It used to be that children wanted to grow up to be just like mum or dad, and their parents were happy to encourage their dreams. But according to a new survey from recruitment and talent management consultancy Hudson, those days are long gone. One in four (28%) UK HR professionals are so dissatisfied with their current role that they would not want to see their children in their job.
Hudson's findings represent a stark warning to employers that, even in a tough economic climate, engaging work and opportunities for progression remain critical if businesses are to avoid the kind of "desk-despondency" that could lead to talented employees leaving.
A third (32%) of those surveyed cited better opportunities in other professions as the main reason for their reluctance and one in four believed their children could earn higher financial rewards elsewhere or enjoy a better work/life balance (28% and 23% respectively).
Andy Rogerson, chief executive, Hudson UK, says: "These findings are very disturbing, especially with the current economic conditions. That so many UK professionals would not want to see their children follow in their footsteps points to a workforce that is both unhappy and lacking confidence. Employers should take note of these findings and seek to tackle the sources of such gloom".
But does the fault like solely with the employers? What are parents telling their children about the world of work, and are we heading for a generation of workers with unrealistic expectations?
Comments (2)
Posted by Shirley Powell | July 10, 2008 11:57 AM
I have two teenage children, both of whom intend to follow me into HR. They are both fascinated with my work – they see how interesting and rewarding it is to train and develop people, to promote someone into the next step in their career, and to calculate pay and conditions.
No 40-year career is going to be interesting all the time, but young people entering the workforce should be encouraged to try a role in HR. We are all now working much longer and this profession is still the best.
Posted on July 10, 2008 11:57
Posted by Steve Huxham | July 11, 2008 4:02 PM
I wonder – are we talking about childhood dreams here, or the perennial “identity crisis” (or should that be “inferiority complex”) that more of us HR professionals seem to suffer from than our counterparts in other professions?
Surely, childhood dreams are simply that, aren’t they? Although a picture does, as I write, spring to mind of Mr & Mrs Gates saying to the infant William: “No dear, you won’t really create a computer operating platform and achieve world domination”...
More seriously, do the “one in four” need to look seriously at themselves and their careers first? If they do so and then feel they don’t make a difference, add value to their businesses, attain great ROI, make a positive difference to others’ careers and hence lives and (shock horror) maybe even don’t like dealing with people – then perhaps the answer is to change career and maybe profession first? Then let’s worry about the influences on what their children do in later life.
In the meanwhile, daydreaming, at all ages, is healthy and creative in moderation and in its place – I reckon I still could just about see myself scoring a hat trick to win the FA Cup Final for QPR...but I guess at 48 the call is less likely to come now...
Posted on July 11, 2008 16:02