One symptom of getting older is heightened resentment of youth. Often it's justified. After all, it is irritating when young people can't imagine learning anything useful from those who are more experienced. But youthful arrogance is just another side of what we like about, and need from, the younger generation - their energy, confidence and optimism.
Our survey of final year students is an attempt to gauge the hopes and fears of the coming wave of construction managers. It's high time, too. The market has shifted dramatically in their favour and if you don't offer an attractive career prospect, there are plenty of other places for them to go. So we felt it was essential to find out what they find attractive.

The results show the generation gap isn't so wide. Young people like a lot of things about the industry. It offers a stimulating work environment, for one thing, and (thank heavens) it appears to match their expectations around pay. But the survey does indicate a serious challenge for construction: companies are going to have to get better, not at moving over, just at making room for the next generation. What they want most is a clear, structured approach to developing their skills. This sounds reasonable, but in fact takes a lot of effort and planning and commitment to deliver.

Anecdotal evidence suggests a darker problem exists: bitter middle managers who are jealous of youth and want the graduate trainee to struggle along the same path of drudgery they did.

"Treat us as young professionals, not as tea boys," pleads one respondent. It's a common theme.

Other problems should be easy to fix. For instance, don't lie about your company. If you have to work most weekends without overtime, say so. Also, don't send stodgy HR managers to careers fairs. Send your bright, young things.

Everybody says the industry has an image problem: terrible conditions, poor health and safety, bad pay. These are problems, no doubt, but our survey suggests the real image problem is the big, beefy, white guy muttering: "I had to suffer, now you will too."

This attitude belongs to the last generation. We're going to have to get with the programme if we want to attract the next.

Source

Construction Manager