Millennials: „Sie haben ihre Boomer-Chefs erlebt und sich gesagt: Ich mache es anders“

Millennials are experiencing a career crisis, feeling that their Boomer bosses promised them security, career advancement, and prosperity, but failed to deliver. They are burdened by high living costs and a struggling job market. According to the Kiel Institute for World Economy, Millennials are saving 14 years for homeownership, compared to the seven years Baby Boomers required.

A survey by Deloitte found that nearly half of Millennials felt financially insecure in 2025. Instead of following the traditional career path, many Millennials are seeking alternative ways to navigate their careers, such as frequent job changes, self-employment, part-time work, or even moving abroad. However, they are struggling to please their Boomer bosses, who demand perfection, constant availability, and the ability to manage the entire company while being liked by everyone.

This creates a challenging environment for Millennials to be well-liked in their leadership roles. The Millennials' career crisis is a reaction to the current context, which includes the financial crisis, pandemic, war in Europe, high inflation, and the ever-present digital transformation. Millennials have been exposed to volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity since the beginning of their careers.

They need to find new solutions to address these new system problems. The research on the Millennial Career Crisis shows that Millennials are very perfectionistic, making them more susceptible to dissatisfaction. A large study of nearly 30,000 students found that the feeling of being expected to meet high performance standards increased by one-third during their university years.

The alternative approach suggested is to redefine success by focusing on a portfolio of competencies, networks, health, and time, rather than just job titles and salary increases.