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  I wholeheartedly agree that all generations in the workforce can add to the value of the environment as a whole with so many varying perceptions. Why is this so different from having different cultures blend together? We've done a pretty good job so far at that in America, at least better than other countries. As for the young college students coming out of college, expecting to have all student loans aid off, what about those of us who worked 2 jobs to go to school, and stayed with the government and worked very hard. And if we'd like to return to school to become a better commodity for our government, what about some student loan payoffs for people in jobs who are willing to go back for their MBAs or further? The only student loan provisions we hear about are the young people who "can't" pay their loans when in fact, most 30 and 40 somethings paid their student loans themselves either while working or upon entering the workforce. Fairness and open competition - that's what we are supposed to be doing the the federal government.

  Alison Robinson Posted March 13, 2009 8:58 AM
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  It is important that all generations continue to exchange knowledge and learn from each other. I graduated cum laude with a B.A degree in 2007 and I was hired into the Federal Government in June of 2008. I learned through experiences that some of my perceptions about the workplace were wrong and some of my ideas honestly were misguided.

  One year of flailing around trying to find a decent job helped to crush any feelings of entitlement and I also learned that two internships in college don't make me better than people who have worked in the field for over 20 years. The diverse work environment that the government provides has taught me that I don't know everything but if I just relax a bit and not try to take over the world in a day I will eventually earn enough experience to gain respect.

  Benita R Posted October 3, 2008 6:38 AM
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  Many things were said about our generation that were patently false. We just want a fair shake at it. This new generation of young people I find to be smart and dedicated and full of talented scrappy potential stars if given a chance. I hope to lead and promote and possibly follow some of them in the future.

  Mike Gen-X Posted July 16, 2008 12:29 PM
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  If they start paying student loan debt for new hires,then what do the feds who are already employed in the fed govt get? They should also think about retaining employees. What about child care subsidies? Having children is a large reason why women leave the work place.

  Marylandbean Posted July 14, 2008 8:14 AM
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  I find Mark Charnock's comments offensive and ridiculous.

  Well said, Alex.

  BB Posted July 11, 2008 1:31 PM
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  to deny that generational differences and values sets exists and are important is as much a fallacy as to argue that they are the end all/be all of the world world. The reality is much more complex and rests somewhere in between. Sure there are shared values, and emphasizing them makes perfect sense. There are also different definitions of those values and ignoring them is perilous and naive. The contemporary leader must be an effective "values navigator" and generational values, shared and different, are an important part of that equation. Work by Twenge, The Partnership for Public Service, The Pew Center for the People and the Press, recent books on civic engagement and youth, youth and religion, point to some powerful differences across generations that would be silly and shortsighted to ignore and which must be married to the perspective offered by the CCL study.

  Peter Ronayne Posted July 9, 2008 8:28 AM
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  This is another ridiculous and misguided attempt at understanding an educated workforce. The new 20-something crowd does NOT "follow the leader". I am 28 years old and very driven. I have my own ideals and work to improve my organization. However, I feel that work should benefit me just as much as I benefit it. We no longer live in the time of the hefty retirement package. This just DOES not happen anymore! Why should we show allegiance to an organization that will not show allegiance to us? I work for the government. I have been treated like a piece of dirt. My intelligent and focused colleague was discriminated against due to a disability. Then, she was abruptly fired. No reason given. The federal govt. needs to WAKE up and understand that the world is going to leave it behind. If we want to remain a superpower, we need to get with the program!

  A Posted July 8, 2008 12:33 PM
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  I find the comments about ethnic groups are stereotype and inaccurate!

  Babyrose Posted July 8, 2008 11:43 AM
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  Thank you for pointing out the problem of high debt for those of us entering the workforce. I chose to continue my education beyond college in order to best prepare myself for government service, and as a consequence owe more in student loans than my parents ever did on a mortgage! It was mortifying to ask for a higher salary during job negotiations, but I had to do it. As it is, I'm working what's considered a well-paying job while struggling to find money for groceries. It's very easy to mistake the scramble to make ends meet as a self-centered concern for financial reward.

  Colleen Ayers Posted July 8, 2008 9:43 AM
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  Two points:

  1. The key to leading anyone - Millenial, Generation X, or Baby Boomer - is to set aside sterotypes and recognize individualities.

  2. The Millenials exhibit the behaviors and values we taught them. Perhaps they're just showing us the mirror image of a facet of our generation that we'd like to think didn't exist.

  Jeff Underwood Posted July 8, 2008 8:18 AM
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  Kudos to Government Executive. This was one of the most nuanced, intelligent articles on "generations in the workforce" so far. In particular, I appreciated the reporting on the research and presentation efforts of Jeffrey Vargas and Sean Clayton. The public will derive more benefit during this demographic shift if we as federal employees focus on what we all have in common. This is not to say that agencies have to learn everything the hard way: if many younger employees are exiting the premises, it's a clue that something about the workplace they're leaving doesn't feel good. It's in everyone's self interest to pay attention and do something about that. By the way, the Chief Learning Officer community is getting on top of this issue, judging by recent online articles in the magazine by that name - another good source of specific guidance and help for federal managers and executives.

  Kitty Wooley Posted July 2, 2008 10:14 AM
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  Good thing the article turned around and hit the gas the other way after that section on Charnock..

  "No generation like this has come along in a long, long time," Mark Charnock, vice president and general manager of MonsterTrak, an online college recruitment resource, said at a conference in February. "This generation, quite frankly, scares me to death."

  I don't understand how someone who devotes his work to helping young people find jobs is deathly afraid of an entire generation. Fear? Fear often stems from misunderstanding.

  Dividing millenials into 4 categories? 3 of those being negative? Drawing racial lines? Forging stereotypes? That's the easy way out.

  At the age of 19, I've had 3 years of experience working for the government. I started volunteering in high school, I've had research opportunities, and this year I'm working in the SCEP program in an office that is advancing Knowledge Management, a field that is very concerned with transferring knowledge between generational gaps.

  I am very thankful for the opportunities I've been given, and I plan to continue my service. I'm glad that this article pointed at some sense of closure between the generations. Especially in federal service, where the end-goal is to better a nation that is united and that we are all a part of, divisive dialogue from shoddy surveys has no place.

  Alex Kim Posted July 1, 2008 10:02 AM