Career Lessons From Dad Through the Generations

Your dad has most likely been the source of some of your most memorable conversations. Many of those lessons can apply to your professional life as well. Let’s look at three generations of fathers and the career lessons they might have to help you succeed at your job.

Baby Boomer Dad (1946-1964): If you’re a dad or have a dad who was born during this time, you’ve probably heard detailed accounts of historical, social, and political events like the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the first man to walk on the moon. This type of father finds fulfillment in working as part of a team and developing positive relationships with his coworkers. This father may also encourage you to embrace new work routines that are different from the ones you’re used to and speak with your manager about career advancement opportunities.

Here are some of the characteristics of a Baby Boomer Dad:

• Strong work ethic
• Competitive
• Goal-focused
• Resourceful
• Team-oriented
• Disciplined

Gen X Dad (1965-1978): If you’re a dad or have a dad who was born in this era, some defining moments include the Berlin Wall, the Watergate scandal, and the 24-hour news cycle (CNN) launched as they were growing up. You can expect these types of dads to be top-performers and to look for promotion opportunities. They may also be more apt to look for mentors to learn from and help advance in their careers. They may even encourage you to pick up some skills and start your own business.

Here are some of the characteristics of a Gen X Dad:

• Independent
• Problem solver
• Adaptable
• Thinks globally
• Prefers work/life balance
• Informal

Millennial Dad (1979-1995): If you’re a dad or have a dad who was born in this tech-driven era, multi-tasking is a big deal. Because they grew up as overscheduled, smartphone-addicted, drive-thru-eating kids, they’ve learned to be incredibly efficient at what they do because they have a limited amount of time to do it. It is often more important for millennial dads to work for a cause or a company they care about and believe in, rather than to work for a company where they earn a big salary. As a result, a company that communicates its vision and objectives becomes critical during the job search process. This dad may also urge you to not fear moving freely from one company to the next for a better opportunity.

Here are some of the characteristics of a Millennial Dad:

• Social
• Tolerant
• Efficient
• Flexible
• Balance
• Work for a cause

Fathers have an important part in their children’s lives. As you advance in your career, remember to thank your dad or father figure for the valuable wisdom and advice you’ve received along the way.

What career lessons have you learned from your dad or father figure? Let us know in the comments section below!