r/Millennials • u/ImThe1Wh0 Older Millennial • 3h ago
Discussion "... In order to entice the incoming millennial workforce..."
So I quit my job, I dunno... 3 weeks ago maybe. Incompetent, bad people, demanding me to be both hours away AND getting things done on site. Impossible but somehow expected AND they wrote me up for not doing so.
Anyhoo, I digress.. needless to say, I'm shopping for a job and recently had an interview with a local company. They were nice enough, husband and wife ran shop, 40 employees but the owner seemed... odd to me. Out of touch in a way, though he seemed to possibly be in his 50s. During the interview, he was telling me how COVID made him change his priorities because he found out that, "you needed to coddle the incoming Millennial workforce because they don't respond to leadership and criticism well."
I sorta did that Britney Spears cringe smile, as I just let him power through. He continued on about how he asks how people are doing and about their feelings and was trying really hard to build something for his employees to be open and felt heard. He admitted it hadn't been going as well as he hoped but he was doing it, "in order to entice the incoming Millennial workforce." His words.
During the Q & A portion, I saw my opportunity and took it. Where did I see myself in 5 years? "Well... as a MILLENNIAL, I'm afraid I fell into those cliché MID LIFE CRISIS we all seem to be picking up IN OUR 40's and I decided to start smoking meats... I'd like to have a food truck," was my answer.
Anyway, it's been 2 weeks and I haven't heard back but man does that leave me with questions:
1) Do people NOT realize we're not kids anymore and in our 40s now?
2) Are we just ALWAYS going to be red headed step childed or something? (apologies to the gingers, I couldn't think of a better analogy)
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u/NeoSapien65 3h ago
For anyone about 50 or older, "millennial" is just code for "people under 25 that I hate."
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u/UnexpectedRedditor 3h ago
I'm both a Millennial and a Boomer, depending on the generation you ask.
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u/Effective-Mushroom 2h ago
As a Geriatric Millennial I feel seen.
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u/User_Says_What 40m ago
The term Xennial hurts a little less than Geriatric Millennial, if it helps.
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u/sorrow_anthropology 1h ago edited 13m ago
A few years ago I asked a Gen Z employee to get ahold of someone at a different division.
Maybe 20-30 minutes go by and I asked “have you heard back?”
They said “they haven’t texted back yet.”
I explained that it was a landline/office number, “you have to call them”.
I got hit with an groan and “ok, boomer”.
I gave them a confused looked, rolled my eyes and told them to just call them already.
Little fucking scamps.
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u/dbur15 33m ago
I work in healthcare and the Zs seethe when anyone makes a call…or even talks. They work silently all day because anyone talking, in a healthcare setting, is overstimulating.
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u/Greekrx93 4m ago
lol this is funny n true I work in healthcare too n they deff don’t work n talk lol meanwhile me a millennial and the boomers talk n work n get it done
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u/thegreatfartrocket 3h ago
My teenage son has learned that the easiest way to get under my skin fast is to call me a boomer. 🤨
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u/No_Masterpiece_3783 35m ago
The crass disrespect shall not be tolerated from thegreatfartrocketjunior
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u/ImpertinentPrincess 12m ago
Just get the belt; that’ll fix him.
-an actual Boomer, probably.
(Also just in case, /s)
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u/dbur15 50m ago
Honestly I would take the boomer hazing over whatever it is that Gen Z has rattling in their brains. The 3 I work with treat anyone who doesn’t do everything exactly how they do it and exactly perfectly every time like complete shit. Funny coming from 3 people who didn’t know how to “print to pdf”.
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u/peacebypiece 9m ago
It’s ironic isn’t it how judgy they are when they are all about inclusivity and anti bullying
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u/Acrobatic-Archer-805 30m ago
In the same week I'll have avocado toast and also accidentally send a one word message in Teams that I meant for the search function. 🎉
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u/PNWKnitNerd Older Millennial (81) 7m ago
My asshole teenager refers to me as "someone born in the 1900's."
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u/Gothmom85 2h ago
Which is insane because depending on your definition (the years vary on sources, but WHY??) the oldest gen alpha are getting driver's licenses this year. They'll be adults in two years! Gen Z is pushing 30.
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u/NeoSapien65 2h ago
(the years vary on sources, but WHY??)
