GenYNetworking.com

Advice Gen Y Should Hear: The Employer Perspective

Gina’s GenYNetworking.com post last week about the advice that Gen Y doesn’t want to hear about job searching seemed to strike a cord with a few readers. In a struggling economy, many Gen Y’ers are looking for help in every direction. The common theme that resonated in the post and among comments was that they wanted employers and mentors to provide constructive criticism instead of general answers.

What puzzled me most is that, in my recent job search efforts, I was never given any of the suggestions Gina mentioned. I’ve always been given great advice – much that I hated to hear in the moment but paid off later in my search. So, I figured I would give the employers a turn for a rebuttal. I asked a few mentors to give me their sage advice and also asked the Twitterverse. Here is what I got:

From Dr. Danny Shipka, professor at Louisiana State University:

“Find a company whose mission is one that you personally agree with. No so easy in a bad economy, but graduates shouldn’t have to settle for an organization that is not line with a person’s professional codes. A company should be an extension of who you are.”

From Chuck Tanowitz, principal at Fresh Ground Communications:
* Follow Chuck on Twitter: @ctanowitz

“Don’t just send an email. Get to know us. Exchange tweets and come to events we’re attending.”

From my wonderful, anonymous mentor:

“Do not give up, even when the job climate is daunting. Just keep going, following up, and scan the horizon for the best fit. You’ll most likely find something by a fluke conversation than by responding to a job posting.”

From a 2007 blog post by Penelope Trunk, founder of Brazen Careerist:
*Follow Penelope on Twitter: @penelopetrunk

“One of the most difficult realizations I have made is that there is no such thing as the perfect decision. Whether you are picking out what type of cereal to buy, what TV show to watch, or what career path to venture down, you can only make a decision based on what you know at that particular time. This is why it is so cool to be joining the workforce today. If you make a bad decision and enter a new career that doesn’t align with your strengths, wants, or desires, then you can simply pick up and make another career change with very little consequence.”

So, Gen Y, I think constructive advice is out there. Employers, what suggestions would you offer?