What’s the deal with Gen Z acting young

[Anonymous]

Every generation has said this of the youngsters, OP.

Your elders said this of YOU.

Their elders said this of them.

Just stop.

[Anonymous]

^ and you know why?

Because of selection bias.

You're not noticing the younger generation that keeps their head down and works hard. Maybe you're in a workplace without great pay or benefits and you're not hiring the best young people.

But it's typical of a certain type of stupid to notice only the bad behavior and then generalize to an entire demographic group.

Which means that if these are the thoughts running through your mind... you're not as smart and mature as you think you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not that much older than these recent grads (mid 30s) but it surprises me a lot how many of these kids don’t know how to carry themselves, professionally and personally. Which is a shame because many of these kids ones I work with in a client facing business role actually do good work.

It’s more so that they dress way too juvenile or trendy- like off the shoulder tops and ill fitting clothes that they spend all day messing with because they don’t fit properly, long nails with bright nail polish, play video games on their phones with giant headphones in at lunch, come into meetings with giant lattes filled with whipped cream, ect. The people at my level make side comments about it all the time but they aren’t breaking any rules or anything, they just look silly. And these are kids that make enough money to invest in quality work attire.

Just interested to see what’s changed in the 15 years since I started working, as starting out in a client facing industry, we were borderline obsessed with being professional and put together!

1. This has the same energy as that post complaining about people using large water bottles. Look inward and ask why it bothers you so much.
2. Stop kidding yourself. Recent grads are 22/23ish? You're mid 30s. You're a decade older, sweetie.
3. The headphones comment is absurd. Would you rather they play their games without headphones so you can hear? It's their lunch. Why do you care that they're spending it that way?

They aren't breaking rules. Are you their boss? No? Then mind your own business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a version of this that Gen Xers felt when you and your peers entered the workforce, too. And likewise that Boomers felt when Gen X entered the workforce. A tale as old as time

But, also there were some signficant changes between Millenials and Gen Z - the complete and total attachment to one’s phone, for example (I’m guessing you didn’t grow up comsuming all media through your phone - it probably hit about middle school for you). And most of Gen Z had critical socialization years impacted by covid and its aftereffects.

Regardless, you were in those shoes once whether you remember/realized it or not, so stop being so critical and start being a good mentor.

This exactly! Welcome to old age Millennials. Start working on shaking your fist and screaming, “get off my lawn!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m older—late 40s— and I look at around at the state of the world, the economy, and corporate culture in general, and I just don’t think that precious generations wearing “appropriate” business cazh really got us anywhere. If anything, these uniforms just mask a lot of incompetence underneath. I think the younger people today see through the BS.

I agree and I think there were so many unspoken class assumptions. What was expected and acceptable for professionals was a WASP aesthetic, meaning that you were toned down in colors, jewelry, ahoes and hairstyles and would know what to wear and have the clothes in your wardrobe for work, the golf course, company parties. And the class differences were also shown with the lower level people (secretaries and such) who could not dress as well because of making less money. It's all theater anyway.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Gen X mom of two Gen Z kids. I think their carefree attitude is cute . . . but maybe it's a function of being 50-something and realizing that adulting is overrated and it's okay not to give up things that you enjoy because some older people disapprove for whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not that much older than these recent grads (mid 30s) but it surprises me a lot how many of these kids don’t know how to carry themselves, professionally and personally. Which is a shame because many of these kids ones I work with in a client facing business role actually do good work.

It’s more so that they dress way too juvenile or trendy- like off the shoulder tops and ill fitting clothes that they spend all day messing with because they don’t fit properly, long nails with bright nail polish, play video games on their phones with giant headphones in at lunch, come into meetings with giant lattes filled with whipped cream, ect. The people at my level make side comments about it all the time but they aren’t breaking any rules or anything, they just look silly. And these are kids that make enough money to invest in quality work attire.

Just interested to see what’s changed in the 15 years since I started working, as starting out in a client facing industry, we were borderline obsessed with being professional and put together!

