The Work Clinic

We're always saying 'Generation Y wants this', and 'Generation Y wants that', but we can usually make little more than an educated guess.

But this week at Personnel Today, we have our very own Generation Y-er. Jack Stephenson is 15, and a student at Rutlish School in his home town of Merton, South London.

Work Clinic asked Jack what he wants from the world of work. Here are his thoughts:

My first priority at work would probably be happiness. If I was earning a lot of money and wasn't happy I would still never want to go into work. I would also like to do something that I have a passion for, and something I am good at. If I was going to get a job I would probably want all of those three things.
       
Through my reasonably short life I have wanted to do many different jobs. I have wanted to be: an archaeologist; an astronaut; a children's story writer; a footballer; a guitarist; a drummer; a dentist; a teacher and countless other things. At the moment I am thinking about being a designer. I would like to do this because I enjoy drawing and I'm quite good at making things. I also love seeing new inventions made to solve every day problems and I would like to be a part of that.

I would like to work for a company that is quite new and just starting up, so that I can influence and change it for the better. I would also like to work for a company that will allow me to travel around the world and see places that I have never seen before.

I would not like to do a job that involves too much of the same thing as I have quite a short attention span. I wouldn't like a job that means I have to travel for hours every day just to get to and from work, and I wouldn't like a job that I don't enjoy doing or where I don't enjoy being with the people there.

My mum and dad do two very different jobs - my dad works on cars and my mum works in an office as a PA. I wouldn't really mind doing either of their jobs but I don't think I would pick them by choice. I would much prefer to do a job that is more creative and where I don't have to follow strict guidelines. And I would like to be able to use my imagination.

I will also be able to give things back to my workplace. I will work hard and always try to do my best. I will always try to be productive and get all my work done. I will get on well with other people and try to make money for my or my boss's business.