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My former boss and professional mentor, Michael Junod, director of Mercer’s
University Center, constantly reiterated the idea that he “weeps for the
future,” implying that today’s new generation wouldn’t be able to handle the
realities of the professional world. Constantly joking about the flaws of
Generation Y, he noted the generation’s impatience, the impersonal nature of
communication and the expectation to start their professional careers at the
top of the chain.
Defending our generation, the other students and I would retaliate with the
positive qualities of our generation, such as our competitive nature,
technological adaptability and confident attitudes. With this combination of
pros and cons, the students (call them “young professionals”) of Generation
Y need your guidance, mentoring and support in choosing a career path and
easing them into their chosen profession.
As facility managers and university professionals, we’re called to aid
students in their professional endeavors. Not only do these students rely on
us for guidance, but the facility industry also relies on us to recruit and
train qualified individuals who will become leaders. When you invest your
time in a young professional, you’re also investing in the future of our
industry.
By giving your young professional the responsibility of an internship or
assistantship, you can determine if he’ll survive in our field. When
investing in young career enthusiasts, you may find that you want them to
remain on your staff full-time after graduation or recommend them to a
colleague in the field to fill open positions. It will also be obvious to
you if they can handle the mental and physical demands of our industry.
If your facility doesn’t have a student-learning program, it will be
beneficial to your business and your students if you begin one. Not only
will you be aiding the educational experience of your community, but also
your department will improve in the eyes of the university administration
for contributing towards student development and education. Interns and
graduate assistants are employed at a low monetary cost and generally are
eager and thankful for the learning experience.
Once you’ve determined that your student has the aptitude and attitude it
takes to survive in our industry, you can help him build his professional
skills. When working more closely with young professionals, you’ll notice
that some may need assistance in networking and learning what’s beneficial
to advancing in the facility industry. Young professionals are often unaware
of IAAM or other professional associations and the benefits they provide.
IAAM offers a student membership at a fraction of the cost of a professional
membership but with excellent opportunities for networking and educational
experiences. Encouraging and supporting student membership in IAAM is one of
the best ways to assist your student in his or her career endeavors.
Membership in IAAM is beneficial to students because it offers the potential
to meet others who share a similar interest in our industry. Not only will
this expand their professional network, but it will also allow them to see
if they’ll enjoy being part of our industry.
As professionals, we understand the importance of broadening our network,
but the members of Generation Y may not have this knowledge. We need to
teach them the skills and help them understand the benefits of having
connections within the industry. Many are starting out fresh and don’t know
where to begin. Encourage them to attend IAAM functions or volunteer at
conferences and introduce them to others who will be able to educate and
expand their network.
Even though it may seem costly to send staff members to educational
conferences, the IAAM Foundation, as well as your IAAM district, offers
scholarships to attend the Annual Conference and Trade Show. Student members
are also encouraged to volunteer at meetings and conferences, which also
helps fund the cost of attending the conference.
At the Annual Conference, student volunteers learn the importance of hard
work and can see the effort that it takes to plan and facilitate a large
event. Student volunteers work at least 20 hours during the conference as
registration attendants, personal assistants to IAAM staff members or
personal assistants to IAAM officers. What a great networking opportunity
this is for a young professional — and at a fraction of the cost of an
active IAAM member.
Contact your district committee chairs to find out more information about
student memberships as well as scholarship information for meetings and
conferences. You have the opportunity to assist the career goals of a young
professional while also serving your industry.
Fortunately, my mentor recognized the positive qualities that our generation
possesses and invested resources in young professionals. He employs more
than 130 student workers, using them for day-to-day facility operations as
well as placing students in supervisory positions.
I had the opportunity to work for him for four years as a student supervisor
and as a graduate assistant in the same facility. His encouragement to join
IAAM, attend and volunteer at the Annual Conference and Trade Show, and
apply for scholarships for the Annual Conference helped me choose the
facility industry and build a network among other professionals. With this
background, I recently began my career in the facility industry and look
forward to one day helping others in a similar situation to navigate their
careers. fm
Nicole Retherford is event coordinator at the Cobb Galleria Centre in
Atlanta.
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