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Why You Should WANT Gen Y Workers in your Dealership

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#11
Jade,

Ol' Uncle Joe here.  Here comes a counter to your "Rainbows and Unicorns" view of Gen Y.

Where did you get your inventory of the personal assets needed to "rise to the top"?

Is  "A lack of boredom" a hallmark of greatness? Really?  I'll ask you this,  where did Gen Y's "lack of boredom" come from? Is it internal or external?
 
It's external to Gen Y.  Take away the iPhone and Social Media platforms and what do you have? 

Boredom.

Where in your review is the DRIVE, the PASSION, the DISCIPLINE and FIRE IN THE BELLY to risk it all?  What of the commitment
required to LEAVE YOUR SOCIAL LIFE BEHIND in the pursuit to excel?

Gen Y, "leave their social life behind"?  ahhh... I don't think so.

Speaking of risk taking, why is it that so many Gen Y in their mid 20's are still living with mommy and daddy? I'm 100% ok with that -IF- this time is used smartly. How many of them are using this LOW OVERHEAD time with mom and dad to build a business, or, are working 2 jobs to build cash to get a strong start in life?

Can you name one?  I can't.  Sure there are exceptions, but just like in Generations past, only a few outliers are out there blazing new paths. 

In my travels, Gen Y's are self absorbed, running from boredom by living in a 2D world.  They live by staring into hand held screens passing around "he said... she said" drivel to their peers and missing the sweet sounds and opportunities of the 3D world swirling around them.

/grumpy ol man rant hahaha
 
#12
Joe -- you are my hero!  haha..LOL.  For years, when I'm training, I've spoken about our "Speak into the Clown's Face Culture" when it comes to ILM responses -- our need to give 'em what they want when they want it.  And I make them squirm through the following scenario: just sit there and pretend you are at the drive-up window and have to wait for 5 minutes -- just 5 lousy minutes!  It seems like the world has stopped and time itself has imploded if your burger and fries are not waiting for you by the time you drive-up...

I've never considered the same parallel to Gen Y:  Pull-up to the clown's face:  "I'll take a management position with a 6-figure salary, 6 weeks vacation and a side of paid health insurance, please -- and oh, hold the tedium!

Fit's doesn't it?  haha...    And if it's not ready by the time they pull-up to the window?  Well, like you said, there's always Mom & Dad...
 
#13
Generation Y is typically referred to as anyone born between 1981 and 1993...according to the Gen Y library (Wikipedia). 

The oldest of that age group is just turning 30.  The youngest; just starting adulthood.  I think that generation is still too young to be judged. 

If we want to talk about some extreme generational divides then we should look at the younger side of Gen Y:  the ones who are 18 to 22 years old today.....

What's a library?
You actually listened to AM radio?  Ha ha ha.
Bill Gates was a CEO?
Why would you use a blackberry?
What are jorts?
There is a thing called playing outside?  I thought that was XBOX Live.
How do you ride a bicycle? 
 
#14
Hell, every new generation thinks they're more special than those before them.  Look at my older generation, We were all about "rainbows and unicorns". It was our mission to conquer the oppressive war mongering prior generation.  We fought with Peace, Love and happyness.  Look what my "flower power" generation built...

The most powerful army on the planet,
The most dysfunctional public school system ever.
Spineless parents that avoid teaching (aka tough love)
Bigger, Better, Faster at all costs.
Big Govt to protect us all
Gigantic Energy consumption p/capita
2 Americas (inner city and everywhere else)
Poll driven journalism (tail wagging the dog)
Fox News (ack!)
MSNBC News (ack!)

hahaha, it ain't all that bad, we did bring you Al Gore and Jorts!  ;-)
 
#16
Hi everyone-Jade here. Just back from vacation and delighted to see such a spirited discussion going on here.
It is said the Gen Y'ers respond to "humor, irony, and unvarnished
truth" and I think you all have delivered on all counts;) I am reading
the comments with keen interest and promise to address many of your
points in upcoming Gen Y posts. I don't want to give away spoilers so
I'll just say- stay tuned for robots, geckos and technological poets coming soon:)

 
 
#17
Jade - I think this is right on point. I'm a 21 year old just introduced to the car industry (the sales side anyway) about 4 months ago. I was previously a web developer for a large manufacturer and I found myself unchallenged. (I became a web guy as a result of productive boredom.) So here I am 4 months as Internet Sales Manager (though I don't manage anyone) and I think I've adapted and accomplished a good bit in my short time here (at least I think I have)... I've hand written a web-based CRM/Lead Management tool custom tailored to our needs that's integrated with text messaging for sales texts, service reminders, happy b-day texts, text contests etc, ... I set up a text message lead system where we have stickers on all of our cars so that you can text the stock number to our short-code sms and it replies with info, pricing, rebates etc about the car (and it generates a lead on my Lead management tool from this)(mostly for after hours ups)... I've launched marketing campaigns and worked on our SEO and blog that have resulted in more than doubling our calls and leads (and tripled our internet sales/month) ... I've also read a few books to catch me up to speed on the car industry in respect to market sensitive pricing.. I'm now responsible for pricing our cars on vAuto and using all of our sources to create buy lists and find cars on online auctions... I've just recently learned to quit volunteering myself for tasks I think I can improve us as a dealership on, as most people at the dealership (not gen-y) have no problem giving up their tasks and spending their extra free time staring at the wall... My work load is growing and most nights i work from home until 10 or 11 on dealership related work...
Now with all that said, as you referred to us as the "whats-in-it-for-me? Generation", I know what's in it for me. And being on a commission based pay-plan, by looking out for me, I'm also helping the dealership. Our owner always tells me he doesn't mind giving me my share of the pie as it grows. His piece will always be bigger than mine, but mine is going to be as big as i can make it. Win-win.
 

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