In addition, rookie workers might not feel comfortable interacting with baby boomers who aren't teachers or blood relatives, says Donald P. Rogers, a professor of business administration and director of the masters in human resources program at Rollins College in Winter Park. These are very often the folks you are going to wind up going to lunch with. Learning when to gab and when to shut up also can be a challenge for people fresh out of college, Rogers says. They often move into a business environment or a government environment that values confidentiality. All of a sudden the unique, funny stories they have aren't appreciated.
Independence is another area for potential problems.
That's exactly how Michele Plant felt when she began working at an Orlando advertising agency after graduating from the University of Central Florida. Then they would hover over me and keep an eye on me. Like many goal-oriented young workers, Plant wanted to impress her supervisors from the outset. But experts advise eager employees not to alienate their older co-workers by immediately suggesting new ways of doing business. As far as real life practical experience, it doesn't always work the way it says in the book.