They Work Hard for Their Money: A Narrative Analysis of Millennial Workforce Entry

Abstract

In 2015, the Millennial generation (adults ages 18 to 34 in 2015) surpassed Gen-X (35-50 in 2015) as the largest age cohort in the workforce (Fry, 2015). Millennials introduced unprecedented changes in the demographic makeup of the American population for employers to consider. They are more racially diverse than any other cohort. Moreover, Millennials grew up in the digital age, thus they have a higher level of comfort with technology than any other generation. As the youngest part of the millennial population grows older, more will be looking for full-time employment, and thus the proportion of the labor force for this cohort will only increase (Fry, 2015). Millennials are often portrayed as upper-middle class and white, despite the reality that this generation is more racially diverse than any other and only one third of Millennials have post-secondary education. This portrayal of Millennials is a part of a dominant narrative that relies on stereotypes that are primarily based on upper-middle class work. This thesis investigates the ways in which the dominant narrative is reified and challenged by Millennial workers in full-time positions. Particularly, I was interested in the socialization processes experienced by first-time Millennial employees in full-time positions from both blue and white collar industries. Using Jablin’s (1987) model of Organizational Assimilation, this study is primarily focused on the bridge between vocational/organizational anticipatory socialization and the encounter phases proposed within this theory. Using narrative analysis, data was collected using semi-structured interviews with members of the Millennial workforce within the first five years of full-time employment. Interviews revealed the ways in which Millennial experiences reinforce, challenge and/or transform the dominant narrative of the Millennial worker.