Baby Boomers and Generation X, Y and Z
I’m as confused as you are when it comes to all the “generation” labels. What exactly do they mean and why would they matter in my job seeking pursuit?
Let me tell you. It pays to know your X from your Y from your Z. You should try to find out who you are dealing with before you interview. This is easily done by looking up their LinkedIn or Facebook profile. Once done, prepare yourself and you can aim and market yourself more effective in your upcoming interview.
Before we can market ourselves effectively, we have to learn our XYZs. As a Job Seeker, you are a marketer and have to communicate to these very different groups. One style, message or medium will rarely cover them all. Here is a brief summary of these generations and their communication styles, collated from my own experiences or from content written by wise guys like Ray Beatty, a very witty Fairfax Journo.
But let’s start with a general generational overview first:
In the press or on TV, experts blithely talk about “Gen X”, “Gen Y”, and “Gen Z” as if we automatically know what they mean. In fact, no one has an exact definition but this comes close.
Let’s start with the “Builders”, the “Silent Generation” or the “War Babies”. They came from the Depression and World War II and grew up at a time when unemployment meant hunger and working in any job was essentially a job for life. In marketing terms they are seen as conservative and security-conscious. Their numbers are dwindling. Read more