A few years ago I hired a Gen Y summer intern. I remember her being impressive during her interview. She did a decent job over the summer; not stellar, but decent. And I think she gained some good corporate-life and specific HR experience from it. But the one thing that’s funny now, (not so funny then) that annoyed me after a few weeks was that she apologized for EVERYTHING.
She would say “sorry” for stuff that she didn’t have anything whatsoever to do with. If I spilled a little bit of soda (we say pop in Indiana) on my desk she would apologize. If she had a question, she would apologize and then ask her question. If she needed to leave a bit early she would whine and say sorry like a hundred times before leaving.
The kicker though was when I did her performance appraisal at the end of the summer. I mentioned that I thought she should stop apologizing all the time. I told her that it would hurt her career someday and that she would get off to a much better start if she cut that word completely out of her vocabulary. And instinctively she said, “Oh, I’m sorry.” It was a LMAO moment.
The lesson I was trying to convey to her was that in the world of work there is very little for which you should apologize. It makes you look weak, less confident, and less competent in the eyes of stronger, more seasoned colleagues. You know—those crusty veterans. The one’s who’ve been beat down by the corporate hammer so much themselves that one of the few pleasures in their daily grind is to eat apologetic prey like my cute little intern for lunch.
Yes, I realize that as an intern or a new employee you are just trying so hard, tripping all over yourself to do everything right and make that good impression. I get that! I was there. But somewhere along the way you stop fretting and you get on with it, and you stop caring so much. You realize “the company” is just a bigger dysfunctional family. Many in Generation X grew up with dysfunction, and we’re still living it today at work.
And so this brings up a question… Did Gen X adapt better and/or faster to the first job or internship than Gen Y is adapting today?
Once in a while we all royally screw something up. But can we still take responsibility when we’re at fault, or when we are responsible for someone or something that is the cause? I believe so. And I believe we can do it sincerely with confidence and composure, and without the “S word”.
But enough of what I think, I want know what you think!

