Work Attitudes and Age Differences
This is written from the perspective of a 21-year-old recent college graduate with a lucky middle-class origin. I refer specifically to the office setting. Hopefully that's sufficient background information.
Explicit age ranges aren't crucial to the attitude issues that I'm interested in discussing, but I would like to distinguish between younger and older workers. The younger category is likely to include new college graduates, high school graduates, and people that return to school; people that are seeking a career, and something to do for a living. The older category is likely to include workers that have been in the same position for years, people that have settled for and stayed with last-resort jobs, and more jaded folks in general.
I've noticed differences between the attitudes of younger and older working people. It's kind of odd, and slightly disturbing. You might've also noticed it in some way or another. Younger working people are curious, ambitious, and seek potential. They want to find interesting work, and work that they value. They are quick to try new things, and are willing to implement ideas and innovations if there is potential to improve overall efficiency and benefit. They understand that work is work, but they make genuine efforts to align their careers with their life values. Older working people are apathetic, unenergetic, and stagnant. Regardless of how they got to where they are, they don't see themselves going anywhere. Work is something they just have to do, and they deal with it because it pays the bills. Changes in the workplace are bothersome, and new ideas that require adaptation and implementation are an unwanted hassle.
These are some thoughts that may arise:
1. Work is inherently bad, and will never be fun or stimulating.
2. People may start out as younger workers, but over time, working turns them into older workers.
3. Times are changing, and the potential for (and practicality of) finding work that aligns with personal values is much greater now than ever. People that grow up during this time have corresponding expectations. Also, this alignment reduces the effects of #2.
I'm really hoping for #3.
Explicit age ranges aren't crucial to the attitude issues that I'm interested in discussing, but I would like to distinguish between younger and older workers. The younger category is likely to include new college graduates, high school graduates, and people that return to school; people that are seeking a career, and something to do for a living. The older category is likely to include workers that have been in the same position for years, people that have settled for and stayed with last-resort jobs, and more jaded folks in general.
I've noticed differences between the attitudes of younger and older working people. It's kind of odd, and slightly disturbing. You might've also noticed it in some way or another. Younger working people are curious, ambitious, and seek potential. They want to find interesting work, and work that they value. They are quick to try new things, and are willing to implement ideas and innovations if there is potential to improve overall efficiency and benefit. They understand that work is work, but they make genuine efforts to align their careers with their life values. Older working people are apathetic, unenergetic, and stagnant. Regardless of how they got to where they are, they don't see themselves going anywhere. Work is something they just have to do, and they deal with it because it pays the bills. Changes in the workplace are bothersome, and new ideas that require adaptation and implementation are an unwanted hassle.
These are some thoughts that may arise:
1. Work is inherently bad, and will never be fun or stimulating.
2. People may start out as younger workers, but over time, working turns them into older workers.
3. Times are changing, and the potential for (and practicality of) finding work that aligns with personal values is much greater now than ever. People that grow up during this time have corresponding expectations. Also, this alignment reduces the effects of #2.
I'm really hoping for #3.
posted by Ted Miin at 5/02/2007 02:38:00 PM
2 Comments:
I'm really hoping for 3 too. I think our generation will just generally have more money and there's a lot of flexibility in that.
As a new romance fades into mature love, so too I think the excitement and satisfaction of work commonly fades into disciplined effort. Personally, I'm inclined to believe that if you position your career correctly work only becomes more fulfilling as you age.
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