born between 1978 and 1999) is changing and will continue to change the workplace. According to the piece, authored by Kathryn Tyler, members of the Tethered Generation are, among other things:

1. Extremely responsive to parental guidance and influence. The impact on employers: You'll need to figure ways to deal with so-called "helicopter parents" who are accustomed to intervening and orchestrating on behalf of their children. The piece, for instance, recounts how some employers are finding that parents call to discuss particulars of a job offer or to negotiate salaries.

2. Highly adept with technology. The impact on employers: You'll want to offer training on the basics, like research skills and writing, since modern technological "conveniences," including the Internet and spell checkers, have eliminated the need to be hands-on with many tasks.

3. Accustomed to immediate gratification. The impact on employers: Regular and immediate feedback is essential, explains one college career director who notes that "This generation has grown up sitting in front of a monitor playing video games. Players always know how they're doing by the score on the screen; [they] won't want to wait for a semiannual or annual performance review. They will require ongoing feedback."

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