Millennials are finding it tough to land jobs and it’s not just because of the economy. In many cases, they may be their own worst enemies in the application and interview processes. Recruiting firm Adecco surveyed hiring managers and found them more likely to hire Boomers than Millennials, in many cases because of the mistakes that Millennials make when applying and interviewing. Managers surveyed were three times more likely to hire a Boomer than a Millennial and they weighed in on the key mistakes that Millennials are making. The top mistake Millennials make is wearing inappropriate attire to an interview,… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Generations, WorkplaceMuch has been made of Boomers and even Matures working well-past retirement age and potentially denying opportunities to Millennials entering the job market. A new study from the Center for Retirement Research shows that the number of workers staying on after retirement age has steadily increased, whether from necessity or desire, over the last 35 years. However, increased numbers of retirement-age workers corresponds to more opportunities for younger generations, not less. The study shows that when older workers stay on the job, they create more economic growth and consumer demand, which, in turn, create more opportunities for younger workers. “Older… Read More
Categories: Generations, Matures, Recession Economy, WorkBaby Boomers are supposed to be the original “me” generation and the one most motivated by money, and Millennials have the reputation of being entitled and demanding, but it’s Generation X that’s most likely to ask for a raise, according to a survey of managers by SuccessFactors. Gen Xers were the most likely to ask for a promotion (49%), more money (39%), a signing bonus (37%), or better working arrangements (36%). Millennials were much less likely to demand promotions and raises, but did ask for additional training more than any other generation, a pattern consistent with other studies we’ve seen…. Read More
Categories: Generations, WorkplaceAlmost exactly one year ago, Pew took a generational look at the coming election and found a distinct generation gap: the preferences of the youngest and the oldest groups of voters were distinctly at odds. A year and billions of dollars of campaigning has altered that basic equation only slightly. Pew’s final look at the demographics of the 2012 election reflects essentially the same gap as its first. In October 2011, Millennials favored the Democratic candidate by a margin of 26 points. Today that margin is 21. A year ago Matures preferred the Republican candidate by a margin of 10…. Read More
Categories: Generations, Matures, Voting BehaviorMany Baby Boomers are working past retirement by starting a second, or “encore,” career. Encore.org reports that 9 million Boomers have already launched their retirement careers. That’s about 10% and well more than the number of Boomers who have reached official retirement age. In their encore careers, Boomers are often looking to do something meaningful or “make a difference.” In that respect, they mirror Millennials who favor jobs that have a purpose or social conscience. Non-profits, education, and community work are obvious choices for meaningful work but Boomers are also finding meaning in starting their own businesses. Leading Edge (older)… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Entrepreneurship, WorkplaceMultiple generations in the workplace is now a full scale reality for most. Because they are working side by side, CareerBuilder conducted a side-by-side comparison of Older Boomers’ and Millennials’ attitudes at work, finding both similarities and differences: • Both prefer face-to-face communication, Boomers (60%) slightly more than Millennials (55%). Millennials (35%) like email more than Boomers (28%) but both disdain the phone (<12%). • Boomers (62%) are more likely to say you should stay at job for 3 or more years than Millennials (53%). Millennials (47%) believe you should move up once you’ve learned enough. If you do your… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Generations, WorkplaceMany Boomers who are retiring are choosing not to move away or, if they do, they are choosing non-traditional destinations. Increasingly, Boomer retirees are eschewing traditional Sun Belt retirement destinations like Arizona and Florida in favor of closer-to-home destinations in cooler climates like Maine and Washington state. Places like Camden, Maine and Medford, Oregon are now routinely named on “best places to retire” lists. Fewer Boomers are opting for the traditional golf-centered retirement communities in warm climates. “That’s the old view of retirement,” said David Savageau, author of Retirement Places Rated. “And it’s kind of dying out, the desert Southwest… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Generations, WorkStudies of generational philanthropy show that different generations give to charity differently, both in amount and in how they choose a charity. Various studies show that donors from the Mature and Baby Boomer generations tend to give to charities that they are familiar with or have a personal connection to. Gen Xers and Millennials, on the other hand, tend to choose philanthropies that support causes that are important to them, even if those causes are far removed from any personal or community connection. So, while a Boomer might donate to a health organization because she knows those involved and affected… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Charity, Generations, MaturesIn the 1930s and 40s, the Depression and World War II suppressed birth rates and created the Silent Generation (now part of the Matures) who were named “Silent” in part because there were so few of them. And the advent of the birth control pill in the 1960s had the same effect, leading to the “Baby Bust,” now known as Generation X. Now, the 2010 U.S. Census indicates that the current generation of children, born mostly to the smallish Generation X, represents the next “baby bust.” Census figures show that children now make up a smaller percentage of the nation’s… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Generations, MaturesJust when Generation X is reaching its peak career and earning years, they are finding that the Baby Boomers won’t get out of their way. Many Boomers are delaying retirement due to the recession or simply because they prefer to work. In fact, the participation rate in the labor force among those over 55 is as high as it’s ever been. Xers, contrary to their reputation as slackers, are highly educated, career-oriented, and ambitious, but their path to the top is not clear. In a recent survey, 40% of them say they are not satisfied with their career progress and… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Work