Congratulations! Now What?
Just the first bars of "Pomp and Circumstance" fill my heart with
excitement and my eyes with tears. Whether it's a college commencement
or a kindergarten graduation ceremony, when that music swells, I hear
the promise of something wonderful about to happen, and the loss of a
familiar, beloved world.
That's the essence of change. We can't grow if we cling only to what we know.
The chasm from college to career looms larger than ever for this
year's crop of Gen Y graduates. You can be the bridge. I'm asking every
college graduate in my acquaintance the same question: "How can I help
you?" I've offered to edit resumes, have a conversation over a cup of
coffee and make connections to a wider world. If you’re a 2010 graduate,
let me know how I can help you.
Graduates aren't the only people in transition. With companies
reducing staffs to trim costs, business communicators have a unique
role. On a personal level, we can reach out to support our colleagues
and link them to new opportunities. On a professional level, we must
create communication plans that accomplish the strategic objective while
preserving the dignity of hardworking people. If you saw Up in the Air, you know the "packet" doesn't contain all the answers. It's missing the compassion that only you can provide.
All change is emotional. Whether you are changing the position of
your mortarboard's tassel or the position you have held for a decade or
more, I think it's OK to experience your feelings on the way to a new
beginning. So cue the band for one more chorus and pass the Kleenex.
Congratulations to new graduates and those who love them. Read on to
rank top skills for new hires and enter our drawing plus get tips on
working with Gen Y.
Best,
Jill |
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Engaging Your Gen Y Employees
Embracing the generations at the CCM Conference are, from left, Tracy
Benson Kirker, Jason Ryan Dorsey, Beth Swanson, and Jill Vitiello. Jason Ryan Dorsey bills himself as The Gen Y Guy™—so
who better to provide a view into his cohort's mindset? On May 6, Jason
was the keynote speaker at the Council of Communication Management
annual conference, and his funny, self-aware presentation provided an
energetic and thought-provoking start to an information-packed day.
Jason started his session by asking the audience—most of whom were
Baby Boomers—to remember our very first jobs, how old we were when we
had them, and how much we earned. Then he called on a few of us—former
newspaper boys who started routes at age 12 when papers cost a dime a
day; babysitters who began at 13 watching neighbors' kids at a buck an
hour; and one who was a wrapper in a record store at age 14, earning 50
cents an hour. (The Gen Xers heard "rapper" and were amazed that the
genre had its genesis in the '60s. Once the homonym was deciphered, we
roared with laughter, and a CCMer gained a new nickname—"50 Cent!")
After warming us up with childhood memories, Jason pointed out that
generational change is driven by macro trends such as parenting styles,
technology, economics, education and life span. Baby Boomer parents
raised Generation Y with one common and unspoken goal: We wanted it to
be easier for our kids than it was for us. As a result, many young
people are graduating from college without ever having worked for money.
They enter the workplace at age 22 or older with virtually no work
experience.
Here are a few tips on engaging your Gen Y employee:
- Start your new employee on a Tuesday so you can make time to spend with him.
- Present her with business cards on the first day. This says, “You’re
part of our team.” Guess who the first person to receive one will be:
her mom.
- Send a text to get his attention and reach him quickly. He uses
email sporadically and checking voice mail is not in his repertoire.
- Assign a project that presents a challenge and then let her figure
out how to accomplish it. No process steps or micro-managing required.
- Provide initial feedback immediately after receiving his completed assignment. Gen Yers thrive on instant communication.
- Reward great work with time off, if possible. This is the new
currency for Gen Y. Recognize her birthday—considered a Gen Yer’s most
important holiday.
When Reality Hits
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting author Nancy Barry, whose book When Reality Hits: What Employers Want Recent College Graduates to Know
is a fabulous, practical guide for newcomers to any profession. Nancy's
career in broadcasting and corporations makes her advice especially
pithy for young business communicators. Makes a great gift for that new
or future graduate, and at 152 pages, it's a quick read for their
parents, bosses and mentors, too! (Unfortunately it’s not available as
an iBook yet!)
Meet VCG's Summer Intern: Scott Slotkin
Vitiello Communications Group welcomes back our Gen Y summer intern
Scott Slotkin. Last summer, Scott put his talents to superb use, editing
Flashback, the
video that opened our social media workshops at the IABC Heritage
Region Conference and the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association
Leadership Conference. Scott is working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Communication with a concentration in Mass Communication at the
University of Delaware.
Kudos
The Eighth Annual Garden State Go Red for Women Luncheon was a
tremendous success, thanks to the immeasurable contribution of time,
talent and tasty products from the following fabulous women:
- Laurie Cummins, Groezinger Provisions, Inc., who donated a tempting array of gourmet goodies for the Silent Auction.
- Mimi Feliciano, Jerry & Dolores Turco Medical Rehab Center; Julie Kampf, JBK Associates, Inc.; and Jean Oursler, J. Alden Consulting Group, Inc., for their generous support of this amazing event.
- And to the incomparable Erica Ferry, Erica Ferry & Associates, co-chair and co-master of ceremonies, for her work in the movement to fight heart disease in women and their families.
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