generationbreakthrough.com

(OK I get a little chest thump here despite my never ending complaints about work...)

Business Week has published its annual article about the best place to start a career. What is interesting about this article and related articles in recent times is that it does talk specifically about what attracts Gen Y to specific jobs and what we are looking for... maybe we're a generation of balance and dicotomy- work/ life, luxury/ frugality, stable & sustainable/ instant & urgent, local/ global...

Check it out! http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/ content/08_37/b4099036445894.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+- +temp_top+story

Even though it's an informative article, it still makes me cringe. So many of my friends have started careers at some of these companies (like Google and Deloitte & Touche) based on the great benefits they offer, and after a year or two, they all feel stuck. They complain about work all the time, because all their time is spent doing things they hate. Benefits and flexible rules just tempt and distract young people from figuring out what really works for them, and what will really make them both happy and successful.

The best place to launch your career is a place where you actually want to spend your time and energy. Then you'll be willing to work hard for more than just the money, and your commitment and motivation will actually lead to more money. Or you could just come up with a billion dollar idea, and do whatever you want.

Thanks for the heads up on the article, Sabby!

Depending on your goals, it might be a good idea to work for one of these top organizations for a few years to prove that you can make it, and pocket some serious cash. Plus, plenty of people actually do enjoy such work.
This article discusses mega corporations, which attract people that are looking for the structure and security that they offer. Among those corporations, of course, the ones that offer the most flexibility and best benefits are the favorites. Anyone is going to enjoy a better work/life balance, not just Gen Y-ers.

There will always be young people who want to work for big corporations. And it's a darn good thing that such companies have the ability to update their benefits to what Gen Y-ers need and want. However, what the majority of Gen Y-ers want is not to work for such companies at all. We want a work/life balance, but we really want our work to be meaningful to more than just big business. Many young people are having trouble finding jobs with fulfilling work. So it's really not so much about offering good benefits.