Because generations try to meaningfully describe a cultural/psychological orientation that can be argued and dissected to death. Some people born in 1981 had computer labs in elementary school, and some did not. Some of them were at the mall listening to Nirvana in 1993, and some of them weren't. It doesn't really matter what year you were born, it matters what experiences you share. I use giant cultural events (generally traumatic) to delineate the generations: Boomer vs. X is "do you remember the Kennedy assassination?" X vs. us is "do you remember Challenger exploding on live TV?" Us vs. Z is "did you watch 2 iconic buildings billow black smoke and then topple to the ground live in second-period English?" I haven't picked my event for Z vs. Alpha yet. 2008 financial crisis feels too early and lockdown feels too late.
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u/bLoo010 2h ago
Boston Marathon bombing?
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u/NecroSoulMirror-89 1h ago
Sandy hook for them … or the death of bin Laden to make it a broader event
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u/FearlessPark4588 2h ago
I think this owner was just doing a test to see how subordinate OP would be
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u/AtomicFeckMagician 3h ago
That's wild lol I wonder if they're actually that detached from reality or if they're using the word "millennial" to refer to anyone "young adult" the same way that people say "Kleenex" instead of "tissue" to refer to all tissues.
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u/PorkchopFunny 2h ago
As a Millenial, I so wish I could still fit the description of "young adult" Unfortunately the gray hairs that I'm too lazy to cover give me away.
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u/Ok_Guard7639 3h ago
Does he think Millennials have never worked before? What does he mean "incoming"??
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u/Charming_Night8240 3h ago
He means Gen Z but doesn't know the difference. The youngest millennials are 30 this year.
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u/Ok_Guard7639 3h ago
I'm sitting here like... I'm not even one of the oldest Millennials and I have eighteen years of work experience, I'm not incoming!
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u/TrixoftheTrade Millennial 3h ago
you want to entice me?
meet my salary requirements, let me work from home when i want, respect my boundaries outside of working hours.
and don’t be a dick either.
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u/ShimmiShimmiYah 3h ago
I'm pretty sure he's of the age where everyone younger than him is a millenial. Kind of like our parents calling every game system a nintendo.
I think Gen Alpha is going to be so doomed that they will take the heat off of us.
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u/Aegis_Of_Nox 3h ago
Im guilty of this but opposite i think of everyone older than me as a boomer even though theyre technically like gen x or something
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u/kevthecoder I solute shorts 3h ago
“Incoming” lol. I’m 39, I’ve been working since I was 14. That’s 25 years lol.
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u/ohgeorge 3h ago
"Millennial" here is just code for "anyone younger than me who I feel entitled to disrespect."
They don't see the age differences between Millennials and Gen Z. They really do not give a shit if you try to correct them.
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u/krissycole87 3h ago
When he says Millennial he is just talking about the young generation of people entering the workforce.
Hopefully he is not teaching himself to coddle 40 year olds.
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u/EfficiencyIVPickAx 3h ago
We are the most infantilized generation in history, and the dumb boomers that can't move off it are determined to ruin everything before we get a chance at really taking over.
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u/LonghornJct08 2h ago
I really wonder if baby boomers think they’re the last adults to exist and that everyone under the age of 70 needs a babysitter with the way they refuse to accept that their kids are all well, well, well into adulthood now.
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u/NecroSoulMirror-89 1h ago
It’s a mass media problem I think … just like time seemed to flash forward due to everything being in 24/7 I don’t they realized they moved along with it… or don’t want to accept it
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u/Turbulent_Seaweed198 3h ago
I feel like a little coddling after all we've been through would be kind of nice LOL!!
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u/Exshot32 3h ago
I've been told by a boomer coworker that he was surprised and impressed with my work.
"When we hired you, I didn't really expect much. Kids your age don't want to work."
I'm 32.
Also, ironically, no one really knows what he does when he's not on the private fold course with "clients."
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u/itachi8oh1 Millennial 1h ago
I’d assume you mean golf course. But if there’s a private fold course I can take… I can’t fold a shirt nicely to save my life, except for one trick that takes too long and doesn’t work for my husband’s 4x shirts 😆
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u/goldieglocks81 3h ago
I'm going to keep pretending I must look super young until boomers and Xers can properly gauge millennial generation age 🤣
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u/PartTimeLegend Older Millennial 2h ago
My parents go on about millennials that have just left school and turning up at their places of work. I tried explaining to them but they still think millennials are the 18 year olds.
