Millennial entitlement at work

During the company call at a marketing event I was supervising recently, I shared with the team one of the most valuable lessons I learned some time ago that I’ll always take with me wherever I go, whatever I do: that is, to consistently deliver good results even if the tasks assigned to you are menial ones that you yourself deem unimportant and insignificant. Why? Because no job is unimportant or insignificant. Because when in a team, it is the work of each individual from the bottom up that decides the success of the collective. Like they say, you’re only as strong as your weakest link.

I was speaking to a group composed mostly of young men and women who would be interacting directly with mall goers to push a new product, and I felt it was necessary to express that in hopes of motivating them to do their best not only for selfish reasons that I want my event to succeed, but also for them to have nuggets of wisdom that they can apply to their future endeavors, which I think will serve them well.

The job market is so cutthroat these days. No one is indispensable. For every qualified job seeker, there are a dozen who are more qualified. That’s one thing that the typical “young wide-eyed ingénue” doesn’t quite comprehend. And that disconnect is something that gave rise to the concept of “millennial entitlement.”

As thousands of new early-twentysomethings join (or attempt to join) the workforce this graduation season, it’s only going to get more competitive. They will be pitted against one another, as well as others who have been in the workforce for three, five, 10 years. Yet somehow, they will feel like they’re the best candidate for the job – and will have a list of demands to boot.

I remember reading a friend’s post on Facebook about this. She was interviewing candidates for an entry-level position and was surprised to have been asked the question, “Why should I choose this company over the other ones I’m applying at?” And it wasn’t just one self-absorbed applicant who posed the query, but about a handful. She was also surprised by the insanely high wage the inexperienced young folks with such weak credentials were expecting to be offered.

What were these “children” taught in school that made them such assholes? I don’t know what goes on in university classrooms these days but I do know what’s on social media – the millennial hotbed of rants, complaints and overall brattiness. Remember that Yelp employee Talia Jane who wrote an open letter to the company’s president because she felt she wasn’t being paid enough? That’s right, people. Millennial entitlement has come to this.

And predictably, Little Miss I Deserve Everything I Want was fired from her job. Because that’s how the real world works. Criticize your company publicly and that company probably won’t have any problem whatsoever parting ways with you. And other companies would be wary of hiring you considering you can create an online sensation for all the wrong reasons. In fact, experts suggest that Jane’s actions will likely hurt her chances of career growth and might even come back to bite her in the butt decades from now.

As a millennial myself, I do feel that sense of entitlement – the perception that I deserve so much more than what I currently have. But the difference between the older and younger millennial is that the former whines, complains and rants about work to friends over coffee or beer. I mean, we’ve all been underpaid at one point or another, but you don’t see people in their late twenties or above making a huge fuss over it on social media. Because that’s crass.

Instead of flaunting millennial entitlement, I prefer to have quiet power, which has been my work philosophy ever since. I don’t go around telling people I’m good at my job. I simply do a good job. I don’t demand an insanely high wage from the start. I accept a package, as long as it’s reasonable, and build value for myself with hard work and perseverance and initiative and proactive behavior so my boss will have a hard time saying no when I ask for a raise or an extended vacation.

Your work should speak for itself. Your value should be something that your coworkers can readily and consistently observe, not something you actually have to verbally remind them of. In this world where everything and everyone is replaceable, you should be creating such a positive impact – in terms of productivity, attitudes, work environment – that you are the most difficult person to replace. 

Because my dear entitled millennials, unless you become that person, you have no right to flaunt your entitlement. Therefore, what you should do is work your ass off until you make it, and I’m somewhat confident that you will because if you’re that entitled, then you also must be that driven and hungry to succeed. Which means you’re about halfway there. So get at it.

Like what I said at the company call, whatever you’re tasked to do, do it like you’re giving the best performance of your life. That’s how you get noticed. That’s how you stand out. That’s how you can get recommended. That’s how you create a good personal brand. That’s how you can eventually command a higher salary and demand for perks. Stop whining and start working insanely well.

I’m at @EdBiado on Twitter and Instagram