Forward Podcast 36 :: Penelope Trunk on Twentysomethings in the Workforce
The 36th Forward Podcast is an interview with Penelope Trunk, author of The Brazen Careerist, Yahoo Finance columnist and popular blogger.
Penelope’s funny and insightful take on the evolving world of work has made her a sought after resource and in this interview we’ve taken the opportunity to make the most of her advice for twentysomethings in the workforce - the precise audience of the Forward Podcast.
Penelope covers a wide range of issues that the new generation of workers will be dealing with on a daily basis. Her no BS approach, sense of humour and hands on experience in the area seperates Penelope’s thoughts from the norm. It’s widely different advice to what you’re likely to hear from your parents, boss or university lecturer - but that’s precisely why it should be helpful.
As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome - we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Show Notes
00:14: Your standard ludicrous Forward intro
04:17: The interview with Penelope begins
Topics Discussed on the Podcast
- Opportunities in today’s workforce for young people and the myth of a job leading to happiness – “happiness comes from relationships, not jobs”
- Things young people might be doing wrong, including an over reliance on parents and taking the wrong expectations into the workforce
- Penelope discusses what she has learnt from starting a business alongside a pair of twenty year olds
- Penelope says that young people shouldn’t cater to a boss who doesn’t understand their different perspective and desires
- Young people struggling to adapt to a workforce that is not structured for their skill sets, goals or experience – “People spend their 20’s worrying that any misstep will mean they’ll miss out on the perfect life with a great job, great personal life and fulfilling relationships – the reality is this life doesn’t exist”
- The difficulties in the changes to social/personal life when you enter the workforce – “it leads to conflict when you are from the most socialized generation in history and you enter a workplace which doesn’t have a social life”
- The strengths young people have in working in teams, but the difficulties young people have when they must work as individuals in the workplace – “trying to translate your skill set to work can make young people feel really lonely”
- Penelope outlines the thinking behind her new company and her goal to allow young people’s voices to spread further and increase their authority – in short change the voice of Generation Y online
- Penelope discounts the concept that experience is the most important factor defining authority “
- The conservative nature of Generation Y, and why this is not a negative
Forward Podcast 36 - Penelope Trunk on Twentysomethings in the Workforce [41:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1764)
Great insights from Penelope Trunk. It never occured to me how much I take the way I was brought up for granted! Please Just F@#k Off, By Ryan Heath is also a brilliant read, much recommended.
Comment by Aly — December 2, 2007 @ 6:09 am
Glad you liked it Aly - I had the same feeling during the interview, made me reflect on how much I really fit the norm - as much as I try to avoid it.
I’m definitely going to get Ryan Heath’s book sent over.
Comment by Paull Young — December 2, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
Let me know when you’ve read it, there are some bits in there I’d like to get your perspective on…
Comment by Aly — December 3, 2007 @ 6:52 am
Paull, another great podcast. Very eye opening for me to reflect on my life/career and all that comes with it. Kinda scary, but in a good way. At the same time, refreshing to know that the stress of perfection and being everything to everyone as a twentysomething is more common than I thought.
A revelation for me was Penelope’s point of working in an unsocial environment (my current job) is soul crushing. It absolutely is, which is why I think I turn to online media so much because it allows me an outlet to be social during hours of which (at work) I have no social life (I work in an office of 4, and the personalities are difficult to say the least).
Sorry for the essay, but this podcast really hit home.
Comment by Jackie — December 3, 2007 @ 10:03 am
[…] For this edition Paull interviewed Penelope Trunk, author of Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success and a career columnist at Boston Globe and Yahoo Finance. The interview was an incredibly inspirational listen, and provided a great deal of encouragement to us 20-somethings trying to make a living and change the world while we’re at it. […]
Pingback by Important Words for the Young Workforce from Brazen Careerist’s Penelope Trunk « Flackette — December 3, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
Hey Paul:
Great interview. I love Penelope. Her blog has really been a source of inspiration and should be required reading for anyone entering the workplace. I would love to see her and Anastasia Goodstein on a panel.
Comment by Chris Lynn — December 3, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
Great to see this resonate guys.
Jackie - I’m surprised it hit so close to home, but glad Penelope’s thoughts provided you some solace!
Marie - great review @ your post
Chris - I haven’t read Goodstein, I’ll check her out - thanks for the pointer mate.
Comment by Paull Young — December 3, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
Thanks for sharing this!
Comment by Tiffany Monhollon — December 5, 2007 @ 12:24 pm