Get Ready for the Millennial Workers

This time of year, a new crop of Generation Y college graduates are showing up at our office doors looking for their first jobs. And as the baby boomers advance toward retirement, business owners need these new recruits. The problem is there is often a disconnect between what we as business owners are looking for and what they as entry-level employees expect. They aren't called the Entitlement Generation for nothing. The typical Gen Y worker expects to fill the following position after graduation: Job title: Director of Ideas and General Office CriticSalary: $70,000Hours: 9ish to 5ishBenefits: 1.5 hours lunch, summer Fridays off, an office and an iPhone Responsibilities: Surf the internet, keep constant track of "what's up" via IM, offer solutions to antiquated company policies, roll eyes when given constructive criticism. Director of Ideas will NOT be required to send FedEx packages, take notes at meetings or make photocopies for anyone.Qualifications: Brilliant and all-knowing. No experience necessary. Unfortunately, this job description doesn't match any open positions I've heard of. But that doesn't mean this new generation won't be a great fit for our companies. For example, while they have high expectations of their employer, they also put high expectations on themselves. Their boldness may be aggravating to managers, but it is also a necessary quality in an entrepreneurial organization. Let's not overlook the fact that these kids are more educated than any other generation past. And most of all, this new workforce is by far the most technology-savvy. While their style may be different from the button-down attitude we're used to, maybe we should give them a fair shot at being successful at our companies. Business owners have a management issue at hand. How do we usher in the new generation of workers and capitalize on their potential? I don't know the answer, but let me know if you've got some suggestions. I myself am a Generation X worker. Our generation entered the workforce with an equally low set of expectations. The popular belief in the early 90's was that I would come to work unshaven, wearing a flannel shirt; half brain dead from watching too much MTV. That couldn't have been further from the truth. Well, maybe I did watch too much MTV. If you'd like to read more on this generational divide, check out this article from The Wall Street Journal.