Identity and Social Skills

This chapter presents aspects of the identity and social skills that many members of the Post-Millennial cohort are likely to possess as they enter the full-time workforce. While our assessments are speculative and we recognize individual differences, we have identified certain areas of continuity and, more critically, key differences between many of the Millennials currently in the workforce and the digital Post-Millennials who will follow them. The chapter draws on the concept of social construction to argue that the digital environment will serve as a powerful mediator of how today’s youth will come to understand their world and how they will develop generally shared views, definitions, ideas and meanings. In this context, analyses consider the potential impacts of: parenting; social media; diversity and attitudes towards migration and multiculturalism; collaboration and teamwork; global citizenship and civic engagement as well as the dark side of social media: trolls, cyberbullying and sextortion. We foresee the Post-Millennials having the potential to enter the workforce better equipped to make sense of, and succeed in, their careers than their Millennial elders. This extends to how they will fit into organizations with the conclusion that employers will need to consider the consequences of the current approach of ensuring new hires adapt to the organizational culture.