Original article from the Flevy business blog can be found here: http://flevy.com/blog/young-professionals-its-not-an-oxymoron-right/ Note from the Editor: This article was originally published in the Reading Eagle’s Business Weekly and is re-posted with their permission. It was contributed by Dr. Santo D. Marabella, The Practical Prof(R). * * * * Young professionals. Is this a contradiction of terms, or what is called an oxymoron? After more than 25 years, I still love teaching college students. This generation has an energy, curiosity, openness and work ethic that is inspiring and contagious. I am optimistic about the future because these students will be leading us there. They don’t care what color you are, who you want to marry or to whom you pray, or if you pray at all. They care about making a difference and finding their passion. Students believe in fairness and equity, want to give back and have a desire to be successful. I have lots of respect for my students and their generation. I feel comfortable sharing ideas about where they might look to grow and improve in their professionalism. Before I do, there are two presumptions I make. First, millennials (today’s students in their 20s and 30s) believe they are entitled, but it’s not the same entitlement that my contemporaries might recognize. Instead of the “you-owe-me” attitude, they harbor what I call the “aren’t-you-going-to-do-that-for-me?” entitlement. As in: “Aren’t you going to prepare all of the notes that we will need for the test?” and “Aren’t you going to overlook my absences from class because I have lots of other responsibilities?” The entitlement is not a belligerent demand, but a polite expectation. Even so, some days it amazes me what some students expect. The second presumption? My generation created the phenomenon, in case you’re looking for a target to blame. The well-intended soccer moms and dads “shuttling” their children to and fro everywhere and the progressive parents who filled their child’s day with activities so they would be stimulated. (Full disclosure: I am not a parent, so you may dismiss my second point if you want.)

1. Young Professionals: It’s Not an
Oxymoron, Right?
Contributed by Dr. Santo D. Marabella on March 23, 2015 in General
Note from the Editor: This article was
originally published in the Reading Eagle’s
Business Weekly and is re-posted with their
permission. It was contributed by Dr. Santo
D. Marabella, The Practical Prof(R).
* * * *
Young professionals. Is this a contradiction of
terms, or what is called an oxymoron?

2. After more than 25 years, I still love teaching college students. This generation has an
energy, curiosity, openness and work ethic that is inspiring and contagious. I am optimistic
about the future because these students will be leading us there. They don’t care what color
you are, who you want to marry or to whom you pray, or if you pray at all. They care about
making a difference and finding their passion. Students believe in fairness and equity, want
to give back and have a desire to be successful.
I have lots of respect for my students and their generation. I feel comfortable sharing ideas
about where they might look to grow and improve in their professionalism. Before I do,
there are two presumptions I make. First, millennials (today’s students in their 20s and 30s)
believe they are entitled, but it’s not the same entitlement that my contemporaries might
recognize. Instead of the “you-owe-me” attitude, they harbor what I call the “aren’t-you-
going-to-do-that-for-me?” entitlement. As in: “Aren’t you going to prepare all of the notes
that we will need for the test?” and “Aren’t you going to overlook my absences from class
because I have lots of other responsibilities?” The entitlement is not a belligerent demand,
but a polite expectation. Even so, some days it amazes me what some students expect.
The second presumption? My generation created the phenomenon, in case you’re looking
for a target to blame. The well-intended soccer moms and dads “shuttling” their children to

3. and fro everywhere and the progressive parents who filled their child’s day with activities so
they would be stimulated. (Full disclosure: I am not a parent, so you may dismiss my second
point if you want.)
In any case, the way I see it, the millennials’ entitlement has wrought some challenges.
Specifically, I think respect, gratitude and communications take the hardest hit, if you buy
at least my first presumption. Respect can mean a lot of things, but deference for position or
authority seems hard to find. Not necessarily a bad thing, as people should earn respect by
giving respect. But, respect — admiring a co-worker or boss for what they do well — is
something everyone can give.
The two that concern me most are gratitude and communication. To me, true gratitude is
more than saying “please” and “thanks.” It is actually being thankful ; this means you
genuinely appreciate the help, the advice, the lunch, or whatever “gift” someone has shared
with you, because you aren’t entitled to it or anything else. The real test seems to be in the
way one is grateful for the things they have a right to, such as a paycheck, for example. True
gratitude is a state of being that reveals character and is difficult to simulate.
Communication has become way too casual. You know what I mean, dude? It has been
degraded to “instant communication” in three-letter acronyms. What’s worse? If aliens

