Generation Y, also known as the “millennial generation,” is so named because it specifically refers to the generation that grew up after the year of the new millennium : 2001.
Unlike previous generations, the world, due to the economic crisis, demands better preparation for jobs, where competition is increasingly fierce. Unlike their parents, Generation X, Generation Y is not content with what they’ve been given, but is ambitious to achieve their goals.
What does Millennial mean ?
You might be wondering what millennial means . The term comes from the word “millennium” and refers to a generation that grew up playing a leading role in technology and the popular culture developed between the 1980s and 2000s. Therefore, they are people familiar with the digital age.
Characteristics of Generation Y
It’s important to emphasize that generational changes don’t depend exclusively on birth years, although they do serve as a reference. However, different generations are distinguished by their characteristics. For this reason, we present some of the most interesting traits of Generation Y:
- They are 100% digital and love technology : technology is part of every activity they do. Their best ally is social media and the entire world of digital interaction. For this reason, Generation Y has taken a preference for careers linked to digital technology.
- They demand professional training on a large scale : Millennials are not satisfied with just having a university degree and a profession; they always seek to specialize with specific training, master’s degrees, and postgraduate degrees , and thus make the most of their skills.
- They are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to : they don’t settle for minimal results; they go after what they want and try to get it no matter what. If they set a goal, they will achieve it. If they want to buy something, they don’t do it in the traditional way, so it’s important that our sales techniques are tailored to this millennial audience . They are a generation that perseveres by nature.
- They have a different understanding of what success means : for Generation Y, success isn’t just about working to obtain material goods and money. Working is important, but they invest the money they earn in traveling, as well as in getting to know new cultures and people. They have a much more global outlook on life.
- They don’t like commitment and are less family-oriented : This doesn’t mean that members of Generation Y aren’t capable of having a long-lasting romantic relationship with someone, but they prefer to enjoy their prime years of youth or adulthood and then get married. Children and starting a family aren’t their priority or one of their main goals.
A more connected world
This generation of young people is not only the largest, but also the most connected in history . Worldwide, young people have twice the number of internet connections of the vast majority of the population.
In fact, in developed countries, internet use among young people is almost universal. In other countries, however, there’s also a high rate of daily internet access. Connectivity is an essential part of their lives!
Due to the ability to communicate with people from different parts of the world, both the Internet and social media are becoming fundamental tools for this generation . This is why young people in this generation are at the forefront of technology use.
However, it’s important to note that while the technological age has certainly brought countless benefits, physical interaction shouldn’t lose its value, as it allows people to be empathetic and develop good interpersonal relationships . Therefore, this is one of the most worrying areas for Generation Y.
