Gen X: Did Your Gen Z Content Manager Just Cancel Us?

This week I watched an article recirculating on Linked In as one person after another was shocked to read it and “chimed in”.   You know how the “chiming in” works - it keeps the story alive forevah.  But the rage and the disbelief was real.  The author guilelessly canceled Gen X.  And it turns out that people noticed.

Gen X: Hey, we’re still here

The article was benign enough. It was celebrating that a Gen Xer, finally, by not giving up on his dream, got a tech job at Google.  At the ripe old age of 43.  The author was not aware that at age 43, the person she was celebrating is considered a Millennial.  I’m sure she does now, as dozens of responders pointed that out.

The business and tech reporter, who appears to be a Gen Z for a Business Publication, was attempting to celebrate that there are exceptions to agism in tech.  What went terribly wrong in the article was the implication that 43 was already over the hill, damaged goods, old maid, whatever other “washed up” metaphor you want to use.

The Gen Xers, and even some Boomers weighed in.  While several explained they were north of 50 or 55 and still leading tech teams, other shared how they started their most recent tech business at age 66.  There were scores of examples of thriving professional life past the 43 deadline.

Who is making the call?

There were also many interesting responses about the POV of the writer.  Was she so junior that she thinks everyone over 40 has expired their useful work life?  Has she, like so many COVID era college grads spent her time working remote from an office and therefore does not “get” the experience blend and diversity that comes with a multi-generational mix?

When we look at the number of workers in all sectors including tech, Gen Z is a smaller cohort of people.  In order to keep the shops running and the economy humming, we are going to need Gen X in the professional mix for years to come.  Who is to say when it is time to put people out to pasture or not hire someone because they are too old for a specific sector?

Takeaway

Gen X established the digital economy in the US. The founders of Google are Gen Xers.  As are many of the other tech giant founders and the people who work in their organizations.  Gen X are many of the people paying for colleges, running businesses, and paying for their Gen Z’s kids phone bill.  There is room for everyone at the employment table.  Diversity makes any organization stronger – including diversity of age & experience.