Differences in Approach to Building a Professional Career among Representatives of Generations BB, X, and Y

Abstract

The article looks at the issue of different approaches to building a professional career among selected representatives of the Baby Boomer, X, and Y generations who graduated from the University of Economics in Wroclaw. Based on the study of literature that is available on the subject as well as empirical research, an attempt was made to identify basic expectations and attitudes towards work as exhibited by the examined graduates and to present recommendations for human resource management practitioners. The research was conducted in 2017 using the diagnostic survey method with an online survey questionnaire that was made available at the University of Economics. The results of the study indicate that there exist identifiable differences in approach to building a professional career that depend on generation association. Moreover, building what is known as cross–generational solidarity should be pursued in teams diversified in terms of age. This should be done with reference to various areas of the professional career—something respondents felt was missing. Representatives of the older generations, who hold valuable knowledge as well as experience and worldly wisdom, should act as mentors for younger coworkers. And vice versa, younger generations might assist their older colleagues in filling their competence gap in new technologies.