Jasmine Watts

7 Ways That Millennials Suck #WeGottaDoBetter www.missmillmag.com /career-education/7-ways-millennials-suck-wegottadobetter/ Jasmine Watts Firstly, not all millennials suck. Just some millennials suck and are making a bad name for the rest of us. Believe it or not, I am a huge advocate for millennials. Hello…I started Miss Millennia Magazine, and not to mention that I am a millennial myself. I have seen the great things millennials are capable of and honestly, I have met more millennials that prove all the negative stereotypes to be untrue. However, I do run into the typical millennial attitudes from time to time with my peers and dammit I am tired of it. Consider this article my come to Jesus with my fellow millennials because we got to do better than this. We are more than the negative stereotypes paint us to be. We have to work extra hard that we are not falling for these seven traits that make us the “typical millennial”. Read on… 1. Not Listening to Instructions I have had many managerial roles in my career. Hell, I was managing people before I even had a job (I have five younger sisters y’all.) So when I come across someone who is not listening when I give them instructions, it annoys me… A LOT. I can usually tell you are not listening because your eyes are wandering while I’m talking, you are “multi-tasking,” (which by the way, is not a real thing. You cannot fully focus on two things at once. Our brains can only handle one process at a time) and also not taking notes! via GIPHY If I’ve been talking to you for 15 minutes and taking the time out of my day to give you detailed instructions, you should be writing that shit down. When you do not listen to instructions, there are 1 of two scenarios that will happen. 1. You do the project incorrectly which results in wasted time by you, me and the company since I explained this all to you once already, and now it has to be done again. Or 2. you realize you have no idea what you’re doing, and you ask me to explain the same instructions to you AGAIN. Neither scenario is ideal. A better scenario, listen and try your best to hear all the details of the assignment. Ask them questions while they are there and yes take notes. Check out this article on being an efficient note taker and never commit this heinous crime again. 2. Thinking You Know Everything A know-it-all is someone who cannot learn. They already know everything, so teaching them is pointless. The other thing about know-it-alls is that they do not grow. If you want growth in your life and your career, you have to be open to learning. The only thing I hate more when trying to explain instructions to someone who I can tell is not listening, is someone who tries to finish my sentences while I am explaining the instructions to them. If you already understood the assignment, why would I be over here explaining it to you? Now sometimes it’s true. You do already understand the task, and yes now your manager is telling you the same instructions again, which can be annoying. via GIPHY But think for a moment as to why they would be explaining this to you again. Is it because they are unaware of a project you worked on previously? If so, by all means, wait for them to finish speaking, and then let them know 1/7 you’ve done it before. But the other reason they could be explaining this to you is because you did not do it correctly the first time. Take that into consideration, and again ask questions. Remember that growing in your career and life is what you’re after. Asking questions are the way to get there; Not being a know-it-all. If you are wondering how you can grow and learn outside of the workplace, check out this article on ten ways to continue learning once you’re out of college. You’re welcome. 3. Not Knowing How To Handle Criticism I honestly believe that graciously receiving criticism is not something we do naturally as a human species. It’s hard. But now that I am on the other side where I have to give people criticism, there is a slew of annoying things that come with that. Think of it like this. Criticism can be awkward for both the person giving it and the person receiving it. So take this into consideration before you react. Next, is the defensive part of criticism. If you are told the directions were 1.2.3, for example, and you did 1.2.2, and your manager gives you criticism on what you did incorrectly. You should confirm you understand the new instructions clearly and let them know it will be done correctly next time. via GIPHY What you should not do, when your boss gives you criticism is say “Oh well the only reason I did that was because…” NO. The only reason you should be explaining your actions on why you did the incorrect project is because you are trying to clarify the instructions. Nothing else. Your boss does not care that you had a bad day yesterday or that you did this because you did not like the instructions from yesterday. If you have a problem with the instructions themselves, you should take that up wth your boss on your own time, preferably before you complete the project and maybe even while they are explaining the initial instructions to you. That would be ideal. It should never be when your manager is giving you criticism for following the instructions incorrectly. In case all this handling criticism talk is a little over your head, read this article on how to accept criticism like a mature adult. 