I am a gen-X mom of two gen-Z kids. There are several reasons for this -

- Family and upbringing. DH and I are UMC, well-educated (multiple degrees) and have lived in several countries. I always keep short clipped nails with neutral nail-polish, I do not wear fake eyelashes, I am always dressed modestly with understated jewelry, I wear smart but sensible shoes. DH is similarly dressed in subdued and professional color, patterns and attires. We are health and wallet conscious so junk food is something we avoid. We are around super successful UMC/rich professional people and we very much fit in and are understated.

Our kids see this and they are clued in how to present themselves appropriately. They were not the kids who wore stripper dresses for an honors college commencement or wore PJs to their college classroom taught by the professor who could recommend them for a plum internship. From school to college to internships and jobs - they have always dressed for the future job and role they want. We made it a priority.

- Ignorance. Most kids do not know that their attire is not acceptable to their superiors who are a different generation and have all the power. My kids have been taught to dress smart and professionally. They know that they should dress in the style of their professors, bosses and clients. So, inevitably they get picked up in the client facing roles because they are not an embarrassment. Couple that with being well prepared and well spoken - they will shine over others. My kids have been taught how to dress and behave to impress by us.

don't trip over your own d

[Anonymous]

Funny. I'm the old person in a young office. Many of my colleagues are the age of my own kids. And I think Gen Z is great. I love their authenticity. They're smart and hardworking and crucially, they don't get caught up in the identity bullshit and grievance culture that was my primary experience of millennials. Do they sometimes dress a little funny? Yes. But are they bleating about every meeting agenda needing to include a land acknowledgment? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Gen X mom of two Gen Z kids. I think their carefree attitude is cute . . . but maybe it's a function of being 50-something and realizing that adulting is overrated and it's okay not to give up things that you enjoy because some older people disapprove for whatever reason.

Yes, and also, we raised Gen Z. They got our cynicism and our humor-coping. They have way thicker skins than millennials, and I don't feel like I need to walk on eggshells with them. And simply put, they seem to LIKE us, and LISTEN to us! My Gen Z colleagues come to me for professional-mom advice, which is adorable. For all that, they can wear whatever they want.

[Anonymous]

They’re 22 right? Thats young. They’ll grow and mature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m older—late 40s— and I look at around at the state of the world, the economy, and corporate culture in general, and I just don’t think that precious generations wearing “appropriate” business cazh really got us anywhere. If anything, these uniforms just mask a lot of incompetence underneath. I think the younger people today see through the BS.

I agree and I think there were so many unspoken class assumptions. What was expected and acceptable for professionals was a WASP aesthetic, meaning that you were toned down in colors, jewelry, ahoes and hairstyles and would know what to wear and have the clothes in your wardrobe for work, the golf course, company parties. And the class differences were also shown with the lower level people (secretaries and such) who could not dress as well because of making less money. It's all theater anyway.

Right, as demonstrated in the movie "Working Girl".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not that much older than these recent grads (mid 30s) but it surprises me a lot how many of these kids don’t know how to carry themselves, professionally and personally. Which is a shame because many of these kids ones I work with in a client facing business role actually do good work.

It’s more so that they dress way too juvenile or trendy- like off the shoulder tops and ill fitting clothes that they spend all day messing with because they don’t fit properly, long nails with bright nail polish, play video games on their phones with giant headphones in at lunch, come into meetings with giant lattes filled with whipped cream, ect. The people at my level make side comments about it all the time but they aren’t breaking any rules or anything, they just look silly. And these are kids that make enough money to invest in quality work attire.

Just interested to see what’s changed in the 15 years since I started working, as starting out in a client facing industry, we were borderline obsessed with being professional and put together!

We all said the same thing about you millenjals entering the workforce.

Welcome to middle age.

[Anonymous]

Dress for the job you want.

That is all.

Thank you for attending my TED talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not that much older than these recent grads (mid 30s) but it surprises me a lot how many of these kids don’t know how to carry themselves, professionally and personally. Which is a shame because many of these kids ones I work with in a client facing business role actually do good work.

