Is It Me? Or My Generation?

While attending nursing school, I worked my way through various roles at my job at a women's health clinic. When I graduated, I was ready to move into a nursing position with the company. Imagine my surprise when the company I'd worked with for eight years responded that they didn't have a current need for nurses. Then they wished me luck in acquiring a nursing position.

I hadn't noticed that the nursing shortage had ended at that time, and that experienced nurses flooded the market, or that time has a way of changing things. I'd rested on the principles of my parents' generation, where I thought long standing company loyalty as what was expected. While growing up, many people worked at one job with one company for their entire lifetime. I thought my path would be the same.

Assumptions can't be made about each generation because we're all individuals, but the period we grow up in can influence our values and beliefs. Our experiences and the state of the world may shape our thoughts and perspectives, how we interact with others, our work ethic, and our expectations from our employers and each other. Our work and interactions with different generations don't mean that we'll change our perceptions or beliefs, but it's helpful to understand that this might influence our workplace relationships.

Our View of The World

My twin girls are Generation Z. About six years ago it became apparent that they'd view things differently based on the world they grew up in.

My daughter thrust the phone at me and declared something was wrong. Because when she dialed her friend's number she was met with an annoying sound. She couldn't understand why she couldn't get through.

Amused, I informed her that this sound was a busy signal. My daughter had no idea what I was talking about. Since her friend didn't have a cell phone, my daughter wanted to know how she could reach her friend now.

I said, "You'll have to wait and call her later."

The idea of a lack of immediate communication was foreign to her, as it would be from what she was accustomed to. The same way I'd not experienced the world as my parents did that helped shape their perspective.

Consider Different Mindsets

I've reviewed many resumes and completed countless interviews over the years. Some things may not have changed with my interview practices, but I've learned that other things have. Such as that I'm no longer quick to judge the applicant who's had multiple short-term jobs. Something that me, or my generation, may have considered a negative trait. Nowadays, opportunities are vast, and many companies value the variety of skills and experience acquired from varied positions.

Thus, some employers might view the resume I'd built and perfected over the years and assume that I'm not open to change, or that the structure is outdated, or that I don't have enough diversity in my skills. I may not agree with these assumptions, but in realizing the mindset of the employers that may view them, I can have my resume updated to a more modern style and font, and highlight the relevant skills to help to display what they're looking for. Even if the employer is from my, or an older generation, I understand that the way my skills are evaluated may have changed to keep up with the times.

Sometimes it can be beneficial to take a moment to realize our beliefs assume that others understand our perspective. While in some ways that's challenging, if not impossible, to meet without having the same experiences. But what we can do is be open to learning from each other. Each generation has something we can learn from the other. We are individuals and should be treated as such.

Changing Perspective

If we view that our goals are often the same, even if we take a different route to achieve them, we can realize that there are valuable skills gained in each generation, despite our differences. We can't stop the passage of time, nor control another's thoughts and beliefs, nor should we want to. The best we can do is look to understand each other and help lift each other up for success. If we seek to discover the value and focus on what gifts each person brings to the position, we can accept each person as an individual. Understanding that no generation is better than the other, but together we make a perfect blend of skills, it can help us all in meeting our goals.