Generation Y sees work-life balance and happy, motivated & varied careers as central to their future
Multinationals not an attractive career path, money not main motivation and parents work too hard, seminar hears.
A strong work-life balance, a personalised workplace, and a happy, varied and motivated career, with a strong sense that what they are doing is important. These were a few of the career requirements of an International panel of some of today’s brightest 18 year olds at the seminar ‘Kids Today, Leaders Tomorrow’ held at the London Business School on July 8th 2008.
The seminar was hosted by iOpener, a consultancy based in Oxford that enables organisations to implement strategy and deliver key results by focusing on happiness at work, in conjunction with Talent Plus, a global human resources consultancy firm. The event looked at how ‘Generation Y’ is set to change business, impact the economy and shape the future. Generation Y is usually defined as those between the ages of 11 and 25 and will constitute the majority of the worforce within the next 10 years.
The hopes and aspirations of students from China, Pakistan, Russia, Sweden, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States were put under the microscope in the seminar chaired by BBC World News anchor Nisha Pillai, and in front of some of today’s senior business and industry leaders.
Over 50% of the student panel said that they would take a low paid job which they loved and only one member of the panel said that they would consider working for a large multinational corporation.
A common theme throughout was the students’ belief that their parents’ generation worked too hard and that a work-life balance and the ability to start a family without one’s career being affected were important prerequisites in determining the paths they would pursue.
All the students were optimistic about the future with no one blaming their parent’s generation for the world’s current economic plight. Panellist Usman Nizami said there was “a need to look forward.” When asked by a member of the audience whether they thought their parents’ generation had mortgaged their future, none of the panellists agreed.
Said Jessica Pryce-Jones, co-founder and partner of iOpener:
“What concerns, motivates and inspires our next generation will be central to how businesses organise themselves in the future.”
“It is clear, however, that many challenges lie ahead – not just in how businesses look to accommodate Generation Y but in how Generation Y adapt to prevailing business drivers. How can one sustain a clearly separated work and private life without jeopardising customer relationships? What can Generation Y give back to their employers in return? How can businesses ensure that Generation Y remain passionate and committed to their jobs?”
“It was also interesting to see how little attraction the big multinational brand has to tomorrow’s leaders and how money is not the main motivator. What is clear, however, is that with the progress in technology and the current economic climate, today’s generation are entering a very different workforce from their parents and Generation Y is entering it with remarkable optimism. It will be a fascinating journey with a clear onus on the employer to ensure that this talented generation is engaged and developed to their full potential.”
