But At Least They Know How to Set the Clock on the VCR

What do you mean there are no more VCRs? We still have a VCR!

This Is Millennials’ Most Embarrassing Secret

Today’s young adults are establishing their careers, but their lack of technological prowess is costing their employers big-time. Yes, you read that right. In spite of growing up having the Internet in the palms of their hands, these so-called “digital natives” have a yawning knowledge gap that’s not apparent until they get into the office.

“Most Gen Ys grew up accustomed to using social media and texting for communicating and collaborating and haven’t had to use email or spreadsheets extensively,” explains Chris Pope, senior director of strategy at technology services company ServiceNow.

And unfortunately for them, programs like Outlook and Excel are the technologies most companies in America still rely on to get stuff done. Being able to summon a car, book a table or send a birthday gift with the tap of a finger is great, but this kind of streamlined experience isn’t the norm in most workplaces, and young workers just can’t deal. “Many are only introduced to those tools when they enter the workforce and have to change their natural way of engaging to better match the way everyone else in the enterprise is working,” Pope says. “In many ways, Gen Y have to go backwards to use less efficient technology in the office than they use in their personal lives.”

I saw a little of this in my intern herding day. Fresh college students were social media savvy, but their knowledge of productivity software was uneven. They were often extremely proficient at making  PowerPoint presentations, full of animation and flash. However, actually working with volumes of data, creating formulas and keeping track of references in Excel was hit and miss. Most of them were fast learners, though.

And no, we don't really still have a VCR, but we do have an Amazon Fire Stick on our TV, and between that and Comcast cable we manage to get by.