At the weekend I was chatting with two of my favourite women about career paths.
According to the assigned constructs I’m a Boomer, having been brought up in the era of “you work hard all your life” (sometimes with the sub-text “and end up with nothing”). To some extent I have complied with this, working long hours and seeing my value in productivity and contribution. However I never expected to be in the same job for life: I also fall into the so-called Jones Generation, with ‘a competitive streak and upward aspiration’.
These days I no longer subscribe to the work hard belief, although it’s taken a ton of unpicking those threads attached to “being loyal to my tribe” and introduce more boundaries into my life. Also the rebel in me decided I wasn’t going to end up with nothing, so I can write these words from a place of comfort while still owning the long hours I worked to get here.
One of the women I was chatting with is Gen Z, a bit younger than my son who is on the cusp on Millennials/GenZ. I’ve been delighted to find that both of them appreciate the need to bring their best game to the workplace, but work is not their #1 priority. They want good pay, as a reward that brings them the material things to be comfortable, notably a nice home and spare cash to enjoy living. They’re happy to put in the hours, while being self-aware enough to ask for help when they feel the approach of potential burnout. Indeed, my son is teaching me all the time, leading by example.
Hannah Roberts in my Transcendence Community has posted on LinkedIn about career differences across the generations, including this chart. Let me know what you think – can you see your own experience reflected in the descriptions?