Hi Tammy,

As an Xer I felt compelled to send you some answers from my perspective.

BTW: Weren't we originally called "slacker" generation? I always hated that label and to this day I think this generation works very hard. Anyway onto your questions:

1. Yes, there was not an overabundance of jobs available when I graduated college. Because of that I learned to appreciate jobs that I got, and to "put in my time" getting in early, staying late, doing what needed to be done to become a valued employee and move up.

2. During my teen years I did see my friends' parents get laid off from big companies. Also as the daughter of 2 public school teachers I witnessed pink sheets given out each spring and then saw them get "rehired" every fall. Both of these events kept my nervous about my standing in a company. I also was involved in a layoff at one of my former employees, which made me very sensitive to how important informal networking really is. I saw good employees laid off because the "right" people didn't know what they did. I also heard that some people I never directly worked with, stood up for me. I guess stopping by the Sr. Exec. offices to chit chat about kids, the Red Sox, etc. was well worth it!  Even if I love my job/position I always have a current resume handy and a plan B. To this day I am overly paranoid about "what happens if..."

3. I've tried very hard to keep my career path broad and to avoid the narrowing, despite many attempts for companies to have me "specialize". Keeping my options open and marketable is very important and I never wanted to feel pigeon-holed into a speciality that could go away tomorrow. When I worked in enterprise software research I saw entire markets disappear and with them the analysts that covered them.

4. Not sure if I'm stepping into Senior Leadership anytime soon, but it is a future aspiration. However, learning from the Gen Y's I look just as much at flexibility, work/life balance as I do at possible opportunities and career advancement.

5. Though I don't manage any GenY's directly I do get nervous about the possibility that  "putting in my time" doesn't hold as much weight as it once did with GenY's moving the bar.

6. Personally I don't feel left out but am in a unique position so will leave this for others to address.

7.See my "moving the bar" comment, I think it speaks to the frustration of having to be a good company soldier for quite a while and then seeing the next generation come in and completely blow things up.

8. YES Definitely embarrassing to ask for tech. help! It is assumed that we know it, so I try to work hard at picking up new things as soon as they're introduced. No doubt, someone will ask me how to do it soon.

9. Though I don't manage Y's,  it does seem absolutely absurd that a parent would ever get involved in a child's professional life. Are you serious? Grow up already!!

10. I am feeling pressure to be more available for my family, but also feel the need to do what I need to do to grow my career. It's always going to be a juggling act. I am blessed in my current situation, but feel the pressures regardless. Learning to completely logoff and disengage from work is a struggle, something I would LOVE To learn from the GenYs!

Though I have many Gen X friends that have jumped off the corp. train, I have faith that most Xers will stick it out...we had to in order to get where we are now.