Generation Gap - X, Y, Z

Recently we have some young interns from polytechnic in our company. Somehow, there's some attitude shown in them that we do not find them acceptable, and even wondering what's wrong with this batch of interns? The way they think, they speak, they behave - seem to be nonchalant about how people view them. They just say what they think, do what they think. In some ways or another, they seem to me as "non-compliant".

Through a conversation with friends over lunch yesterday, we came to a conclusion....

GENERATION GAP!!!!!

So, I decided to go a quick search online.

From Wikipedia:

Generation X is a term used to describe generations in the United States and other countries born between the approximate years of 1965 to 1981, the late 1950s and 1960s, or 1968 to 1979, depending on the source. The term has been used in demography, the social sciences, and marketing, though it is most often used in popular culture.

- Key characteristics: quest for emotional security, independent, informality, entrepreneurial

Generation Y, sometimes referred to as "Millennials" or "Echo Boomers", is a cohort of individuals born with possible starting dates ranging anywhere from 1976 to 1982 to possible ending dates anywhere from 1990 to 2001, that grew up in the 1990s and 2000s.

Traits of Gen-Y (us!)
- Generally more ambitious, brand conscious and tend to move jobs more often than previous generations.
- More peer-oriented
- Exceptionally tech-savvy
- Especially tuned to their own value in the job market
- Have limited loyalty to any particular employer
- Insist on working in a stimulating job environment.
-More openness in regards to sexual and romantic life-styles than prior generations. Generally more openness to sexual expression and experimentation, but with less or even totally without romance or attachments.
- Upbeat and confident: Self-Esteem generation, Positive thinkers, Self-reliant: Used to doing it (and many other things) themselves, Multi-taskers
- Asserting their "intellectual authority" over parents, teachers because they are more techno-savvy and capable of accessing greater breadth of information quickly
- High value for education
- Motivated and Goal-Oriented
- What do Gen Yers value most in life? Family
- Traditional values: Unlike the Baby Boomer generation, Gen Yers value things other than income and status as being primary in life, Appreciate family, country, and planet

Generation Z is the generation of people living in Western or First World cultures that follows Generation Y. Experts differ on when the earliest members of Generation Z were born, as the generation is still in its infancy, with some members yet to be born, making it difficult for demographers to determine the proper cohort. This generation is possibly still being born, and the oldest members are at best teenagers, so at present it's impossible to say when Y ends and Z begins. The earliest cited dates being Z at 1989 or 1990

They are very active consumers, with a high degree of influence over their parents' purchasing decisions. They are highly connected, having had lifelong use of communications and media technologies such as DVDs, the World Wide Web, instant messaging,text messaging, iPods and cellular phones, earning them the nickname "digital natives".

Generation Z is more indulged and anti-social than Generation Y.

So basically Gen Z should be the interns' batch bah. As this new generation is still young, there is no further information about their characteristics. But one thing that I can confirm is that - my bosses (the Gen-Xers), myself and my colleague friends (the Gen-Yers) cannot accept the attitude that our intern is displaying. sigh

'Generation Gap' is also another way of putting it, that we are definitely growing old and the new generations are emerging. However, I feel that I like what I am now - in my 20s range. I feel that I am more matured, have more purchasing power, has a better feel of identity of myself, more confident, healthy physique, and probably wiser?? haha.. I hope so.