A Scientist in the Hot Seat: What Do Young People Want from Work?

As a new term starts, I've signed up for the "I'm a Scientist Get me out of here" initiative.  It's a student-led STEM enrichment activity, designed to connect school students with scientists, through real-time text-based Chats.

I have no idea what to expect with the process, or what types of questions I will be asked, but for sure I will be surprised.  There's nothing like talking to young students to get a window into their world, their hopes for what work will bring them and their fears for what it may take away!

What I do know though, is that attitudes to work continue to shift with each new generation. A simple general theme is that Boomers tend to show higher organisational commitment and stay with employers longer, whereas younger generations are more willing to switch jobs if values, flexibility, compensation don't align.

Let's see how much of this plays out in the questions that come my way.  And hopefully, my responses will be of help

I'll feed back on this again at the end of the year. Watch this space...