The higher people fly in a recession, the farther they fall

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA -– I heard of Generation X a lot when I lived in Ukraine, but not so much about Generation Y –with the exception of Pepsi’s New Generation in the late 1980s.

The latter – also referred to as “millennials,” “post-baby boomers,” or “20+” – have been lately the center of attention in the United States. They are part of a generation loosely defined as being born between 1978 and 2000.

America has had a long period of well-being before the recent economic turmoil. The generation of today’s young adults in the United States was raised in the atmosphere of ultimate well-being, with many of the basic needs over-satisfied. In summary, they are the “hothouse kids,” as Newsweek once called them.

A typical millennial is a 20-something adult who is overly ambitious. They usually know their worth – whether in career or personal life - and would eagerly pursue activities that lead towards accomplishing their goals. Their attention span is short and their time is constrained. They are not easily impressed and would move on unless you give them a serious reason to stick around.

The first time I encountered a typical millennial was at work a couple of years ago. At the time, when economic prospects were strong, organizations were competing in being the first ones to recruit the fresh out of college graduates and bring them on board. To attract millennials’ attention, companies offered perks such as an “orientation” conference in Florida or an iPod. The organizations would go out of their way to meet the needs of 20-plus. They would launch Facebook campaigns – because that is where Gen Y spends most of their time – or release rap videos to talk about their work culture.

Even though I was technically born in the Gen Y time frame, making me a millennial, my “foreign” attitude towards work, career and relationships are strikingly different.

When you graduate from college in Ukraine, you are generally happy to get your first job. You usually make big efforts at first – regardless of what you are paid – and you gladly take on projects that fall out of your area of responsibilities. The “I have a job!” sensation is likely to last a few years – until you realize that nobody recognized you for all the effort.

Right after you graduate from college in the United States, however, you sell, sell and sell yourself. It’s no problem if you have no work experience. Your gut feeling tells you that you are worth a lot. So you consider the options and negotiate. You have high expectations once you start a job. However, your hunger, energy and drive do not last for very long. Generally after a year or so, you want a position of influence and a “seat at the table.”

At the first glance, the Ukrainian way may seem to lack confidence and self-assurance. Low self-esteem? Perhaps. On the other hand, the Ukrainian way may be far more adaptable to today’s environment.

With layoffs common these days, ambitions without substantial grounds are hardly an asset. The disillusionment of an over-inflated ego may hit hard: hence, the recent stories of “econocides” in the United States and Western Europe. I can imagine the need to re-open the sobering-up stations in Ukraine as a result of poor economy, but hardly a wave of suicides.

Lena Redko, a Kyiv native, lives in San Francisco and is studying for a master’s in business administration at the University of San Francisco.