Working As A Millennial

As I sit in my office, juggling branding initiatives and brainstorming new marketing ideas, an early career moment comes to mind. An old boss once told me I’d never reach a high level role until much later in life. He was over 50 and a Director solely because another person left our department and the company needed additional work help.  He believed any promotion into a high level role should not be given to millennials, as he clung to outdated stereotypes that millennials were non-ambitious or entitled. But my story, like many others, prove just how misguided these millennial assumptions are.

I became a Manager at 30, a Director by 33, and a VP at 39, all within the same company. These milestones weren’t handed to me. They were earned through hard work, dedication, a work ethic learned from watching my boomer mother run her own successful business and the belief someone else had in my potential.

Throughout my career growth, my free time and evenings were spent working on my passion projects. I freelanced as a side hustle, obtained my personal training and other fitness certifications, sat on a board for 6 years, while also co-chairing and chairing that same board AND becoming a mother to our miracle child (via IVF after YEARS of infertility).

Despite what others think, Millennials DO like to work. We thrive on it. I think we get a bad wrap because we’re really good at our jobs (sometimes to a fault). We’re also so good at our jobs, we know how to balance our time and do it well. We cherish our time away and we understand the value of taking time to recharge and connect with the people who matter most.

Now, I want to emphasize that this doesn’t mean we don’t care about our work or take advantage of our jobs. We care so much, we might even check in when we’re away because we are very dedicated individuals who want to see our projects succeed; despite the stereotypes. 

You must also not forget, Millennials have navigated a rapidly changing world, spanning from the shift to a digital world and the challenges of a global pandemic. We’ve done this while balancing multiple jobs, starting our own businesses and much more, proving that we are adaptable. This balance between working hard and living well makes us more focused, more driven, and better at our jobs.

So, the next time you hear someone dismiss millennials as lazy, ask them to think again. We’re the generation redefining balance and diligence. We’re innovators and extremely resilient and that’s something everyone should be proud of.

Written by: Tracey Esser