Talk To ME Tuesday: The Melding IT Workforce: Millennials vs. Baby Boomers

ManageEngine continues our weekly blog series called Talk to ME Tuesday. Each week we discuss interesting topics from the world of technology with you, the people that live and breathe it everyday.Whether you’re inspired by GenY or aggravated by their new working style, there’s no mistake that they are becoming a significant part of the IT workforce. Some may see it as a culture clash between Millennials and baby boomers, said Bruce Barnes, President of Bold Vision and co-chairman of the IT Leadership Summit at the Interop conference in Las Vegas. Barnes and I talked about the characteristics of GenY employees:

High expectations: Some may view it as entitlement, Barnes just sees it as they’re anxious to say what’s on their mind.

Comfortable with collaboration: They work in teams, most often virtually.

Technology dependent: Some refer to it as tech savvy, but they really can’t function without technology.

Comfortable with multi-tasking: They like high energy working and diversity and are not put off by asking to do more, said Barnes. They optimize their own lives and that translates into their work life.

Don’t have a strict sense of privacy: Given their lack of privacy for their own lives, many corporations fear they have little concern for corporate privacy.

Post emotional: No ego or edge to them, said Barnes. They’re very much into getting things done.

Ultimately, Millennials don’t take kindly to the old guard of command and control. They’re willing to learn and better themselves, said Barnes, but you have to help them see the right way and why that’s the right way.