1. Generational Differences & Career Success
Kathleen E. High, M.Ed., GCDFI
Education and Career Consultant
Dream Chasers & Goal Setters

2. Why is Generations Important?
Recognizing Generational Differences can expose biases
Article: “Price of Saying ‘No’ at Work”

3. Why Is It Important to Understand Generational Differences?
The World is Changing - Fast
Driven by a few factors:
Advances in Technology
Shifts in Demographics
Globalization
Leading to Shifts in Cultural Values and Norms
Understanding Generational Differences Can Help You
Understand Yourself, Family, Supervisors, Co-workers and Customers
Have Better Job Search Strategies
Manage Employees
Understand Your Customers/Clients
With Long-Range Strategic Planning

4. Important Information
Research is based on the American culture
May not fit individuals raised in other countries/cultures
Dates given for groups may vary
Several other variables may explain differences:
Age and Development
Personality Differences
Gender Differences
Religion
Upbringing
Personal Life Experiences
Education and Work Experiences
Personal Life Responsibilities (Single vs. family, etc.)
P0litical Orientation

8. Which Groups Do You Deal With? What Are Their Generations?
Family & Friends
Social Life (Place of Worship, Hobbies, etc.)
Employees
Students
Supervisors/Employers
Colleagues / Co-workers
Customers
Vendors
Community
Other Stakeholders (Board of Directors, etc.)

9. Four Generations and Sizes*
Traditional %
(Born Before 1946 – WWII)
Baby Boomer %
(Born Approximately Between 1946 – 1963)
Generation X %
(Born Approximately Between 1964 – 1980)
Millennial %
(Born Approximately Between 1981 – 1999)
Generation Z %
(Born after about 2000 – Just entering adulthood)
(Not much empirical information available yet)
* New Strategist. (2010). American Generations (7th Ed.). Ithaca, NY: New Strategist.

10. Descriptions (1946 – 1964) Matures: (Before 1946) Baby Boomers:
Grew up with: Great Depression, WWII, Big Institutions
Attitudes & Strengths:, Value Tradition, Loyalty, Hard Work, Discipline
Weaknesses: Less Comfortable with Change and Diversity
Matures:
(Before 1946)
Grew up with: Prosperity, Stability, Equal Opportunity,
Attitudes & Strengths: Value Goal Achievement
Weaknesses: Workaholics, Not Prepared for Changing World
Baby Boomers:
(1946 – 1964)
Grew up with: Uncertainty
Attitudes & Strengths: What’s In It For Me?, Want “Work/Life Balance”
Weaknesses: Not Loyal to Employers
Generation X:
(1965 – 1980)
Grew up with: Technology, Diversity, Change, “No Child Left Behind”
Weaknesses: Want a Job on Their Terms
Attitudes & Strengths: Adaptable, Tech Savvy, Tolerant, Idealistic
Millennials:
(1981 – 2000)

11. Which Generation Are You?
Consider:
Birth Years
But also the description
If you were born close to a transition, you may relate to both

12. Formative Years Matures: (Before 1946) Baby Boomers: (1946 – 1964)
Pearl Harbor, Black Tuesday, The Great Depression, World War II, Cold War, GI Bill opened doors of opportunity (education & home ownership, etc.) to many; Korean War. Rural lifestyle was still common. Life often revolved around family, school, and church.
Matures:
(Before 1946)
Cold war, media-oriented (TV and radio), economic affluence, education and technology, rock and roll, Civil Rights movement, Space Race, Assassinations, Vietnam War, Energy crisis, Watergate and Nixon resignation.
Baby Boomers:
(1946 – 1964)
Increased technology, video games, Challenger Disaster, the Cold War ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall, music, variable economy (parental affluence to weaker prospects), Desert Storm, AIDS, Oklahoma City Bombing, Bill Clinton Presidency, Y2K Scare.
Generation X:
(1965 – 1980)
Millennials:
(1981 – 2000)
Postmodern Era, technology/Internet, September 11, terrorist attacks, MTV, Diversity, school shootings (Columbine).

13. What They Value Matures: (Before 1946) Baby Boomers: (1946 – 1964)
Disciplined, responsible, conservative and loyal, and willing to sacrifice. They value security, history, tradition, and a clearly defined set of rules and hierarchy.
Matures:
(Before 1946)
Value achievement, accomplishment, hard work, the traditional work ethic, and a democratic work environment where anything is possible given enough effort expended.
Baby Boomers:
(1946 – 1964)
Do not value loyalty, but instead want to know “What’s in it for me.” They are independent, self-reliant, flexible and technologically confident, informal, quick paced, and often irreverent. They have high performance expectations and want to be rewarded for merit alone. Unwilling to sacrifice life balance for work.
Generation X:
(1965 – 1980)
Optimistic and tolerant; they value diversity, challenge, and creativity. Self confident, technological wizards, multi-taskers, and they value fun, idealism, and team-oriented work environment.
Millennials:
(1981 – 2000)

14. How They Were Educated Matures: (Before 1946) Baby Boomers:
Higher education opportunities limited to those means to pay and “intelligence” to handle the academic rigor. Education provided “upward mobility”. GI Bill opened up higher education to veterans returning from WWII. Other groups followed. Many state-supported institutions of higher education started.
Matures:
(Before 1946)
The Civil Rights era opened up access to higher education to under-represented groups (women, older, ethnic minorities, disabled, etc.). People who previously would not have access to education were now able to attend college. State-supported institutions of higher education grow in numbers and popularity. College attendance up 500%.
Baby Boomers:
(1946 – 1964)
Students began to enter college under-prepared due to grade inflation. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted, forcing schools to accommodate students with disabilities. Greater access to higher education due to financial aid.
Generation X:
(1965 – 1980)
Millennials:
(1981 – 2000)
Higher education is accessible to anyone. Educational systems slowly changing from teacher-centered to student learning-centered.

15. Attitude Toward Authority
Children were taught to be obedient
Grew up trusting authority
Conformity towards social norms was expected
Matures:
(Before 1946)
Dramatic social change led to mistrust of authority and encouraged descent of traditions and institutions
Individualism and consumerism encouraged
Baby Boomers:
(1946 – 1964)
Generation X:
(1965 – 1980)
Unimpressed with Authority
Only loyal if they get what they want
Pursue own interests
See themselves as equal with authority – not afraid to challenge
Want to have their career on their terms
Encouraged to find and pursue their passions
Millennials:
(1981 – 2000)

16. Other Differences: Older vs Younger
Older Generations
Younger Generations
Truth is absolute
Truth is relative
Self-Disclosure = Private
Self-Disclosure = Open
Being Appropriate
Being Authentic
Value Grit
Value Prevention
Duty-Based Citizenship*
Engaged Citizenship*
Maintain Status Quo
Disrupt the Ineffective & Unjust

17. Which Generation is Most Difficult for You to Relate to?
Reflection
Share with your neighbor:
Which Generation is Most Difficult for You to Relate to?
Why?

18. How Can You Relate to Others?
Recognize Your Own Generational Biases
Don’t Try to Be Something You are Not
Find a Friend from that Generation, Listen More Than Talk
See Them as Person Rather Than a Stereotype
Accept the Differences in a Respectful, Neutral Manner
Acknowledge Their Legitimate Concerns
Find Value in the Contributions of Each Generation
Identify What You Can Learn from Them
Find a Source of Connection with Them
Focus on the Connections Rather Than the Differences
Be an Ambassador for Your Generation

19. Wrap Up What are You Going to Take Away?
How Can You Apply What You Have Learned Today?