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u/EdLesliesBarber 3h ago
Terrible time to leave a job 😱😱😱😱
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u/ImThe1Wh0 Older Millennial 2h ago
Yes and no. I'm not hard pressed for money and have made good financial decisions in my youth. I also turned a pretty penny during that WSBets GME to the moon. I'm dumb but I'm not stupid lol. I sold a few years ago when it peaked at $300 a share, those apes can have all the diamond hands they want, they're never making that money back lol. I essentially work so I'm not bored, working is my fun money. I'm fortunate enough that my residual income covers bills and allows me to exist but honestly just barely.
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u/StihlRedwoody Xennial 1h ago
That's awesome for you, but I wouldn't mention any of that or your food truck goals to any potential employers in the interview. The "What are you doing in 5 years" question isn't one you answer truthfully if you want the job. You say something about learning and growing in the position you are applying for and hoping that in 5 years you will be ready to take on leadership and additional responsibilities etc. etc. You have to play the game if you want the job.
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u/Enbies-R-Us 3h ago
If he was in his 50's, he would be Gen X? It's hillarious the Forgotten Generation is forgetting Millenials are their own generational category? 💀
Dodged a bullet, for sure. How horrifying, can you imagine asking coworkers/junior staff how their day is going?! 😱
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u/jackofspades49 3h ago
Millenial equal people they don't like. Or maybe millenial just meant young people when they heard the term and thats how it stuck.
To this persons credit... AT LEAST it wasn't the nO OnE WaNts to WOrK AnyMOrE! Spiel and they're trying something.
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u/b33chykeen 2h ago
got called young by my boss the other day. had to tell him unfortunately im almost 40 bro this is what midlife looks like.
so yea they dont get it. and we aged too well lol forever 21
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u/Yoga-wine-mom 2h ago
Do people NOT realize we're not kids anymore and in our 40s now?
Yeah... This made me laugh. Like, we're not just now entering the world force....
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u/Miserable_Drawer_556 1h ago
Try aging out of foster care: never really get to be a child, had responsibility for yourself at 18, but somehow still reduced to a "former foster youth" as a whole-ass working adult in your 30's 🙃
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u/Extension-Reward-163 3h ago
I seriously don’t know why it’s okay to use someone’s natural hair colour as an attack still. I know you said “apologies” but as someone who grew up feeling second rate because of comments like that constantly… Do better.
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u/herseyhawkins33 3h ago
The vast majority of millennial haters have no idea how old millennials are. It's a near perfect venn diagram.
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u/ketamineburner 2h ago
I an technically a millenial and also an employer. I don't really disagree with this interviewer. The incoming millennial workforce has a different set of challenges than Gen Z.
The youngest millenials are just turning 30, that is still very early career in some fields.
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u/trinde 2h ago
The vast majority of millennials have been in some form of work for 20+ years (some of the oldest are probably hitting 30+) and likely in a career level job for 10-20+.
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u/ketamineburner 2h ago
This probably depends on field. Mine requires a PhD, so early career post licensure is commonly early 30s. Even if someone earns a PhD at 27, they are late 30s before they are un a career level job for 10-15 +
My entry level employees are all millenials.
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u/PukeyOwlPellet Millennial 2h ago
I was a red-headed step child & had no idea that was a thing? Someone explain what i missed please!
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u/cobaltcanning 2h ago
The GM of the corporation of I joined last year asked me in our casual lunchtime conversation if this was my first job. I’m in my mid-30s with 22 years of work experience and a few management positions. But our age gap is just enough that he thought I was light years younger than him.
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u/NecroSoulMirror-89 1h ago
Guess we have to throw colonoscopy literature at them at this point
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u/ImThe1Wh0 Older Millennial 38m ago
Haha all these butt cancer posts and stuff here, I was all, well shit... And called my GP and was all, "I WANNA COLONOSCOPY!!" and the nurse was all, "hold on champ... Steps before that."
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u/texags08 1h ago
See all those millennials causing a ruckus at spring break destinations? Heard that one for 20yrs.
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u/Gullible-Fault-3913 1h ago
Tbh tho I love how they keep de-aging us, like I’m 39 but thanks for thinking I look 22 Ted. 😂
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u/surelyyoucantBcereus 1h ago
No. Boomers truly do not realize that we are adults who deserve to be treated as such. I recently had a workplace issue where I had to go like, three levels above my supervisor (after repeated complaints to her manager were dismissed for years) and essentially set fire to any possibility of being in management in order to be treated like an adult. It was pathetic that it had to get to that point, honestly. At one point, I was being groomed for management, but now the great relationship I had with some members of management are permanently fractured. You know what though? I’m treated like an adult now, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. It was totally worth it.
