The New Generation???

[CRedskinsRule]

Try and read the whole article before commenting. I couldn't get past this portion:
American Dream Is Elusive for New Generation - Yahoo! Finance

The daily routine seldom varied. Mr. Nicholson, 24, a graduate of Colgate University, winner of a dean’s award for academic excellence, spent his mornings searching corporate Web sites for suitable job openings. When he found one, he mailed off a résumé and cover letter — four or five a week, week after week.

Over the last five months, only one job materialized. After several interviews, the Hanover Insurance Group in nearby Worcester offered to hire him as an associate claims adjuster, at $40,000 a year. But even before the formal offer, Mr. Nicholson had decided not to take the job.

Rather than waste early years in dead-end work, he reasoned, he would hold out for a corporate position that would draw on his college training and put him, as he sees it, on the bottom rungs of a career ladder.

I can't wrap my head around his reasoning. I've always thought; get your foot in the door, work hard, do what needs to be done - not necessarily the same as what is in your job description, and you'll get where you want to be - however you define that.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Try and read the whole article before commenting. I couldn't get past this portion:
American Dream Is Elusive for New Generation - Yahoo! Finance



I can't wrap my head around his reasoning. I've always thought; get your foot in the door, work hard, do what needs to be done - not necessarily the same as what is in your job description, and you'll get where you want to be - however you define that.

Yep agreed. A degree means nothing without experience. Experience translates across job fields too, there is meaningful transferrable skills you can pick up even in a "dead-end" job. Especially in this economy... get your foot in the door somewhere and start building up your resume.

[dmek25]

none of these kids want to do any grunt work. they all want top level jobs, at top level pay. this generation feels like they are owed a pay check- they don't have to work for it

[cpayne5]

Originally Posted by dmek25

none of these kids want to do any grunt work. they all want top level jobs, at top level pay. this generation feels like they are owed a pay check- they don't have to work for it

Welcome to America. It's not exclusive to this generation, the sense of entitlement just gets stronger with each successive generation.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by cpayne5

Welcome to America. It's not exclusive to this generation, the sense of entitlement just gets stronger with each successive generation.

? I didn't grow up with that sense of entitlement. I know my Dad worked his behind off to make a way for my Mom and his kids. I know I have worked my behind off for my kids. Now do my kids have a sense of entitlement, maybe, but over the summer I make them work with me a couple hours a week, they "earn" a paycheck, and they are learning that if they want a video game, or that extra smoothie from McD's over the summer, they better be giving me a good effort on the mornings they are at work with me. If a child grows up with a sense of entitlement, in my opinion, it comes in a good part from a lack of training from the parents.

[cpayne5]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

? I didn't grow up with that sense of entitlement. I know my Dad worked his behind off to make a way for my Mom and his kids. I know I have worked my behind off for my kids. Now do my kids have a sense of entitlement, maybe, but over the summer I make them work with me a couple hours a week, they "earn" a paycheck, and they are learning that if they want a video game, or that extra smoothie from McD's over the summer, they better be giving me a good effort on the mornings they are at work with me. If a child grows up with a sense of entitlement, in my opinion, it comes in a good part from a lack of training from the parents.

I didn't either, but I don't think that either of us are the norm. It's probably not the norm for the folks on this board that are my age (just turned 28) either (think about the demographics of the posters here). But, going to college and just growing up in general with my generation have made me think the way I do about "us".

I grew up pretty poor. My parents never made much money at all. I figured out from an early age that I didn't want to be poor. I worked hard in school and am doing very well for myself, all things considered. My sister grew up in the same environment, but took a woe-is-me attitude. She always played the sympathy card and sought handouts. She just turned 24, has had about 20 jobs over the past two years (because nothing pays well enough for her) yet currently unemployed, is expecting her second child, and living off of my 80+ year old grandparents.

It's just my opinion based off anecdotal evidence that I've witnessed in society.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by dmek25

none of these kids want to do any grunt work. they all want top level jobs, at top level pay. this generation feels like they are owed a pay check- they don't have to work for it

I agree with you but I am guessing this concept is nothing diffrent then in the past. I think it is a fact of life that older generations feel younger generations don't work as hard.

[MTK]

I find it pretty funny that he thinks that a claims job with a major insurance company is dead-end. I'm gonna take a wild guess that this kid has never flipped burgers.

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I find it pretty funny that he thinks that a claims job with a major insurance company is dead-end. I'm gonna take a wild guess that this kid has never flipped burgers.

I don't understand this either. $40k to start, and with potential to move up, and he sees this as a dead-end? He wants to not be home, yet here is an opportunity to get the funds to be able to be independent, and he turns his nose at it? 6-12 months as a claims adjuster busting his hump and he could most likely be reconsidered for their managerial training program. With Mom & Dad's annual income, and Grandparents who paid for his Colgate education, it doesn't surprise me that he has this mentality. It's a shame he's letting an opportunity go because he feels it's beneath him.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I find it pretty funny that he thinks that a claims job with a major insurance company is dead-end. I'm gonna take a wild guess that this kid has never flipped burgers.

I was going to say the same thing!!!!! What a little brat, good luck finding something now.

Plus $40k right out of school is pretty good money, IMO. I think I made $25k in my first career job and that was 1996.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by mredskins

I was going to say the same thing!!!!! What a little brat, good luck finding something now.

Plus $40k right out of school is pretty good money, IMO. I think I made $25k in my first career job and that was 1996.

In 1991, after law school, my first legal job was an 18K position that was actually a paralegal slot - I told them I would take it and they could use me as a lawyer at the paralegal pay. I busted my butt and moved around when opportunity presented itself and w/in 12 years had one of two senior counsel positions in a 12 attorney office.

It ain't all about where you start, it's what you do with your start.

Like Matty said, this kid needed to flip some burgers in his life. Did anyone else notice his tuition, room & board were paid by his grandparents? 40K right of school with no student loans? So sorry that is below you.

[CRedskinsRule]

Seriously,

40K, living at home for maybe a year-2, with no attachments (apparently) and he would be right on Schneed's path for life! - and I mean that in a good way.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Seriously,

40K, living at home for maybe a year-2, with no attachments (apparently) and he would be right on Schneed's path for life! - and I mean that in a good way.

Yeah, you too can make $40K out of college and within three years become an internet asshole!

JK. But seriously, that's how I rolled. I came out of college (a pretty good one, but not very top teir) with an average GPA, and it was a recession. I took an entry level finance job for $36K (probably now equates to $42K given inflation). Lived at home with the 'rents for 18 months while I paid down student loans and got an MBA at night. Started getting promoted and got things rolling.

You got to come in and be willing to put in the time and effort. Start somewhere, and prove to people that you can do more. But you have to show you can handle increased responsibility before they'll give it to you, that's the way to earn more $.

Damn kids. My mom and dad handed me a real nice upbringing and 85% of a private school college education. But the world won't hand me anything like they did, I've got to earn it from the world. Mom and dad may have handed you this Colgate education, bub, but don't expect the world to do the same.

[BDBohnzie]

Even if he rented an apartment after working for 2-3 months, he'd still be better off than staying at home and waiting for his perfect opportunity to drop in his lap.

[saden1]

That guy is a moron. If I'm his father he is getting kicked out...might even cut him from my will.