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I think I’m done
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Good for you, John! Wish more of these could have that kind of “happy ending.”
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[Bob Zelin]
“Many young people today (I see them first hand, so you can’t debate this, or say I am wrong -) have no work, yet they have nice cars, nice cel phones, their own apartments, money to go out with, and yet, they are unemployed, or almost unemployed.”[Bob Zelin]
“a bunch of lazy spoiled [ED] kids, with their cars and cel phones, and hanging out at a restaurant with no jobs, bitching and complaining”[Bob Zelin]
“This is what seperates past generations of lazy people, vs. todays ‘Gen Y’. Entitlement.”I would never debate those facts … of the nearly 4 thousand people at my particular employer’s headquarters, at least 50% are those same exact kids you described, but 10 years after you saw them in that restaurant since Daddy, Mommy and/or Uncle Joe has now given them a job telling people like you and I what to do and how to do it. ;~)
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Speaking of immigrants with unknown legal status, recently I picked up a co-worker at the train station in Brewster, NY. This is a sleepy little Bedford Falls style community at the junction of Rt 84 and Rt 684, about 40 miles outside NYC. I was startled because around 9am the streets are lined with immigrants seeking work doing odd jobs or landscaping on the numerous estates surrounding the town. Later in the day they are all either on the job site or back in their apartments.
Legal or not, these people are willing to work – heck the have to work to pay for their dwellings, food and presumably to send back home to their families.
Mike Cohen
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This is a really interesting discussion. Apparantly, it is also very timely. 🙂
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=general&src=me
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We’re not all lazy and unreliable. And I live just south of DC if you ever want some help 🙂
Rob Grauert, Jr.
http://www.robgrauert.com
command-r.tumblr.com -
Well I think the one voice missing from this threat is that of a 20 something (albeit in a couple years I’m out of the club). I won’t take away anything said so far because I certainly have seen a majority of my young peers who have skated through life and their career opportunities. But I implore you guys not to give up on us as a whole, had that happened I never would have gotten the shot I did and there will be more hungry, driven kids who will not get the chance to prove you wrong. I will admit I was probably hired more out of a cheap rate than talent, but I luckily made due and have to subscribe to the hard work over talent category. Youth has its ego but it also has a fresh perspective that can help in this business when groomed and mentored. I will say a military father helped instill the work ethic and “listen 10 times more than talking” motto that kept me from digging my own grave at work. The thirst for knowledge, that I know many of my cohorts share, is what kept me asking questions and pushing myself as well as the seasoned veterans I worked under. I was able to bring a lot of new workflows and ideas to the table in the digital, tapeless age that pushed our company and those vets in trade for the decades of knowledge they shared with me. It may be that you have to dig into these punks a little deeper or hold them closer to the vest, but please don’t give up on us entirely. We may be ignorant, slow, and goof-ups at times, but hopefully we can prove you wrong with passion, drive, and commitment.
Editor / Motion Graphics Artist
http://www.GlenMontgomeryIII.com -
I’ve actually given up on everyone, young and old. See you in Galt’s Gulch, Nick!
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I think the problem is one of expectations. When we were 20-somethings, it took so much effort just to deal with the equipment and the expense. It was hard, but the difficulty had the effect of making us very focused – and it WEEDED OUT anybody who wasn’t really committed. With the ease of entry today, the field has attracted people who don’t have to work that hard to obtain results. They expect to obtain results without much effort.
No offense intended, but your bad experiences may also have something to do with the kind of work you do (corporate, right?). My niece, a recent Yale grad, is incredibly hard-working – living in NYC, taking a second job in a bakery shop so she can work full-time as an unpaid intern on a bid-deal documentary which will undoubtedly make a splash in the New York Times, etc. when it comes out. Now understand this: my niece LOVES me — but there is no way she would want to work on my current projects, even for money. I suspect that at least one of the young people you describe might be looking for more glamorous opportunities than corporate video.
On the other hand, maybe you were just unlucky. And guy #3? I want to contact you offline to find out who that is so I can put him on my do-not-call list.
Have you noticed, though? When it’s young clients refusing to hire anybody older than they are, it’s age discrimination. But when it’s mature folks refusing to hire young’uns, it’s just exercising good discretion.
Good luck Nick.
Bob C
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Wow.
As a 21-year-old I am INCREDIBLY grateful for this post. I’ve asked a couple of times on the Cow for a list of “Do’s” on how to pursue a career, resume stuff, etc., but this post serves as a humbling and helpful list of “Don’ts”.
But, I would be remiss if I didn’t say on behalf of my entire generation, “Please don’t give up on us!”
Among our classmates at the University of Alabama work-ethic is held in high-esteem. We recently shot a short, and one of our colleagues (who already had a bit of a reputation for a bad attitude: this same student has been known to talk on the phone while professors are teaching and openly mock other students’ work) was invited to be our sound mixer. One of his friends in our crew vouched for him.
No-show. Didn’t answer phone calls. Didn’t even return text messages, not even to his friends who VOUCHED for him!
Needless to say, its doubtful any of us who crewed on that production will be recommending him anytime soon.
I say that to assure you that those with bad attitudes, out-of-control egos, and awful work ethic aren’t encouraged to continue that way, even from their fellow 20-something peers. No one likes a bad attitude – period.
– David Sikes
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“With the ease of entry today, the field has attracted people who don’t have to work that hard to obtain results. They expect to obtain results without much effort.”
Whaaat? No way, man.
Sure, anyone can pick up a pirated version of FCP, but I wouldn’t call that entry. I was awarded Best Portfolio when I graduated (but I didn’t really have much competition), and it was REALLY hard to find a legit job. I must have sent out close to 150 résumés and cover letters and I can probably count the number of times I’ve gotten a response on one hand. I eventually got lucky though…real lucky.
Rob Grauert, Jr.
http://www.robgrauert.com
command-r.tumblr.com
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