Ten years ago, I visited a college campus in Denver, stood in a high traffic area, and held up a sign saying,
DO YOU DESERVE A JOB AFTER YOU GRADUATE?
WHAT SALARY ARE YOU ENTITLED TO?
At that time, employee entitlement was the biggest challenge among the business owners, leaders, and managers with whom I was working.
I remember feeling astounded by the responses the students gave, especially when it came to starting salaries in 2013.
I then interviewed 186 employers representing businesses and organizations of every size, in dozens of industries, asking what THEY felt they were ‘entitled to’ from the young emerging workforce. Those responses were also surprising because very few of them mentioned technical skills, but every single one of them gave specific examples of what are commonly referred to as ‘soft skills’.
I was able to categorize the employers’ replies into seven core non-negotiables, and I assembled those into a compelling video that each graduate should know. (Actually, I believe very strongly that this creed is something every employee in every position in every organization – regardless of their age, job title, or position – should know for their own benefit.)
Do you feel The Entitlement Creed still relevant in today’s job market?
Do employers still have the right to demand these attitudes and behaviors from their employees?
