You’re Fired: Why millennials don’t have to hear these words

“‘You’re fired!’ I told him.”

“Isn’t that a little harsh?” I asked Kendrick.

“Well I might’ve kept him if his daddy hadn’t called in sick for him an hour after he should’ve been here.” His weary look turned into disgust. “It’s the third one I’ve fired in four months. Man, these twenty-somethings don’t understand work.  Seems like they don’t want to work.”  I nodded knowingly, having recently fled a management position in which I “persuaded” three millennials to quit after catching them stealing cash or hours, or just not working.

The untrustworthy trio aside, my best hire also came of age during the turn of the millennium.  Diligent, smart, intuitive and willing to take initiative, she proved to be the ideal worker.

I assured Kendrick that good ones outnumbered the bad. After teaching a thousand plus adolescents, I had found hope in the midst of employer melancholy. Yes, the college class of 2000 – 2020 often appears not to want to work.  But looks can deceive.

Yet if the boss thinks you are less than 100 percent in, firing is not the only negative consequence. While your talent might secure your job, you may never get the great projects or deals, promotions or advancements, or growth opportunities. You could spend years in the same spot, believing that your stagnation is due to prejudice, a personal vendetta, or your superiors’ intimidation of your abilities instead of acknowledging the real cause – how you project yourself.

Note that your first impression may actually take several weeks or months. Though each employer’s whims and tolerances vary, the following rules can wow instead of worry the boss:

No phones or electronics for personal reasons while on the job except during lunch or designated breaks. “You mean NO texting for several hours?!” Exactly! If you lack the discipline to make it through class without your phone, you better develop it or prepare for a career at Starbucks.

Be at work, every day ready to go at the start time. Do not call in sick the first two months (better for your boss to tell you to go home sick) and rarely after that. If you start at eight, begin working at eight (or an hour earlier). Never blame tardiness on traffic, your lover, parents, car, ADD or anything else – just be on time. Do not ask for time off for half a year except for true religious reasons, and never ask your boss about vacation days (ask human resources of co-workers).

Show enthusiasm but stay focused. If in slight pain, grin and bear it. Do not tell people you have a hangover – it will get to the boss and create a bad impression. Leave your moodiness in the car and get over yourself. Avoid complaining even if surrounded by whiners. Avoid goofing off when not on breaks and then be careful not to distract and annoy others or go over the top. In the eyes of your boss, you are there to do a job, not hang out, have fun, self-actualize or entertain.

Do your work, all your work, on time. No excuses. Your boss cares little about your ADD, OCD, OTP or whatever. Get it done and do it well! If you can’t finish tasks on time, arrive early (looks better than staying late) or seek advice from co-workers and the internet before going to your boss.

Even if told that you and your colleagues are a family, your boss is not your parent. Only after years of meaningful rapport might you confide personal, potentially self-damaging information to the boss, or ask for special favors.

Show pride in your work. Treat your job like your own company and the boss as your most important client. Do all in your power to ensure a great relationship and continually blossoming business with that client. Go above and beyond to respect and please the client through actual production, not brown-nosing. Slacking hurts your company and you. So cut it out.

These tips might not make you a millionaire, but prove minimal for a successful career. Even if you are your own boss, discipline is vital. Most importantly, take full responsibility for your actions and blame no one else for avoidable mistakes. Employers appreciate those who take responsibility and live up to the expectations – not those whose daddies call in sick when they have a hangover.