Most of the discussion about Generation Y entering the workforce comes from the recruiting or organizational management perspective. Which is to say that in the Human Resources field we are concerned about providing an appealing, quick, interactive message to attract the next generation of workers. We are re-tooling management sensitivities to invest ourselves in employee career growth and other hands on management support, but little is said about what the Millennials will have to do to transition to the working world from academia.
“There are profound differences between acceptable work behavior and acceptable school behavior,’ according to Shanti Atkins, an attorney who works with organizations that want to avoid employment gaffes that can lead to law suits. “For example, do not rate your boss as hot or not,” she jokes, referring to the popular college pastime of rating professors, friends and random faces and bodies on social networking sites.
“Instead, expect to be rated and evaluated in ways that had little relevance in school – like your ability to follow policies and codes of conduct ranging from how you behave at business parties with alcohol to what you wear to work every day,” Atkins says.
I know in my day most young people had part-time jobs in high school and college, while today they focus so completely on schoolwork and extracurricular activities that they graduate with resumes loaded with academic accomplishments, but lacking job experience, at least the ones I have read.
“The concept of being green when coming into the workplace is nothing new,” Atkins says. “But with this generation it is even more acute.” That’s why if you are a new graduate about to get your first job, you should listen to what Atkins has to say in her “tough love’ tip sheet advice for the class of 2008.
To help students navigate the transition from college life to local government employment and corporate America, Atkins’ extensive tip sheet spells out surprising new rules of the game ranging from technology to office romance to ethics. Brief excerpts are as follows:
- “Be warned, “hot or not” is no longer the appropriate question of the hour, if the hour is between 8 to 5.”
- “Online communities are not like Vegas – what happens there definitely follows you back to work. You have “no expectation of privacy” in almost all types of workplace communications.”
- “Beware the provocative T-shirt slogans exploring race, religion, politics and sex. As for underwear, wear anything you want, top and bottom, because you should be the only one who sees it. Sexually explicit or suggestive clothing can land you and your company in legal hot water with sexual harassment concerns.”
- “Hookups at the office party or while you’re traveling for business never make a great impression. However subtle you think you’re being, people will notice – and talk.”
- “Binge drinking and professional performance don't mix. Learn your limit, and stay well under it at company events.”
- “Your managers aren’t your friends. Friends forgive and forget. Managers make constant judgments, and express their opinions in your pay and performance reviews.”
- “Don’t be a player at work, you stand to lose professionally if not personally.”
- “There’s no such thing as a small lie, or a minor financial irregularity. When it comes to spending your company’s money, never take liberties. Fudging a line item on your expense report is stealing – plain and simple – and your employer will see it that way.”