Rant of the day: Work ethics of young people

[Waterfoul]

Many of you know I manage a fairly large retail business dealing with most things marine.  In the last month I've hired 5 people... 3 of them college students.  All 3 of these students came in for their first several days of training and when I'm ready to put them into the regular schedule have called and quit.  No 2 weeks notice, nothing.  Just quit.  Where is the work ethic in todays young people?  Do they think that quitting jobs like this won't catch up to them eventually?   I do NOT start anyone at minimum wage because I think it's too low (but I do NOT think it should be $15 like McDonalds cooks seem to think it should be).  We offer a fun place to work and have a good core team of people to work with. 

I just don't get it I guess.  I could NEVER do that to an employer but I guess my parents and teachers taught me the value of a job that just seems to be missing today.

Ok, rant over.  I need to go fishing...

[YpsiBass]

I understand where you're coming from, but after recently losing my job and applying for a bunch of new ones, I have a similar rant for employers.  90% of the jobs I applied for never sent me any sort of correspondence on whether the position was filled or not available to me based on qualifications. These weren't single page carbon copy applications either. Resume, cover letters, and all that. Some employers after doing the interview, either in person or by phone, would not follow up and at least let me know that I didn't get the job. I understand that I can't get every job I applied for, but at least have the common courtesy to at least send out some form email NO JOB 4 U.

[stackenem]

There you go, one guy needs help one guy needs job problem solved

[MichiganBass80]

Trust me, it's not just young people 

[Manxfishing]

Well,

Look at it this way. At least you didn't waste any more time with them.
I'd think you need some better interview questions and follow up on references a little more

Maybe in the interview when there comfortable ask them about the craziest job that they
had and ask how they left. I'm betting that they will tell you.

Good luck, I don't think it's a age thing
Some people look at a job as just a paycheck. It's just a evil place they have to go to
until some thing better comes along.

[mike12]

I'm with stackenem on this one

[Big dreams]

Though I think employers giving a notice of not getting the position is courteous, I don't think it should be expected.  Most places are interviewing many people so it wouldn't be cost effective to send out rejection letters.  In the economical world we live in, I wouldn't be upset if I didn't get a call back.  It's just business, nothing personal.

[YpsiBass]

A rejection email doesn't cost anything.

[Big dreams]

What if you are their number two and their number one didn't work out...  It happens more often than you think. 

[TimH]

I don't usually go off on a rant like this, but I'll blame this one the fact that my boat has been in the shop for four weeks and I the last time I was out on the water was early November.  I agree that the work ethic of most younger people is poor, but it is also important to recognize that the work ethic of the United States in general is in a nose dive.  Most young people have very little work ethic because they grew up in a generation where their parents told them they were the most special, precious, smartest person on the planet and tried to be their friend instead of a mom or dad.  The schools have also weakened considerably with very little consequence shown to students who don't listen, fail to complete assignments, or frequently get in trouble.  In times past, if a kid got in trouble at school, he would get in trouble at home even more.  Nowadays, if by some strange chance a kid gets disciplined in school, one of his "helicopter parents" swoops in and yells at the teacher or principal, because "my johnny wouldn't do such a thing."  These actions coupled with the complete lack of personal responsibility that is running rampant in this country is why these problems exist.  These issues are all thanks to the ultra-liberal agenda, entitlement mindset, and over-heightened need for "political correctness" that is jammed down everyone's throats by the government and media.
Please understand that what I have written here probably doesn't apply to anyone on this site, as everyone I have met always seems to be well grounded, hard working, do the right thing type of people.  However, as the original poster wrote about, the issue is real and will sooner or later effect us all. 
Rant over...thank you for allowing me a few moments to vent.

[Waterfoul]

A rejection email doesn't cost anything.

Actually it does.  This time of year I'm often so busy interviewing and training that the only time I have to do anything else is on my lunch hour.  The only time I can post on GLB is while trying not to get pizza grease on the keyboard!

