"The Under-Appreciated, Un-Qualified Age of the Texter Generation."

During a work-related meeting today, I sat in a room full of working adults from various businesses throughout the community. I would say the overall age range in the room was from early 20s to late 60s. After the presentation we were given, a short question and answer session began about the current economic development issues, benefits, strengths and weaknesses of the geographical area we were in. Before I knew it, I was sitting in the midst of one of those "young kids these days have no respect and no work ethic" conversations.

Now, my own age is often guessed to be higher than it actually is. Iv'e been told that I carry myself and act in a more mature way. I don't really know how true this is---it may just be because I have dark circles under my eyes from stress and a few grey hairs. Being fresh out of college and hitting the work force, I came to realize right away, that my generation of new workforce is greatly looked down upon by our professional elders. While sitting in a college classroom over a year ago, that was never discussed. At that time, we were the most well-equipped individuals in the PR world, AND on top of that, we also apparently held all of the tools necessary to change and improve the above stated world. Professors Lie.

So back to my meeting---I proceeded to sit through the semi-rant of a well respected individual in the room. His comment included that the more knowing/experienced workers, managers and business owners who entered the workforce almost need to set aside funding to learn how to "deal" with and "handle working with" Generation XYZ, AKA, the young idiots that expect the world to be handed to them.

Maybe it's just because he directed these comments to the "23 year olds who think they know it all and wouldn't know a hard day of work if it kicked them in the shins," and I happen to be rolling up on my 23rd birthday that I took this so offensively. Maybe it was the other comment someone added that was to the tune of "all they know how to do is text and goof off." During his whole discussion, eyes were scanning the room, and several eyes fell on me. Now I (being the strong willed outspoken soul that I am) tried my best to keep a straight face. I'm new to this organization and I'm more interested in making positive networking contacts to help myself along, then enemies.

During a volunteer conference I attended last fall, one of the main sessions was on generation barriers in the workforce. Older generations (pre-baby boom-to boom) generally have the strong iron horse work ethic and go in early, stay late and do their work as they are told. The generations after that started becoming more independent, but still apparently stuck to that work ethic. Now for the rest of us under the age of 30, we are now the selfish generation. That really makes me snarle.

I am not discrediting that there are plenty of people my age in the current workforce that expect things to be handed to them on a silver platter without them so much as breaking a sweat. These individuals were raised by the "me" generation. Their parents were under that impression therefore they took on the same outlook.

I on the other hand, was raised by pre/baby boomers. In other words, I am a 23 year old, with the mindset of a 48 year old. I do admit that the "images" that my generation are given in the classroom setting are not nearly accurate to the current working environment. However, I thin it is rediculous that I have to be displaced with the rest of the "texting idiots" that don't know the difference between work and play. There is a difference between being a text-a-holic and being an individual who is up to date in the current media age, and embraces forms of technology that are higher that Windows 95 and cell phones the sized of a mini-cooper. In this day in age, if you do NOT know the most current things that are available in the Universe, you are under equipped to even get a job that's worth mentioning or even remotly gratifying.

Maybe my generation is selfish, but that older management generation is selfish too. Don't sit there and openly bash 23 year olds, when there is obviously a 20ish something person in the room. That's just a life lesson for anyone: Do not make negative comments that could even remotely offend anyone in the room. You never know who is listening or how it will affect them.

Give me a break. Sorry about the minor rant, but sometimes I feel like I need training to figure out how I'm allowed to break my way into the business world. Until then, I'll just train myself to keep up with the rest of the texting idiots so I can work my way up in the food chain where my 48 year old mindset would like put in the extra hours, time and energy to comfortably sit-----and DESERVE to sit there.

Have any of you faced generational barriers in your workplace?