There’s a new generation infiltrating the workforce in Cincinnati and they’re bringing with them a techno-savvy and self-confident attitude unrivaled by the generations who have come before them.
Generation Y, or as they are more commonly referred to, Millennials, make up the country’s second largest age group says a recent study conducted by the Deloitte Consulting Group on all those born roughly between the years of 1981 and 1993. Clocking in at a respectable 75 million just behind the Baby Boomers who reached 80 million, Generation Y is making their mark as well as changing some ideas about how the nation and Cincinnati approaches work.
Consider this. Last spring the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and Cincinnati State graduated over 5,000 students whose average age was 27. That's a potential of 5000 residents contributing to the region's creative and economic growth.
Cindy Berrymann-Fink is a professor of Communication at the University of Cincinnati who specializes in gender and diversity. Her last 30 years analyzing workplaces and the people who function within them gives her insight into Generation Y, or as she refers to them, “the multi-taskers.” When asked what role Millennials play in Cincinnati’s business culture she offers simply, “Generation Y brings a lot of creativity and questioning to the workforce.” A hallmark of Millennials is their ability and ease in questioning authority which she offers, “is good, because don’t you want the perspective of the future in your workplace?”
Successful companies see this as an added benefit to employing local and imported Millennials knowing their future customers will bring with them an entirely new relationship to consuming goods and services. Procter & Gamble is only one of many local corporations currently investing in research to understand how to better attract, retain and motivate Gen Yers in an effort to give P&G a competitive advantage, says spokesperson Andrew Biga.
That research has led to some facts that come as no surprise to Professor Berryman-Fink. “Generation Y wants more work-life balance; they’re not workaholics like older generations.” This isn’t to say that they’re not active and involved. In fact, the opposite is true with instances of volunteering, socializing and networking at an all time high for this group.
Another trademark of Millennials the country over includes an inherent openness to different ideas and different people. “They tend not to see diversity as divisive or awkward,” claims Professor Berryman-Fink which can be a distinct advantage to a city like Cincinnati.
One Cincinnati company seeing this diversity benefit play out is Macy’s. The company currently employs over 1,000 Gen Yers in the Cincinnati region. These are split between four divisions: Macy’s stores, Macy’s Credit & Customer Services, Macy’s Logistics & Operations and the Macy’s Inc. Corporate Offices. Of those 1,000 Millennials, 15 percent are currently in management positions. Karen Foff, Vice President at Macy’s Credit and Customer Services for Human Resources and Diversity, supervises over 20 Millennials within her office. When asked what impact she feels the Generation Y’ers are having on Macy’s and other corporations around town, Foff doesn’t hesitate, “They have fresh, innovative ideas and they’re not intimidated to work with groups of people who are of varying ages and different levels of the company.”
In fact, Macy’s recruits Millennials right out of college to join their Executive Development Program with the expectation that the will one day be the next generation of Macy’s Corporate Executives. Foff notes that when hiring, she’s not the only one interviewing. Millennials are conducting interviews of their own. “When we’re checking them out, they’re checking us out to see if were going to be a good fit with them.”
Employers are also taking notice of another benefit – Millennial’s vast knowledge of technology. Unlike previous generations, companies are hiring right out of college to work in their IT departments. “The world is just a click away for them,” says the Deloitte Consulting Firm, a global audit, consulting, financial advisory risk management and tax service provider. For a generation that has never experienced life without computers, Millennials inherently approach challenges with the understanding that technology is a tool to assist rather than an obstacle to overcome.
One particular Millennial who knows the advantages of being hip to technology is 23-year-old Alex Schutte. After graduating with a Marketing and Communications degree from Arizona State University in 2007, Schutte found himself in a position to stay in Arizona or move anywhere he wanted. So he chose to move back home where he landed himself a position at the Cintas Corporation. “I love my city and the job opportunities were better here. With so much growth and revitalization going on I had to come back and be a part of it.”
Be a part of it he has. Schutte is on the fast track at Cintas where he currently is in the Management Trainee program and works as an e-Marketing Associate. But a good job is more to him than just a fat paycheck. “I would say that I am success driven, but not so much from the monetary standpoint, but more from the self-fulfillment and professional growth perspective.” This sentiment is another common theme among Millennials.
Such is the case for Stefanie Frankenstein, a 23-year- old teacher for Cincinnati Public Schools at Westwood Elementary, agrees the “money hungry” stigma doesn’t apply to her, “I would rather be happy in life than make a million dollars.”
As a teacher of fith graders, Frankenstein is in charge of shaping the lives of the next generation. Positioned as a Millennial in what Deloitte’s fact sheet pinned as, “the next hero generation,” Frankenstein sees herself as nothing of the sort. “I don’t expect to be a hero. I go to work every day at 6:30 am and leave around 4 pm. I go home, eat dinner, grade papers, lesson plan, and research new things. I am working until 10 at night almost every day.”
So what about those Gen Y’ers who aren’t teaching but still being taught? According to Mark Motz, Director of Communications and Public Relations at St. Xavier High School, they strive to produce, “graduates who will be leaders and go out to serve the community; not only successful business people, but ethical business leaders.” The St. X class of 2008 graduated 100 percent of their class on to four-year colleges and left behind a senior class of 2009 just as eager to make an impact after graduation.
Schutte offers this vision of the future, “I believe that we are pushing innovation, new, and creative ways of thinking, and effectively challenging the status quo of the workplace. I think my generation will play a significant role on the corporate sustainability and “green” movements in the near future. In Cincinnati, I see more young professionals getting active in the community and influencing city decision makers. Young professionals are driving the revitalization of downtown Cincinnati.”
Sheila Owens is a senior at the University of Cincinnati where she studies Journalism and Communication. She is currently an intern for Soapbox magazine and plans to pursue a career in the media field after graduation this December. Sheila’s two loves are writing and her family.
To receive Soapbox free every week click here.