4. Not Having Patience When it comes to growing up, being successful and getting that corner office, does not happen overnight. I know that is kind of what we were sold in college, but it’s not true. Even if you decide to build something on your own, like a business, just know that it will take some time to figure things out and make it better before it turns into your ticket to early retirement. So the key here is to be patient and make sure you have a good balance of patience along with not being a company’s doormat. via GIPHY If you feel that you are putting in the work, and not getting any credit or pay increases over an extended period of time, then maybe you should consider quitting your job and going to a new one. See my tips on when to know if it’s time to leave your job here. However, just know that where ever you go, it will take time, and you will have to earn your keep. Yes, there are some scenarios where people reach success in a short period of time. But those people are the exception mostly because of 1. Their resources available to them already and 2. Them being willing to go above and beyond in what they are doing…which leads me to my next point. 5. Not Going Above and Beyond If you want extraordinary results, you have to be willing to put in extraordinary work. Even if your manager says you 2/7 do not have to turn that project in until Friday, why not take some initiative and turn it in a day early? There is nothing better than having a reputation for going above and beyond in what you do; Even if the standard requirements are minimal. I find it alarming that there are so many people who feel entitled to more in life, but are not willing to do more in life. You have to be able to challenge yourself even if no one is telling you, you should challenge yourself. via GIPHY The best thing about going above and beyond in your work is that people will want to pay you more, give you better projects and ta-da give you that particular corner office. Consider going above and beyond to be that unwritten rule for everyone who has achieved great things. On the side of starting your own business, you have to be willing to put in the time and work if you want fast results. You have to work longer hours, you have to sacrifice some weekends, you have to give up some other things in life to get what you really want. If someone has to tell you to go above and beyond, you are already doing it wrong. If you need more advice on getting ahead at work check out this post on How to Get Promoted at Your Job. 6. Not Getting to Know Oneself So this is one thing you certainly do not learn in college, but I think is a huge when it comes to success in life. You have to know who you are, what you want and make a conscious effort to know yourself. If you were offered that promotion where you travel 50% of the year, is it something you would take? Does it fit in with your core values? What are your core values by the way? What are your priorities? There are no wrong answers here. And your job as a functioning adult is to find the answers to those questions and live your life according to them. via GIPHY I am a huge fan of the book, the 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell and in it, he says, “To reach your potential you must grow. And to grow, you must be highly intentional about it.” Not only must you take action for growth, but you have to know yourself enough to know where you need to grow. That means doing some deeper digging and realizing your strengths and your weaknesses. This also means knowing what motivates you and what makes you miserable. If you know these things about yourself, you can better verbalize them to others, and then those people could possibly help you reach your goals. If you know yourself, that will reflect positively in all the elements of your life, not just work.Get to know yourself and make an effort to continue to get to know yourself as you would any other relationship in your life. 7. Not Being Consistent You are brilliant; I know you are. So don’t give it all you got on that first project you did and then turn in something the next week that is below par. It’s one thing if you truly do not know how to make your work better. But every project or assignment you turn in should be on a path where your work is getting better, not worst, and certainly should not be on a roller coaster of excellent work followed by poor work and then excellent again. Be consistent. Show you are reliable, responsible and trustworthy 100% of the time, not sometimes. If you have a project where you feel you cannot turn in grade-A work in the time frame you have, ask for an extension, or for help, but do not, I repeat DO NOT turn in garbage. It is insulting to your employer. via GIPHY Being consistent is also a way to give yourself a little cushion when something unexpected does happen, and you cannot turn something in on time, or if the work happens to be subpar occasionally. I am sure your employer will be 3/7 more understanding if it is a very rare occasion. But you have to build that cushion of consistency first! You are awesome, and I don’t want this post to make you feel like you are not, but; unfortunately, these are all stereotypes that our generation faces. When you go into a new work environment, some people see your youth and believe that you will commit all of these acts. So prove them wrong! Show that we as millennials have so much more to offer and can even improve the traditional workplace for the better. Sources: Think You’re multi-tasking? Think again How to Be a Good Note Taker Ten ways to continue learning once you’re out of college how to accept criticism like a mature adult 10 Ways to know it’s time to leave your job How to Get Promoted at Your Job Millennial Mindset: Be true to yourself How to Be Likable **This article contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated for any purchase made by clicking on them. Thank you for supporting Miss Millennia Magazine!** 4/7 Interested in learning more about how millennials could do better? Be sure to read The Millennial Way: Step Up, Step Out, Step Forward. 5/7 How do you like our Magazine? Subscribe to The Millennial Minute Sign up for our weekly newsletter "The Millennial Minute" to receive our FREE ebook On Getting Your First Job Out of College! 6/7 7/7