[Waterfoul]

I don't usually go off on a rant like this, but I'll blame this one the fact that my boat has been in the shop for four weeks and I the last time I was out on the water was early November.  I agree that the work ethic of most younger people is poor, but it is also important to recognize that the work ethic of the United States in general is in a nose dive.  Most young people have very little work ethic because they grew up in a generation where their parents told them they were the most special, precious, smartest person on the planet and tried to be their friend instead of a mom or dad. 



Rant over...thank you for allowing me a few moments to vent.

I agree Tim.  I refer to this as the "wussification of the USA."  I coined that phase myself but feel free to use it.

I want a paycheck but I don't want to work for it.  Oh, and while we're at it I'll agree to pay McDonalds workers $15 an hour when I feel like I'm getting $15 worth of service.  And we all know that will never happen.

[YpsiBass]

A rejection email doesn't cost anything.

Actually it does.  This time of year I'm often so busy interviewing and training that the only time I have to do anything else is on my lunch hour.  The only time I can post on GLB is while trying not to get pizza grease on the keyboard!

Delegation man!

[Mike S.]

I bust my butt 7 days a week, been doing it for years. I can't even get a promotion. What is that crap?

[Waterfoul]

A rejection email doesn't cost anything.

Actually it does.  This time of year I'm often so busy interviewing and training that the only time I have to do anything else is on my lunch hour.  The only time I can post on GLB is while trying not to get pizza grease on the keyboard!

Delegation man!

Then I would have to use payroll to pay someone to do the job.  And THAT aint gonna happen around here!  LOL!!

[Waterfoul]

I bust my butt 7 days a week, been doing it for years. I can't even get a promotion. What is that crap?

No one would EVER question your work ethics Mike.  You are one of the hardest working people I know.

[Mike S.]

Thank you.

[motocross269]

There are some great young people fighting every day to keep our country free so don't paint with to broad of a stroke...I dont think they would be too happy being called wuuses...I'm an American and I may be getting older but Im not a wussy..lol....but there are issues and it is far from political or liberal vs conservitive...If only it was that simple..I have seen good and bad come from both sides of the fence...I have seen plenty of kids from  ultra conservitive parents take bad turns also..Prisons have their fair share of preachers kids and spoiled rich brats..
I can understand the frustration with the job market....with the stagnation of wages and the exporting of good manufacturing jobs lots of kids feel like they are beating their heads against the wall...That is a big reason why you see alot of kids living at home into their late 20s..Even with a college degree finding a job that pays the bills is a struggle....and it will get worse if the Trans Pacific Trade package goes through..
Bottom line as parents we have noone to blame but ourselves....It's funny everyone complains about the next generation but that has been going on for generations...and if that is the case who raised them??.... I took 150 young people to combat and I coach kids pretty much year around and to be honest I think this group of kids is pretty awesome overall..

[Waterfoul]

There are some great young people fighting every day to keep our country free so don't paint with to broad of a stroke...I dont think they would be too happy being called wuuses...I'm an American and I may be getting older but Im not a wussy..lol....but there are issues and it is far from political or liberal vs conservitive...If only it was that simple..I have seen good and bad come from both sides of the fence...I have seen plenty of kids from  ultra conservitive parents take bad turns also..Prisons have their fair share of preachers kids and spoiled rich brats..
I can understand the frustration with the job market....with the stagnation of wages and the exporting of good manufacturing jobs lots of kids feel like they are beating their heads against the wall...That is a big reason why you see alot of kids living at home into their late 20s..Even with a college degree finding a job that pays the bills is a struggle....and it will get worse if the Trans Pacific Trade package goes through..
Bottom line as parents we have noone to blame but ourselves....It's funny everyone complains about the next generation but that has been going on for generations...and if that is the case who raised them??.... I took 150 young people to combat and I coach kids pretty much year around and to be honest I think this group of kids is pretty awesome overall..

Well send some of those kids here to apply for a job.  Had yet ANOTHER college kid quite on me yesterday.  No call.  No show.  Won't return my messages.

My frustration continues.

[Mcfish]

Ask them in the interview if they grew up on a farm, Mike.  Or, if they played practice intensive sports.   You'll bat better than .500 with those young people.

We hire farm labor every summer and if they didn't do one or both of those two things they usually don't pan out.  Which is the nice way of saying that if they didn't they were usually lazier than a pet coon.