Traditional job searches may be a thing of the past, at least for Gen Y'ers. Jason Ryan Dorsey's new book Y-Size Your Business: How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business certainly causes one to pause at the realization a Gen Y'er was hired after following a twitter from an executive. A comment led to an email exchange, which led to an interview, etc. Thus, technology worked in both parties favour.
Compare this with another Gen Y'er, who, like, spent the whole morning searching so hard for a job – from 10:00 am to 11:30 am – as her friend stated – "wow, you are serious about finding a job". (p. 57) Both are typical of Gen Y'ers responses; both show the need for traditional businesses to rethink their strategies to attract good talent. These people know (rightly or wrongly) they are good – they are looking for a job that excites them, not just pays the bills.
The Basics of Y-Size Your Business
Divided into 15 chapters, Y-Size Your Business immediately delves into the development of Gen Y'ers – both on annoying attitude and realistic expectations. They know they will not have one career – they'll have at least three distinctive ones within a lifetime. They know they will not always have a job, but they will always crave the latest techno gadget and know how to work it before it's even launched. They know how to IM and use Facebook and Twitter, but aren't sure how to properly research on the Internet. Most of all, they seem entitled – wanting it all, and expecting it all. On the plus side though, they are far more into diversity and accepting of other cultures, and have a better sense of self.
Chapter Four gives an excellent overview of the book, with a quick synopsis of each chapter and where to go for what information. Even better though is Chapter Five – where the 10 hot buttons for hiring Gen Y'ers are listed. Of course, number one on the list is fun. But there is a lot of truth in the rest of the list too, especially with number six – entrepreneurship. Gen Y'ers want to take control of their lives, and their work. They crave a sense of ownership, of doing well and excelling at any task they take on.
Don't be mislead or bemused by fun being the number one way to entice a Gen Y'er. It's all in the attitude. Dorsey notes how an ice cream parlour advertised its job as an audition (and truly ran it that way) and received an overwhelming response. SilverCity in Canada has been doing that not just as interviews, but keep up that theme during the job as well (workers are Star Performers and Cast). Both are service selling, so why not make it fun while serving a long line of customers.
How This Book Can Help One Get Employment
While the tone of this book seems geared to a business looking for ways to attract Gen Y talent, it's also a great way to see why a business wants to hire Gen Y. This helps the job seeker to hone personal talents and showcase them to businesses looking for Gen Y talent, whether the seeker is in that category or not. Through truthful humour, the best examples of what not to do are explained. Sometimes that's better than hearing what to do!
Bottom Line
Y-Size Your Business: How Gen Y Employees Can Save You money and Grow Your Business by Jason Ryan Dorsey is a great book for both those looking to hire Gen Y'ers, and those looking to be hired. Written with a great sense of humour but so truthful it hurts; it really does provide for the instant gratification and tangible outcomes so succinctly presented in Chapter Two for what makes a Gen Y'er tick. (p. 20).
Book courtesy of FSB Associates.
Reference
Dorsey, Jason Ryan. Y-Size Your Business: How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business. Hoboken, NJ USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010
Paym Bergson - Paym Bergson - freelance entrepreneur & career coach with extensive experience working in the educational/professional development ...
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