Teresa, I hope that the end of my post helped confirm the point that I do find your generation valuable. I did want to share the benefit of my experience in the work place. Thought it may seem odd, I hit the job market with many of the same thoughts about myself as you did. I was (and still am) quite confident in my skills and knowledge. I'm a lifelong short-attention span kid, so I know how grinding scut work can be.

I admire your work ethic, but that's not the first, or ever second, thing that came across in your piece. There was precious little in your post about what tangible benefits you and your generation can provide to an employer as a Gen Y-er. It was all about what you need and what you require and what will make you leave.

As for transparency, yes we should make sure we warn coming generations to be wary of TMI. That it becomes difficult does not mean it shouldn't be done. It means that we should step up our efforts to teach them how to protect their personal and professional reputations in an era where losing both is far more easy than it was even five years ago. If we care about them, we'll do our very best to show them the dangers ahead just like older generations have done for us (whether we listened to them or not). Some won't listen, but some will. And those who do will be a lot better off, don't you think?

much of our spent online makes us learn valuable information and engage in meaningful conversation.

Ha! Okay, kid….tell me your Youtube ID so I can verfiy these meaningful conversations you are having. LOL

There is a difference between a supersized ego and confidence in our abilities. Frankly, I'm confident in my abilities, and in many ways, a self-promotional attitude is beneficial in getting ahead. (Case in point with most prominent bloggers. Content may be king, but content that no one reads is useless.) I've been very motivated all my life and I work damn hard at any job that I do. And while my mom taught me that I can accomplish anything, she also taught me work ethic like no other.

For the record, I think my former internship bosses will vouch that I did the "scut" work, spreadsheets and all. With a smile. And then sent thank-you cards in appreciation of their time. I'm willing to work (for free) in exchange for a worthwhile learning experience. Is that so much to ask?

I'm also not saying we SHOULD be entirely transparent. I'm just saying that it's going to be more and more difficult to tell the younger generation NOT to be. Sure, the older generation started posting at age 25? 30? They were already well into their professional careers. Of course it makes sense that they have been carefully crafting their online images. For my baby cousin who will blog from the day he can type — in a time that everything is Google cached, how will we be able to ask them to be wary of EVERYTHING they post online?

My intention with my guest post was to help the

older generation get why we work the way we do, and how it can actually benefit companies — if they will just listen. Not sure, then, that the message really came through.

I sincerely hope a good representation of my generation will come along and prove to you we're worth more than you think.

More thoughts here:
http://byteresawu.com/2008/12/08/clarifying-the-g…

Would be happy to hear more of what you have to say.