Comments on: In today's workplace, young job seekers hold the advantage http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:33:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: LM http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-138884 LM Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:04:37 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-138884 I'm a GenY'r, and have been working in tech/digital related roles since 2000. The industry and/or lifestyle of sitting in front of a box all day long has become extremely unattractive to me as I don't like the idea of doing that for the rest of my life. As such, I've been after much lower-tech pursuits recently. Taking carpentry courses, working outdoors for a landscaping company, etc. I've left my secure high-paying specialized role in a giant telecomm company, for much lower-paying work. My distaste for daily zombie computer time is so deep that I simply got rid of my comptuer at home as well. I don't know how long I'll be on this path or what kind of career it will take me on, but I do recognize my mastery of certain skills from the previous career, and perhaps will find a way to combine it with something more "real". All I know is I'm happier now than I have ever been in my 28 years of life, and glad I'm taking the opportunity now to change, rather than when I'm supporting a family. I'm a GenY'r, and have been working in tech/digital related roles since 2000.

The industry and/or lifestyle of sitting in front of a box all day long has become extremely unattractive to me as I don't like the idea of doing that for the rest of my life.

As such, I've been after much lower-tech pursuits recently. Taking carpentry courses, working outdoors for a landscaping company, etc. I've left my secure high-paying specialized role in a giant telecomm company, for much lower-paying work. My distaste for daily zombie computer time is so deep that I simply got rid of my comptuer at home as well.

I don't know how long I'll be on this path or what kind of career it will take me on, but I do recognize my mastery of certain skills from the previous career, and perhaps will find a way to combine it with something more "real".

All I know is I'm happier now than I have ever been in my 28 years of life, and glad I'm taking the opportunity now to change, rather than when I'm supporting a family.

]]> By: A recession probably won’t affect your job market » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-138404 A recession probably won’t affect your job market » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:06:04 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-138404 [...] not so much a function of economic indicators as it is a function of demographic trends. There is a huge shortage of employees . Baby Boomers are retiring and Generation X and Y are less able to replace the Baby Boomers than [...] […] not so much a function of economic indicators as it is a function of demographic trends. There is a huge shortage of employees . Baby Boomers are retiring and Generation X and Y are less able to replace the Baby Boomers than […]

]]> By: Startup Signal - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Entrepreneurship - Powered by SocialRank http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-109018 Startup Signal - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Entrepreneurship - Powered by SocialRank Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:49:45 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-109018 [...] In today’s workplace, young job seekers hold the advantage » Brazen Careerist by Penelop... [...] […] In today's workplace, young job seekers hold the advantage » Brazen Careerist by Penelop… […]

]]> By: Link Sharing: 7/9/07 » Webomatica - Technology and Entertainment Digest http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-108582 Link Sharing: 7/9/07 » Webomatica - Technology and Entertainment Digest Sun, 23 Sep 2007 16:39:54 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-108582 [...] Pretty rosy job assessment for Generation Y. What about us Gen Xers? [...] […] Pretty rosy job assessment for Generation Y. What about us Gen Xers? […]

]]> By: BS (for real) http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-108190 BS (for real) Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:15:06 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-108190 I am a 2007 graduate of a very rigorous, selective, and well-known college. I have been very actively looking for a suitable job since May and it's been one of the most frustrating and fruitless experiences of my life. This difficulty is no doubt at least in part due to the fact that a) I have a liberal arts degree and b) I'm looking for work mainly in New York City, which this time every year seems to see thousands of people exactly like me begging for work. I did have a brief flirtation with Google, going so far as to have them fly me to California, and that whole experience was just about the one time a company has seemed to value me as a candidate. But receiving that kind of treatment as a new job-seeker is the exception, not the rule. Opportunities from those companies are few and far between for even the most qualified of recent grads, and we're mostly interchangeable to HR people. I am a 2007 graduate of a very rigorous, selective, and well-known college. I have been very actively looking for a suitable job since May and it's been one of the most frustrating and fruitless experiences of my life.

