Jump Around, Jump Around, Jump, Jump, Jump...
"____ is so Gen Y. So much jumping around."
I've heard more than a few hiring managers, recruiters, etc. say things like this in the past two weeks regarding resumes & interviews of anyone between the ages of 21 and 30. And I don't know if I necessarily appreciate that... or understand the problem.
First, if you have internships - that's the name of the game. Generally internships are 3 months because many companies have quarterly internship programs, or because that's the length of summer break. If you're an active student, you're likely to have more than 1. THIS is the mark of a great entry-level candidate, not a strike against them for jumping around. Especially if they went back to the same place, which isn't always an option. Ideally, yes, they would have had a part-time college job that they kept throughout school to show longevity, but that's not always a possibility either. Plus being a cashier at the mall doesn't necessarily show me you're a better candidate that had 4 specific internships doing what they were studying in school.
Second, consider a reason why many jump around. Assuming that people aren't spending 4 months here, 3 months there as full time employees (which some are, and feel free to cast them aside), most are spending 1-3 years gaining excellent experience at a company. If after 5 years, you've worked at 2 companies there are dozens of great reasons why someone has moved on or wants to.
What most people are forgetting is money makes the world go round. Many times out of college your first job is most definitely not high paying. As of 2006, the National Center for Education Statistics states that the annual salary for people between the ages of 25 and 34 is $41,000, and that's 3 years after most people graduate. Also consider as of 2007, according to finaid.org, the average private loan debt was $27,803 with an average increase of 5.6% yearly interest. Remember that's average, meaning a lot of people have much more (or less) than that.
Aside from our money woes, we are a generation that believes we can have and do it all, but let us not forget who our parents are, and who raised us to believe these things. If you were to ask any one of us why we jump around, it is because we do not want to settle. We have been taught that we can achieve greatness if we set our minds to it. The next time you put your child to bed, and tell them, "You can do anything you put your mind to," you are perpetuating this belief system.
So yes, Gen Y jumps around for money or for experience, because they probably can get a better deal somewhere else, or because they're just plain excited about having their hands in a lot of different projects - but a good number of Gen Yers just want a salary to live on and benefits.
Hiring Gen Y is tricky, but you just have to get to the root of the person. Find out what they want and figure out how to use it, harness it, and keep it. We are an excitable workforce, and we're loyal if you give us a reason to be. Look beyond the dates and the resume. It is just a piece of paper and some numbers after all...
I've heard more than a few hiring managers, recruiters, etc. say things like this in the past two weeks regarding resumes & interviews of anyone between the ages of 21 and 30. And I don't know if I necessarily appreciate that... or understand the problem.
First, if you have internships - that's the name of the game. Generally internships are 3 months because many companies have quarterly internship programs, or because that's the length of summer break. If you're an active student, you're likely to have more than 1. THIS is the mark of a great entry-level candidate, not a strike against them for jumping around. Especially if they went back to the same place, which isn't always an option. Ideally, yes, they would have had a part-time college job that they kept throughout school to show longevity, but that's not always a possibility either. Plus being a cashier at the mall doesn't necessarily show me you're a better candidate that had 4 specific internships doing what they were studying in school.
Second, consider a reason why many jump around. Assuming that people aren't spending 4 months here, 3 months there as full time employees (which some are, and feel free to cast them aside), most are spending 1-3 years gaining excellent experience at a company. If after 5 years, you've worked at 2 companies there are dozens of great reasons why someone has moved on or wants to.
What most people are forgetting is money makes the world go round. Many times out of college your first job is most definitely not high paying. As of 2006, the National Center for Education Statistics states that the annual salary for people between the ages of 25 and 34 is $41,000, and that's 3 years after most people graduate. Also consider as of 2007, according to finaid.org, the average private loan debt was $27,803 with an average increase of 5.6% yearly interest. Remember that's average, meaning a lot of people have much more (or less) than that.
Aside from our money woes, we are a generation that believes we can have and do it all, but let us not forget who our parents are, and who raised us to believe these things. If you were to ask any one of us why we jump around, it is because we do not want to settle. We have been taught that we can achieve greatness if we set our minds to it. The next time you put your child to bed, and tell them, "You can do anything you put your mind to," you are perpetuating this belief system.
So yes, Gen Y jumps around for money or for experience, because they probably can get a better deal somewhere else, or because they're just plain excited about having their hands in a lot of different projects - but a good number of Gen Yers just want a salary to live on and benefits.
Hiring Gen Y is tricky, but you just have to get to the root of the person. Find out what they want and figure out how to use it, harness it, and keep it. We are an excitable workforce, and we're loyal if you give us a reason to be. Look beyond the dates and the resume. It is just a piece of paper and some numbers after all...