No, that's not a term that I made up, it's been used lately to describe today's 20's generation. Other descriptions have been arrogant, lazy, ego-centric, etc.
One has to wonder why all this name-calling, and how true it is. Well, name-calling is not good and doesn't help, but sometimes you have to call things the way you see them, however painful that may be.
What brought the subject to mind was a report that there are 25% less jobs available than college graduates looking for jobs. And, how college graduates are disappointed, some of them have to still live at home with their parents, etc.
This is the generation that has grown up being congratulated and given accolades for things like learning how to read, or passing a class in college. Mind you, we are not talking about excelling in a class, just passing it. Something that they are *expected* to do, if they are in college. That's like congratulating someone for telling the truth! *You are supposed to tell the truth!*, why do you need to be congratulated for doing what you are supposed to do? I don't get it.
This is the same generation that grew up playing youth baseball and youth soccer in games where they didn't keep track of the score, so us not to upset the losing team. Come on, if there are no winners and losers, what is the reason for a kid to try to excel? And how does that prepare them for life, later on? So, an employer should give everyone the same raises, so as no to upset those who don't pull their eight? Isn't that punishing those who really work hard? And how does all this pampering and cajoling help kids prepare for what to expect, and what they are expected to do, in real life?
We can't, however, put all the blame on the young generation. Parents are also to blame for bringing up their kids teaching them that they are indeed *entitled* to things. No, I don't know why, I don't know how it started, but I know it's happening. I see it every day. In addition to that, you have parents that has spent $100,000+ (sometimes closer to $200,000) for their kid's education, and they expect them to have a job, a good paying one at that, with a degree from such a high cost institution. There goes the entitlement, again... "expect them to have...". This rubs off on the kid who now goes to the interview with the attitude... "I spent 4 years and $150,000 to get a degree from Harvard, what can you do for me?"
People, you got it all wrong. The prospective employers do not have to do anything for you. They don't owe you anything. Snap out of it! If they think you are good and you can help their company and *their* goals, they may offer you a job. And then, you have to show that you are worth that job to keep it. They shouldn't hire you *simply* to help someone out of school. Nine times out of them, if that's the reason they hired someone, they will sorely regret it. You should be hired on merit, attitude and future promise.
I think that major mistake most youngsters make is they set a college degree as their final goal. Wrong, the college degree should not be a final goal, it should be the starting point of one's career, which one has to work at hard, in order to realize it.
Give failing students an "F", tell the losing team of youngsters the score they lost by, don't give everyone a part in he Christmas school play - use the kids that have some talent and more important, show an interest to work on producing a good play, don't reward youngsters for things "they are supposed" to do - no "atta boys" for barely passing a college class. May be this way the next generation will not feel as entitled.
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