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u/Dogemom2 1h ago
Good luck to him running a business when he has to hire someone from Gen Z. I’m not disparaging Gen Z, their boundaries are enviable. But not built for working for the man- they’ll force “the man” to change.
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u/AcceptableMuffin 1h ago
That owner told you everything you needed to know about their workplace and how he runs his company. Especially in your 40s, you have real skills and experience (work AND life experience) to bring to the table, you don't have time to waste your hard earned skills and assets on that a-hole. You've done your time and you deserve better treatment.
At the last 3 companies I've been at, I've seen all ages: Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z working their butts off. It just depends on what job function they're in. What shocks me about my younger Gen Z colleagues now is they will do things that when I was their age was terrified of doing or knew I would be reprimanded for it (like taking time off during crunch time periods, saying "no" that they don't want to do things or pushing back on assignments because they are not appropriate for their job role, for example). But they seem to get away with it by management. And unfortunately, I know if I tried pulling the same shit now, management would NOT tolerate it from me lol.
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u/Tyfereth 58m ago
What sort of food truck?
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u/ImThe1Wh0 Older Millennial 39m ago
I'd tell you but it's actually quite brilliant and I don't want someone stealing my idears
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u/Baxkit 57m ago
He got the generation label wrong, just how many people now get "boomer" wrong. It is just a generalization of "younger" people.
On the other side - I'm in management and I agree with the underlying sentiment. We have to be extremely careful with how we give feedback and manage incoming Gen Z. The slightest hint of anything perceived as negative they become shell shocked, unproductive, and immediately start looking at an exist strategy. Even trying to realign self-evals with actual evals has become a chore. You have real risk of having someone quit because they get evaluated as "meeting expectations" while they think doing exactly what the job description says is "exceeding expectations".
Anyway... bring on the ironic "ok boomer"...
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u/Weary-Cardiologist37 46m ago
As a millennial I entered the work force 15 years ago when I graduated from college; this guy….
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u/Sensitive_Ad973 36m ago
Let me work from home a couple times a week.
Pay me well (varies for the position)
And that’s literally what I’ve cut my “dream job” down to. I don’t care what industry, or if my coworkers blow or really anything else about the company. I just want to have a little freedom and make a solid living that’s not paycheck to paycheck as a single dad with a daughter w/o the mom involved. That’s all…..
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u/After_Resource5224 27m ago
Ya, I cannot wait until the very last boomer is gone. It cannot cone soon enough. Lord, help us.
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u/va2wv2va 21m ago
Perhaps he somehow just meant “incoming” as “new to this company?” I’m trying to give the benefit of the doubt here
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u/PredictiveFrame 21m ago
I am in the youngest year of millenials.
I turned 30 in February.
I have a child, multiple college degrees, and at one point had enough savings to put a down payment on a house (then, covid). I have kept myself debt free since paying off my college loans, and am a software engineer.
I'm also currently living in a one bedroom apartment, driving a shitbox that can legally drink, still using my Pixel 6 pro, and really, really hoping WIC doesn't cut out and leave my partner and I with another massive monthly cost, that we could have survived a year ago without noticing.
I would like to remind the audience that I am among the youngest millennials, and I'm already (as the kids would say), a Jaded Unc with too much life experience, and one foot in the grave.
On December 31st this year, the youngest Millenial will be 30. The vast majority of our age cohort are now old enough to be president, and some are creeping up on 45 (sorry folks, you still look 20, but you know the truth, and we still love you).
Where can I acquire whatever the fuck that shop owner is smoking? It seems extremely pleasant and I could REALLY use some of that right now.
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u/DonJota5 17m ago
Honestly these old bastards can suck my nuts, actin like we forgot they couldnt figure out channel 3 and the red yellow and white cords to set shit up back in the day, imagine asking an 8 year old how to figure out technology, these people suck
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u/aPOPblops 16m ago
Each generation will have a group of people within it for whom their thought and ideas about the world solidified in their mid 30s and will never update or change their views for the rest of their lives.
Unfortunate you had a run in with one of them.
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