Being approximately halfway through my second week with Big Brothers Big Sisters, I am finally beginning to settle into “the grind”. That is, the 9-5 very ADULT lifestyle. This routine feeling of getting up, making lunch, going to work, going to the gym, and going to sleep, has made me think a lot about what the next year will look like for me in a professional sense. So, I wanted to dedicate this blog post to discussing young people in the workplace, and how I see the workplace changing for young professionals.

From conversations with my peers and colleagues that also identify as young professionals, there are two main things I feel like we search for wherever we land post-college: balance and purpose.  I have had the conversation a few times with my father where he stresses the importance of hard work and dedication to his career. Not to say I don’t agree with that, but my father has talked extensively about how he comes from a generation where you have to bring your work home with you to succeed. Time in the office isn’t enough, and in order to “outperform” your colleagues for that next promotion, your career must become your life. I feel like our generation values work-life balance; being able to detach from work when you get home at 5:30 and not stressing over working long hours to get the next monthly bonus. At Big Brothers Big Sisters, they both accept and encourage vacation time to relax and decompress, and they are incredibly flexible with hours to accommodate appointments, families, etc.

The other element I believe young professionals are searching for in their first real job is purpose. Feeling valued by colleagues, and most importantly a supervisor or manager, may make or break your performance of daily tasks. People appreciate being told that they matter, that their work matters, and that they have a place and purpose within the organization. On my first day at Big Brothers Big Sisters not only was I introduced individually to the entire staff, but they also held a brief meet-and-greet with snacks. Each individual discussed their position at the organization, their favorite thing about working here, and inquired about my professional aspirations. I didn’t feel like “just an intern”, I felt like an important component of a team working toward a much more important goal.

Through this reflection of young professionals in the workplace and what we value, I have been validated that this is where I belong. Not just in this field, but with this organization surrounded by these people. I can only hope that my post-college job search leads me somewhere with these same values.