This difficulty is no doubt at least in part due to the fact that a) I have a liberal arts degree and b) I'm looking for work mainly in New York City, which this time every year seems to see thousands of people exactly like me begging for work.

I did have a brief flirtation with Google, going so far as to have them fly me to California, and that whole experience was just about the one time a company has seemed to value me as a candidate. But receiving that kind of treatment as a new job-seeker is the exception, not the rule. Opportunities from those companies are few and far between for even the most qualified of recent grads, and we're mostly interchangeable to HR people.

]]> By: DK http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-108033 DK Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:27:16 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-108033 I agree with the general point of the original post...but given the ridiculous treatment that many of us young people receive from HR departments when applying to jobs, and how often we're treated as "just kids," I think the example you use of people successfully negotiating for "tricked-out laptops" and the like is absurd. Maybe at Google or new-fad companies, but for the vast majority of companies that just isn't even in the ballpark. I agree with the general point of the original post…but given the ridiculous treatment that many of us young people receive from HR departments when applying to jobs, and how often we're treated as "just kids," I think the example you use of people successfully negotiating for "tricked-out laptops" and the like is absurd. Maybe at Google or new-fad companies, but for the vast majority of companies that just isn't even in the ballpark.

]]> By: Rae http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-106250 Rae Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:21:27 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-106250 It would be nice if researchers would break the Baby Boomers down into the uphill and downhill BB groups. I have 3 older brothers and sisters who are solid Baby Boomers (born in 1950, 1951 and 1954. I am on the other side of the peak, born in 1961, and I see a lot of stuff about the Boomers that really doesn't apply to me. I can see the difference betweein the pre and post peak gens in my own family. The post-peak Boomers definitely do NOT have the same opportunities. They have plenty, just more Gen X than Baby Boom opportunities It would be nice if researchers would break the Baby Boomers down into the uphill and downhill BB groups. I have 3 older brothers and sisters who are solid Baby Boomers (born in 1950, 1951 and 1954. I am on the other side of the peak, born in 1961, and I see a lot of stuff about the Boomers that really doesn't apply to me. I can see the difference betweein the pre and post peak gens in my own family. The post-peak Boomers definitely do NOT have the same opportunities. They have plenty, just more Gen X than Baby Boom opportunities

]]> By: Link Sharing: 7/9/07 : Wonderful Thoughts http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-104787 Link Sharing: 7/9/07 : Wonderful Thoughts Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:28:26 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-104787 [...] Pretty rosy job assessment for Generation Y. What about us Gen Xers? [...] […] Pretty rosy job assessment for Generation Y. What about us Gen Xers? […]

]]> By: Mark http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-104384 Mark Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:34:13 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-104384 I hear all of this about "knowledge." Data and facts may seem important. But it is wisdom that is lacking in our nearsighted work culture today. Else, we fall for the next bit of information that flies around the corner without any discernment of it's value, unless it's for a quick buck. Lots of data. Lots of intensity. Little substance. Wisdom differs from intellect. I've seen the most intellectual individuals blunder because they lack the consciousness of wisdom that only comes from time, experience and an openess to receive it. I hear all of this about "knowledge." Data and facts may seem important. But it is wisdom that is lacking in our nearsighted work culture today. Else, we fall for the next bit of information that flies around the corner without any discernment of it's value, unless it's for a quick buck. Lots of data. Lots of intensity. Little substance.

Wisdom differs from intellect. I've seen the most intellectual individuals blunder because they lack the consciousness of wisdom that only comes from time, experience and an openess to receive it.

]]> By: Dave Bowman http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-104288 Dave Bowman Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:48:19 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/08/in-todays-workplace-young-job-seekers-hold-the-advantage/#comment-104288 <p>This piece seems very short on empirical data and long on vague opinions about generational politics....</p> * * * * * * * * <I>Hey, click the links. Every point is backed up with data. -Penelope</I> This piece seems very short on empirical data and long on vague opinions about generational politics….

* * * * * * * *
Hey, click the links. Every point is backed up with data.

-Penelope

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