Did you ever daydream at work and wonder of bigger and better things, or feel that you don’t belong? Well according to a recent study conducted by V Energy Drink, you’re definitely not alone. The study found that an alarming number of Australia’s Generation Y is miserable in their current job and workplace environments.
From the 1000 that were polled, nearly a third (28 per cent) felt restricted in their current job, and one in four dreaded going to work.
Formerly coined as the future of the workforce, it now looks bleak with 41 per cent of “Gen Y’s” (those born from the late 70’s to 90’s inclusive) admitting they couldn’t be bothered changing jobs even though they are not in their preferred industry.
Twenty-two year old Dominique Bonnici aspires to be a sports broadcast journalist, however is stuck behind a desk working for her local Woolworths. Despite it being described as “the worst possible job,” Dominique has been working with Woolworths for over 7 years. “You get stuck in your comfort zone, in the little bubble. I’m also a bit afraid of what else to do and I don’t exactly know what to do or how to get there.”
Alyce Tinyow, 21, is the office manager for her company. She also dreams of one day being a radio host or reporter. However, having no experience, she prefers to stay at her current job even though it doesn’t interest her in any way. “At the moment my job is really boring and doesn’t really challenge me, it doesn’t suit me,” Alyce explains. She blames the financial crisis for not being able to pursue other work and has no plans to chase her dreams any time soon. “I think I need to travel first and then see what I want to do. I have no direction for my life. I’ll just see what happens.”
Dominique and Alyce are not alone as Mark McCrindle, director of McCrindle Research suggests that the majority of Gen Y’s are lacking direction. “Most Gen Y’s are unsure of where they are now, let alone where they are going and so they are seeking specific direction from someone who knows them, their situation, and has even travelled that way themselves.” McCrindle Research specialises in social trends, generational studies and demographical shifts and in the study ‘Understanding Generation Y,’ it speaks directly to employers encouraging them to be Gen Y’s trusted guidance. “They are looking for real life role models and mentors who not only know the way, but also go the way, and can show the way.”
Jessica Kiely-Schebesta, director of the FRANK team, a nation wide organisation that assists people to build their career and business skills believes it’s important that Gen Y’s have role models they can look up to for guidance. She also considers it important that they be their own role model, “Definitely you have to believe in yourself, but you also have to give it a go. You need to take the jump and take a risk,” she says.
Being a role model herself, Jessica built her successful company “The FRANK Team” up from the ground and started her first company “New Horizon Tutoring” when she was only 21. Jessica thinks if Gen Y’s are miserable in their jobs now they should get out, saying “What’s the use in living each day when they are miserable, when there is something else they could be doing?”
Do Gen Y’s think their dreams are worth pursuing? How far are they willing to go for their dream career? Jessica believes that most young Australians are stuck in a position they dislike due to a mixture of laziness and an unwillingness to put in the hard work and effort, “They might not want it bad enough, because if you want it bad enough you will go after it…Their reality is a consequence of where they are at. They just need to change their decisions.”
