Gen Y at Work Survey
A few of you have asked for the full results from the survey we conducted in June, July and August of 2008. While I know we are now 6 months past this time, I am posting the full results again for those of you who have inquired.
The Gen Y Project
Generation Y at Work Survey
During the months of June, July and August of 2008, we surveyed 320 Generation Y careerists, ranging in age from 21-27 years of age. In the survey, we asked a few questions about leadership and what Generation Y is looking for in the companies and leaders they serve. The following include the results of the survey:
1. How important is your own leadership development as a determining factor when choosing to stay with a company?
Very Important: 60.58%
Important: 28.85%
Somewhat Important: 9.62%
Not Important: 0.96%
2. How important is your own leadership development when choosing to work for a company?
Very Important: 54.46%
Important: 35.15%
Somewhat Important: 10.40%
Not Important: 0.00%
3. What leadership traits are you most looking for in the leaders in your workplace?
The top ten most common responses are listed from 1-10 in order of importance (answer number 1 is the top answer)
Top Answer: Number 1: Honesty
2: The ability to inspire
3: Integrity
4: Competence
5: Humility
6: Fairness
7: Respect
8: Visionary
9: Concern and care for employees
10: The ability to truly listen
4. What are the biggest turn-offs for you with the leaders in your workplace?
Top Answer: 1: Arrogance (I know it all!)
2: Big egos (The success is all about me and how great I am)
3: Hypocrisy/Being Two-Faced
4: Lying and sneakiness
5: Narrow-mindedness
6: Micro-management and bossiness
7: Ignorance (my boss does not know what the heck he/she is doing)
8: Negative attitudes
9: Inauthentic
10: Sketchiness/Corruption/Flashing Money/Not on the Up and Up/Secretive Behavior
5. When you leave a company, what one thing causes you to leave?
Top Answer: 1: Weak Leadership (Leaders are blamers, whiners, disrespectful and lack vision)
2: Money
3: Lack of opportunity for professional growth
4: Lack of opportunity for advancement in the company
5: Better offer or opportunity with another company
6: Lack of acknowledgment for a job well done from bosses and managers
7: Work and work environment are boring
8: Lack of ethics in the company
9: Work culture is not fun and exciting
10: The work has no meaning
6. If you stay with a company, what factors cause you to want to stay?
Top Answer: #1: Great work environment (positive, upbeat, fun, attractive, high tech, energetic and supportive)
2: Great people (great boss, great manager, great co-workers, great friends at work)
3: Opportunity for career development, growth and ongoing training
4: Money (most clarified this by saying they wanted pay to be in line with their talents and skills)
5: Opportunities for promotion/advancement in the company
6: Happiness at work (loving my job and being happy with it)
7: To know that I am doing work that is meaningful and is making an impact on the greater world
8: Job security
9: Great benefits (vacation, health insurance)
10: Strong leadership (vision, integrity, trust and inspiration at the top of the company)
Bea Fields is the President of 