It’s more so that they dress way too juvenile or trendy- like off the shoulder tops and ill fitting clothes that they spend all day messing with because they don’t fit properly, long nails with bright nail polish, play video games on their phones with giant headphones in at lunch, come into meetings with giant lattes filled with whipped cream, ect. The people at my level make side comments about it all the time but they aren’t breaking any rules or anything, they just look silly. And these are kids that make enough money to invest in quality work attire.

Just interested to see what’s changed in the 15 years since I started working, as starting out in a client facing industry, we were borderline obsessed with being professional and put together!

I am a gen-X mom of two gen-Z kids. There are several reasons for this -

- Family and upbringing. DH and I are UMC, well-educated (multiple degrees) and have lived in several countries. I always keep short clipped nails with neutral nail-polish, I do not wear fake eyelashes, I am always dressed modestly with understated jewelry, I wear smart but sensible shoes. DH is similarly dressed in subdued and professional color, patterns and attires. We are health and wallet conscious so junk food is something we avoid. We are around super successful UMC/rich professional people and we very much fit in and are understated.

Our kids see this and they are clued in how to present themselves appropriately. They were not the kids who wore stripper dresses for an honors college commencement or wore PJs to their college classroom taught by the professor who could recommend them for a plum internship. From school to college to internships and jobs - they have always dressed for the future job and role they want. We made it a priority.

- Ignorance. Most kids do not know that their attire is not acceptable to their superiors who are a different generation and have all the power. My kids have been taught to dress smart and professionally. They know that they should dress in the style of their professors, bosses and clients. So, inevitably they get picked up in the client facing roles because they are not an embarrassment. Couple that with being well prepared and well spoken - they will shine over others. My kids have been taught how to dress and behave to impress by us.

I’m also a UMC GenX mom of two GenZ kids and, respectfully, you all sound dull as hell.

Maybe. But her kids start out with an advantage by knowing how to carrying themselves with other adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not that much older than these recent grads (mid 30s) but it surprises me a lot how many of these kids don’t know how to carry themselves, professionally and personally. Which is a shame because many of these kids ones I work with in a client facing business role actually do good work.

It’s more so that they dress way too juvenile or trendy- like off the shoulder tops and ill fitting clothes that they spend all day messing with because they don’t fit properly, long nails with bright nail polish, play video games on their phones with giant headphones in at lunch, come into meetings with giant lattes filled with whipped cream, ect. The people at my level make side comments about it all the time but they aren’t breaking any rules or anything, they just look silly. And these are kids that make enough money to invest in quality work attire.

Just interested to see what’s changed in the 15 years since I started working, as starting out in a client facing industry, we were borderline obsessed with being professional and put together!

I am a gen-X mom of two gen-Z kids. There are several reasons for this -

- Family and upbringing. DH and I are UMC, well-educated (multiple degrees) and have lived in several countries. I always keep short clipped nails with neutral nail-polish, I do not wear fake eyelashes, I am always dressed modestly with understated jewelry, I wear smart but sensible shoes. DH is similarly dressed in subdued and professional color, patterns and attires. We are health and wallet conscious so junk food is something we avoid. We are around super successful UMC/rich professional people and we very much fit in and are understated.

Our kids see this and they are clued in how to present themselves appropriately. They were not the kids who wore stripper dresses for an honors college commencement or wore PJs to their college classroom taught by the professor who could recommend them for a plum internship. From school to college to internships and jobs - they have always dressed for the future job and role they want. We made it a priority.

- Ignorance. Most kids do not know that their attire is not acceptable to their superiors who are a different generation and have all the power. My kids have been taught to dress smart and professionally. They know that they should dress in the style of their professors, bosses and clients. So, inevitably they get picked up in the client facing roles because they are not an embarrassment. Couple that with being well prepared and well spoken - they will shine over others. My kids have been taught how to dress and behave to impress by us.

You sound mind-numbingly boring.