The Millennial Style of Giving

I think Millennials get a bad rap sometimes and, yes, I admit I am among their critics.  Coming from a different generation tends to put me at odds with some of them when it comes to things like business etiquette and their thinking process.  I have also been of the opinion that Millennials don't respect authority or obey the so-called rules.  They are selfish---thinking only of themselves when it comes to----WHATEVER----but this week a small group of them proved me wrong.

On Wednesday, members of my (former) training class surprised me with a gift card, cake, appreciation certificate and balloons to say how much they appreciate me.  Now I will be perfectly honest, I never saw that coming.  Throughout training class, I thought they were just being nice to me because they were taught to be respectful of their elders. But surprisingly, once we left training and moved on to separate teams, they kept me ("Mrs. BAM") in their "loop."  I have gotten to know them and think of them as my extended family. They have me shaking my head sometimes at the things they say in our little "chat" but they also make me laugh and some have even felt comfortable enough to share their personal and private issues.  On Wednesday, they made me cry.

This blog post is written as a reminder to me and my fellow boomers that we should not be so quick to judge the Millennial generation.  Yes, they are different.  They're not working the same way as we did when we first entered the job market.  They are not kissing ass to get to the top and certainly have no reservations about leaving a company if they don't feel it's a right fit for them----unlike many of their parents and grandparents who worked at one job all of their lives so they could retire and collect social security. 

According to Laura Stiller Rikleen, author of the book You Raised Us--Now Work with Us, one stereotype is that Millennials feel "entitled."  She says, "Are we confusing the word entitlement  with their version of self-confidence and self-respect?"  And not all Millennials lack motivation or drive and they do know how to give back.  As a matter of fact, on a larger scale, 84 percent of millennials made a charitable donation in 2014 and 70 percent spent at least an hour volunteering.  

Millennials are giving back their way and I think I'm okay with that.

Job Search Tips for Boomers

In September of last year, I made a tough decision to return to the workforce after a seven-year attempt to make it as an entrepreneur. I am still working.

Going back to work put me in an environment I left for good reason. I didn't like the idea of working for younger bosses who thought they knew everything and didn't value what older workers brought to the table. I found it impossible to deal with younger co-workers who had the same attitudes. But I am not going to use this space to vent about the past. I am moving onward and upward in a new direction.

Over the past several years, this blog has been focused on boomer related subjects and issues. It will remain the same but with a clearer focus. As a boomer who has returned to the workforce I want to share some useful tips and information that can help others do the same thing.

This particular topic is on how to get back into the job market.

First of all let me say, finding a job is challenging for anyone in tough economic times but it's harder if you're over the age of 50. Although it's illegal for employers to discriminate based on age, any older job-seeker will tell you it happens ever day. Before I landed my current job, I sent out dozens and dozens of resumes and attended a number of job seminars.

Here are some job tips for boomers with some help from AARP:

1) Use books and online tools to help craft the best resume, which should be no longer than two pages. Don't let your resume reflect your age. Let your experience speak for itself.

2) Highlight your experience in detail on your resume and in your cover letter. Outline why you, an older employee, are the best candidate for the position.

3) If you haven't participated in an interview for awhile, you should brush up on your interview skills. Ask one of your teenage children/spouse or friend to ask you some anticipated questions.

4) Get in touch with old contacts. You never know who knows who and networking still remains one of the best ways to find a job.

5) Don't get discouraged. The job hunting process is truly an exercise in patience. You may be sending out dozens of resumes before you get your first call.

A Boomer Review of the Movie The Internship

The Internship is a movie about two middle-aged men who suddenly become unemployed and end up at GOOGLE as interns, along with dozens of younger, technological geeks.

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson portray the two middle-aged men who were watch salesmen and lifelong friends. Without warning, their company shuts down because, as the owner says, "mobile phones have replaced watches as the best means of telling time."

As "Ngooglers" Vaughn and Wilson are teamed up with a group of perceived misfits who must compete in a series of challenges, with the winning group being offered permanent jobs at the company.

Despite other not-so-flattering reviews I have read about this movie, I actually enjoyed it. As a middle-aged woman, I clearly understand the challenges my fellow boomers face when trying to re-enter the workforce. We did not grow up with computers, so when trying to re-enter corporate America or simply changing jobs, there are, in many cases, technology demands we may not be proficient in. And then there is the ribbing (or behind-the-back insults) we may get from our younger co-workers.

The Internship shows how wide the generation gap is when it comes to technology but also demonstrates the value middle-aged folks still bring to the business world. Case in point: Vaughn and Wilson are able to convince another middle-aged small business owner the importance of using technology to grow his business with a sales pitch AFTER the younger team tried to do it with a computer-laced chart of bars and graphs and a lack of understanding of how to effectively communicate face-to-face.

One reviewer calls The Internship "tired and predictable." I totally disagree. While it may not be realistic for middle-aged folks who are unemployed to believe they can get an internship at a place like Google, there is no mistaking the fact that boomers have an edge when it comes to wheeling and dealing without having to use an app for that.

If I had to point out a negative in the movie, I would have to say it's the lack of diversity, especially when it comes to young black males. It seems as if Hollywood has written off young black men as technological geniuses. Having a biracial young man in The Internship does not count especially when he shows no sign of color other than his hair.

If you're a baby boomer, I recommend you see The Internship and keep hope alive.