Conversation
The context: a job interview; an interviewer is a millennial, and an interviewee is a baby boomer.
Millennial: Welcome to our office, John. I’m Mary Davis. Your look’s really on fleek.
Baby boomer: Hello, Miss Mary. It’s nice to meet you.
Millennial: You can just call me Mary. Ok, let’s start. You’re interested in the position of financial consultant, aren’t you?
Baby boomer: Right on.
Millennial: First of all, why should we hire you?
Baby boomer: My years of experience help me get the skinny on any financial issue and deal successfully with many different challenges. Besides, I am willing to strictly follow your regulations and work diligently to contribute to the company’s success.
Millennial: Ok, I see that you’ve worked for your previous employer for the last thirty years. Why so long? Haven’t you been thirsty for new accomplishments?
Baby boomer: I have always been loyal to my previous employer and enjoyed working for him.
Millennial: That sounds good. Let’s move on. Our company is trying to break the Internet by sparking some kind of controversy right now. Please recommend one strategy to minimize financial risks.
Baby boomer: Excuse me, I do not want to appear out to lunch, but…
Millennial: Are you hungry?
Baby boomer: Oh, no. I only mean that I do not clearly understand what you mean by ‘break the Internet.’
Millennial: To catch people’s attention on social media by sharing a controversial post.
Baby boomer: I fear financial risks may be too high.
Millennial: Ok, this is a rational answer. Do you have a LinkedIn profile or a Twitter account?
Baby boomer: I have a Twitter account and a printed version of my resume.
Millennial: Then, I’ll check it later. Thank you for coming. I’ll text you soon.
Baby boomer: Thank you for your time. Goodbye.
Introduction
Without any doubt, baby boomers and millennials have many contrasting and similar features. Representatives of both generations may not only look at the world from varying perspectives but also communicate and dress differently. It is an engaging and relevant topic, as baby boomers and millennials are the largest generations of the United States nowadays. Therefore, it is critical to pay more attention to the issue to understand all the similarities and differences better and learn to make the most of them. The conversation between John and Mary, the representatives of both generations, reveals generational differences and biases and shows valuable insights about the topic.
Main text
To begin with, the language of John and Mary differs significantly. The former makes an effort to appear more formal, while the latter prefers to stay informal. At the same time, both characters sometimes use vocabulary known only to one generation. For example, the phrase ‘get the skinny’ employed by John means to get essential information or the truth (Wilson, 2020). Mary does not recall what ‘out to lunch mean’; thus, some misunderstanding occurs. Besides, she uses such phrases as ‘on fleek’ and ‘break the Internet,’ which are unfamiliar to the interviewee. In general, idioms, slang, abbreviations, and terms employed only by one particular generation make the English language more diverse; thus, it is essential to appreciate them.
Furthermore, millennials seem to be more flexible and less prudent compared with baby boomers. According to Beheshti (2018), “they have a relaxed attitude toward work hours and place less importance on when and where the job gets done” (para. 7). For instance, John clearly emphasizes that he is willing to follow the company’s regulations strictly and considers taking financial risks not to be a reasonable idea. In contrast, Mary appears to be less careful and more determined. Undoubtedly, it is essential to combine both approaches to get the best outcomes.
What is more, the baby boomer proves that he is loyal, while the millennial does not consider it an advantage. Taylor (2019) notes that baby boomers are more likely to work for one company for long periods, and “a 2016 poll found 40% of boomers stayed with an employer for at least 20 years” (para. 9). However, the representatives of this generation should realize that many years of experience have lost their significance in the rapidly developing world and adaptability is one of the most critical qualities now.
In addition, John may think that millennials are too obsessed with social media and waste much time on it. Undoubtedly, he may be right in many cases, though social media platforms are also a useful tool to attract potential clients (Guyer, 2016). Moreover, they contribute to networking, sharing ideas, and becoming recognized. Besides, they also can simplify or even make more efficient many processes, such as advertising. Therefore, both Mary and John should appreciate the role of technologies in business.
Conclusion
In conclusion, baby boomers and millennials may have different approaches and ideas. Unfortunately, these differences cause many biases affecting their relationships. However, it is vital to realize that only the combination of the varying views and approaches can lead to success. The language, values, interests, and priorities of the two generations may be contrasting, but it is evident that diversity makes business decisions more effective and daily lives more engaging.
References
Beheshti, N. (2018). The clash of the baby boomers and millennials: How can we all get along? Forbes.
Guyer, J. (2016). A millennial and baby boomer talk out their differences. Greater Cleveland Partnership. Web.
Taylor, S. (2019). Five major differences between the lives of millennials and baby boomers. Business Insider.
Wilson, M. (2020). 18 words or phrases baby boomers used that are no longer around – see if you can guess what they mean. Insider. Web.