Renito, 24
From Sabah; works in Kuala Lumpur
Education consultant
As a consultant for the education and training division, Renito advises a whole cross section of jobseekers looking to upskill, from SPM leavers to those nearing retirement age.
“There is some truth to the stereotype of millennials being pampered, and sometimes their skills don’t match their beliefs about themselves or their career targets,” Renito says
However, Renito can see the reasons behind these differences; previous generations had to deal with a very different set of challenges compared to those closer to his own age.
“Millennials are constantly bombarded by information, and others’ lifestyles on social media especially, which they compare themselves to.”
This puts a lot of pressure on the new generation to measure up and gives an unrealistic impression of what is desirable or even possible.
“My grandmother has her simple life in Sabah, with her orchard and basic home. This is all she needs because she does not have endless choices thrown at her all the time. And, for my parents they had to sink or swim to achieve success, whereas my generation is exposed to so many possibilities all the time.
Easy access to information also makes millennials far less inclined to simply accept professional hierarchies and do things simply because it was always done that way. They are also more socially aware: millennials as a group tend to be highly educated, creative and eclectic in their interests and knowledge, and more socially conscious in their ambitions.
They also recognize the current economic conditions, with a rising cost of living and good jobs that are harder to come by for new graduates.
“A client of mine asked, “Why should I work nine to five for others in this economy with this prospects?” So I helped him choose a digital marketing course which gave him some of the skills he needed to launch his own online store.”
Despite the pressures of a fast-moving internet culture, Renito finds that millennials often have quite modest ideas of success compared to his older clients.
“Older people are often aiming for large houses and fancy cars, but most millennials I speak to would just like to be able to own a modest apartment of their own,” he says.
“My own aim is definitely to return to my hometown in Tuaran and contribute towards the development of my community. Now I am learning all I can through my job and living in KL. But for me, life is not just about taking, and one day I want to give back to Sabah.”
Photo Credit: FlySpaces
