What to Know About Generation X At Work

Easygoing Generation X is often overlooked because the conditions they grew up in helped brew a can-do, laid-back nature. Some of their parents or grandparents fought in wars or lived through The Great Depression. Their predecessors' difficult situations created a strong work ethic for the next generation. As retirement age approaches, Generation X's resilience and adaptation are yielding to a new step: finding their voice.

By Ciarra Maraj

Flannels, ripped jeans and Doc Martens describe Generation X during their formative years. Known as the “latchkey kids” for sporting their house keys around their necks, these adults were born between 1965 and 1980. Tasked with being a second (or third) parent to their siblings after school or holding the house down, Xers are not shy about hard work.?

“A lot of kids were left unsupervised and we kinda learned how to fend for [ourselves] and we learned how to entertain ourselves and we learned how to do a lot of things on our own,” said Jon Ward, a commercial banking headhunter.? “And so I think we carried that into the workforce.”

Generation X is often left out of generational conversations because of the stark differences between baby boomers and millennials. But, remember that Generation X can be the offspring of individuals who fought in wars and lived through The Great Depression. Parents raised those kids under the belief that children should be seen and not heard, raised to stash money away and work hard no matter the conditions. Modern references to Generation X can label them the forgotten generation.?

What to Know About Generation X At Work?

Generation X’s work habits are a direct result of their childhoods. They had to grow up faster, work at an earlier age and maintain their home.?

“We were taught to just do what we were told without question,” said Sarah Blankenship, career coach and creator of Gen X Nation. “We didn't have the luxury of thinking about our mental health or how suppressing these emotions [was] gonna hurt us as adults.”

Although Generation X kept their heads down for most of their childhood and often acquiesced to their working conditions, they buoyed The Great Resignation. During the last year, quitting rates among those aged 45-50 grew by 37%. Resignation rates grew 34% for those aged 40 to 45 and 50 to 60.

Blankenship coaches fellow Generation Xers in their career pivots. One of the biggest challenges they face is ageism. Though outlawed, age discrimination still occurs. Ageism is the belief that someone older is not adaptable to new technology or capable of attaining new skills.?

In reality, Generation X is well-suited for any job, considering how they grew up. They have many transferable skills.?

“We were the first generation to go through widespread divorce in our families,” Ward said. “And a lot of us learned how to become mediators in that type of a situation. And we bring that skill set into the workplace.”?

In some ways, growing up now is easier than it was during the 1980s and 1990s. Social conditions, such as the implementation of after-school programs, improved. Mental health conversations are prominent, and quitting an unsuitable job has become the expectation.?

Technology has a huge impact on life and work today. Back then (not that long ago), smartphones did not exist, skinny jeans were a bizarre idea, and work documents were pieces of paper in a manilla folder.?

“When I first started in finance, we had paper files,” said Marisa Wolf, co-founder of SNP Group Solutions, a tech startup. “And we didn't have technology. A lot of times I would have to hand write out my applications for the loans and things like that. And you turn to today and everything's done on its own system software, everything's done paperless.”

Some Generation Xers are trailblazers in their respective fields: Elon Musk, Satya Nadella (Microsoft owns LinkedIn), and Jack Dorsey, to name a few.; the late Kobe Bryant, Venus Williams, and Tiger Woods are greats in their sport; Jay-Z, Nirvana, and more people behind the scenes found success through their hard work and perseverance.

“Generation X has been at the forefront of innovation in all types of cultural circles,” Ward said.? “From the music and the ‘90s, the technology revolution in the ‘80s and the ‘90s, and 2000s, there has been a lot of cultural change that's been driven by Generation X, but again, we just don't get on social media and scream about it.”

As mentioned earlier, this generation is not afraid of working hard and excelling.??

“We find solutions, we don't just wait for something, we come up with the answers on our own,” Wolf said.?

An admirable trait about Generation X is their resilience. No matter the circumstance, they will adapt to continue pursuing success. Ward came from an agricultural family where he worked on their raisin vineyard.?

“I hated every last second of it. And it's only in hindsight that I look back now, and I recognize that it's what gave me my work ethic,” Ward said.??

Generation X’s Advice To Others?

When it comes to the work habits of millennials, and beyond, these Generation Xers did not have anything mean to say.?

“The reason why the boomers and the Gen Xers are sick of hearing from the millennial generation is that one thing that you are amazingly talented at doing as a generation, is you have a collective voice and you are not afraid to use it,” Blankenship said. “And that is something that Gen Xers are just now starting to find.”?

But, everyone faces issues at work no matter their generation. The best thing to do is to band together and educate each other.?

“You can always learn from people, don't ever put somebody out because of their age,” Wolf said. “That's silly. I remember I was managing a bank at age 19, so it just kind of depends on the person and you can learn from people and they can learn from you.”

The job market is very competitive. For stay-at-home parents, Blankenship suggests developing a skill or working part-time in case they have to become the breadwinner.?

“You have the job experience on your resume that is gonna put you in a good position to be a good earner for your family,” Blankenship said. “Because a lot of Gen Xer moms that I know, they didn't do that. And now, unfortunately, they're in really difficult positions of trying to support families when they have no skills, they have no work experience.”

Generation X might be the “forgotten” generation, but their contributions, resilience and work ethic cannot be overlooked. Some are the parents of Millennials and Generation Z and passed those qualities on.?

The latchkey kids endured what younger generations did not have to and created an easier path. They took on the responsibilities of their parents so that they could excel in their careers and provide a better life.?

“Never underestimate the generation who survived the life and death of MTV,” Blankenship said. “I say that all the time, because we are not done yet. We are far from over. And I think that this is such an exciting time for gen Xers because we're finally starting to band together and find our voice as a generation and support one another in the final chapter of our career.”

Top Takeaways?

What To Know About Generation X At Work?

• Generation X describes those born between 1965 and 1980.?
• They are known as latchkey kids because they sported their house keys around their necks.?
• They supervised themselves and their younger siblings so their parents could work.?
• Despite being “forgotten” and easygoing at work, they lead The Great Resignation.??