At my job I get about half a dozen interns a year. The kids I'm getting in the past 2-3 years actually know how to use Excel and surprisngly, make great phone calls. They come in mostly on time, maybe a few minutes late but they're 19 so... and they're happy to get paid. I have no problem with them and the constant phone checking, they put their phones aside and work and only check once an hoour or so. Happy to get on with it and also happy to check in if they don't get something.

8-12 years ago, I'd be lucky if 3 of 5 or 6 showed up on a given day, they didn't know Excel and had to be taught, and loathed the phone and had no phone skills whatsoever. Only wanted to use Email and texting. I almost always had one or two good ones, but the other 5 or 6 were mediocre to lousy. They didn't seem to care much about getting paid, just to ticket-punch on a future resume. Could not separate from their phone and carried them to the bathroom and even the coffee machine lest they be separated for 30 whole seconds. Always in need of feedback and a pat on the back.

One kid who missed about 60-70% of the work hours actually came to me and asked me for a written referral, he was off to LA to apply for a big PR job. He thought he was the shit. I got out of it by saying we don't do recommendations (true, we just verify the internship for legal reasons).

The single biggest difference I notice is the attitude towards money. The kids from a decade ago didn't care too much about it. The ones I get today like to earn money.

FYI I'm in my 40s.

At my job I get about half a dozen interns a year. The kids I'm getting in the past 2-3 years actually know how to use Excel and surprisngly, make great phone calls. They come in mostly on time, maybe a few minutes late but they're 19 so... and they're happy to get paid. I have no problem with them and the constant phone checking. Happy to get on with it and also happy to check in if they don't get something.

8-12 years ago, I'd be lucky if 3 of 5 or 6 showed up on a given day, they didn't know Excel and had to be taught, and loathed the phone and had no phone skills whatsoever. Only wanted to use Email and texting. I almost always had one or two good ones, but the other 5 or 6 were mediocre to lousy. They didn't seem to care much about getting paid, just to ticket-punch on a future resume. Could not separate from their phone and carried them to the bathroom and even the coffee machine lest they be separated for 30 whole seconds. Always in need of feedback and a pat on the back.

One kid who missed about 60-70% of the work hours actually came to me and asked me for a written referral, he was off to LA to apply for a big PR job. He thought he was the shit. I got out of it by saying we don't do recommendations (true, we just verify the internship for legal reasons).

The single biggest difference I notice is the attitude towards money. The kids from a decade ago didn't care too much about it. The ones I get today like to earn money.

FYI I'm in my 40s.

At my job I get about half a dozen interns a year. The kids I'm getting in the past 2-3 years actually know how to use Excel and surprisngly, make great phone calls. They come in mostly on time, maybe a few minutes late but they're 19 so... and they're happy to make get paid. I have no problem with them and the constant phone checking. Happy to get on with it and also happy to check in if they don't get something.

8-12 years ago, I'd be lucky if 3 of 5 or 6 showed up on a given day, they didn't know Excel and had to be taught, and loathed the phone and had no phone skills whatsoever. Only wanted to use Email and texting. I almost always had one or two good ones, but the other 5 or 6 were mediocre to lousy. They didn't seem to care much about getting paid, just to ticket-punch on a future resume. Could not separate from their phone and carried them to the bathroom and even the coffee machine lest they be separated for 30 whole seconds. Always in need of feedback and a pat on the back.

One kid who missed about 60-70% of the work hours actually came to me and asked me for a written referral, he was off to LA to apply for a big PR job. He thought he was the shit. I got out of it by saying we don't do recommendations (true, we just verify the internship for legal reasons).

FYI I'm in my 40s.