Generation Y | Powersports Switchback

Contributing Author:
Amber Hash
Recruiting Manager
EFG Companies

Disloyal, arrogant, selfish, overindulgent, high-maintenance, frivolous, image-driven, impatient, over-confident and spoiled – Generation Y has heard it all. And, now the generation that everyone thought would never grow up is starting to make up the bulk of the workforce. But, will they be successful in the powersports industry? Are they worth hiring?

Honestly, powersports dealerships can’t afford NOT to hire this challenging generation. The consumer purchase model is rapidly changing – driven in large part by the digital proclivity of Generation Y. Who better to engage with these new customers than people who speak their language – online and via text?

Raised in the era of digital technology, members of Generation Y can quickly prove their worth in the dealership workplace. But, some adjustments must be made to reach an equitable compromise with this generation. Here are some recommendations for dealerships seeking to successfully employ Generation Y.

They work to live

The members of Generation Y are committed to achieving work–life balance. While their career is highly important to them, they believe that working hard does not equate to working long hours. This can be a hard pill to swallow for dealership managers who live by the “sun-up to sun-down” model.

Contributing Author:
Glenice Wilder
Vice President
EFG Companies

For the first time in U.S. history, today’s American workforce includes four generations of employees – Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen X’ers, and Millennials – each with preferred styles of communication. Each generation brings unique strengths, qualities and even requirements to the powersports dealership. The downside – managing the different expectations of each generation is a challenge.

According to a recent Ernst & Young survey, 75 percent of managers reported that managing multi-generational teams is a challenge, and 77 percent said that different work expectations among generations is a leading challenge they face. Let’s look at what motivates each generation.