4. observed our workplaces, they might believe that we loathe face-to-face communication and
that the most important communications only occur on a device.
What the Workplace Experts Suggest
The problem is that these challenges, if not overcome or addressed, undoubtedly follow
college grads into the workplace as young professionals (YP). And, in most cases, the
reception or tolerance won’t be very collegiate. Here’s what some experts suggest.
A 2013 Huffington Post blog lists 25 things that you need to know by age 25. Some of my
favorites on the list: the smartest young professionals actively seek constructive criticism,
know when not to multitask, accept that there is no overnight success (but early risers get
their “break”), understand less is more in spoken and written word, write a thank-you note
and that the only failure in your 20s is inaction.
Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and author of the book, “ The Start-Up of You ,”
offers five habits that YPs need to develop:

5. 1. Develop curiosity (what liberal education and lifelong learning is all about) and T-
shaped mastery (the ability to apply broad knowledge across many areas but have
deep expertise in one or two).
2. Seek mentorships, definitely!
3. Network, which is more than connecting on LinkedIn.
4. Be visible and seen for your merits and value. I interpret this as having substance of
character.
5. Establish thought leadership. In other words, gain a reputation for your intellectual
capital as well as your skills.
The Prof’s Advice
Considering their thoughts, I would summarize and add the following advice:
1. Embrace working hard. College is the beginning of your hard work, not the end;
don’t expect a fast-track, express lane to your success; at the same time, find

6. enjoyment, pleasure and satisfaction in the hard work you do, or find another line of
work.
2. Respect everyone, not just your “elders.” Respect that is professional means
listening, acknowledging, thanking, communicating and treating everyone the way
you would your closest family member or friend.
3. Be authentically grateful. Appreciate what you are given by expressing your
gratitude and by behaving in a way that acknowledges the kindness, even if you do
deserve it.
4. Seek daily opportunities to learn. Liberally educated college graduates get this
best: continuous learning keeps excitement, wonder and sensationalism (literally,
the activation of your senses) at the forefront of your professional life. Continuous
learning leads to continuous growth, which leads to continuous chances to advance
in your company or career.
5. Get a mentor. No one expects you to learn everything you need to know in college,
so talk with your boss or human resources department for help with identifying a
mentor. That mentor is someone in or outside your company who understands and
wants to support your career and life goals with candid, constructive feedback and
counsel. The “ole-boys’-network” is still active and, as a result, women are often
overlooked for mentoring, which is one of the reasons they should assertively seek
one.

7. 6. After-work gatherings are still work. If you act like you’re at a frat party when
you join the work crew after work, you are setting yourself up for a potentially
embarrassing and career-killing situation. Be friendly and sociable, drink minimal
amounts of alcohol (limit to yourself to one drink, if any at all) and act like it is an
extension of your work day, because it is.
7. Communicate in a friendly, formal way. Avoid shortcuts, slang and familial
language in emails, presentations, reports and conversations. Be present to those in
the same physical space, not as an aside to your next IM or text, but as the main
attraction.
8. Money is important, but it’s really about passion. Many people make a lot of
money from jobs they hate. Find the passion first and the money will follow. So I’m
clear, both making a lot of money and passion in your work is very attainable. We
just seem to give up on the passion and settle for the money.
This may be a lot to digest. But don’t stress, because you have what you need, including our
support. In Reading, as well as the surrounding communities of the Lehigh Valley,
Lancaster, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, there are networking associations for young
professionals whose collective mission is to attract, engage and retain you. We need your

8. energy, vitality and leadership. We believe “young professional” is not an oxymoron, but a
tautology. You say you don’t know what that means? Just look it up!
About Dr. Santo D. Marabella
Dr. Santo D. Marabella, The Practical Prof, is a professor of management at Moravian College and
president of Marabella Entertainment & Education Enterprises LLC. His book, “The Practical Prof: Simple
Lessons for Anyone Who Works!” is a collection of his Business Weekly columns. Contact him at
Santo@ThePracticalProf.com .

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