I know, I know. As Millennials, we’re sick and tired of hearing about what a terrible generation we are. However, we do lack quite a few seemingly “basic” skills (even if it’s not our fault). Here are 7 seemingly simple skills that few Millennials possess today.
1. Finance Management
Sure, we can blame the job market and our inability to balance a checkbook. Those aren’t the only problem at play here, though.
For starters, we take “keeping up with the Joneses” to the next level. This means that over 50% of us use credit cards on a regular basis so that we can have the same clothing, cars, and technology as our friends and family. Also, studies show that we typically live paycheck to paycheck, oftentimes spending our entire paycheck within days of receiving it.
Finally, we’re carrying around $20,000+ in student loan debt while working minimum wage jobs that have nothing to do with that “important” college degree. Essentially, we don’t know how to manage money because we don’t have any.
2. Sewing
As Millennials, we’re nothing if not contradictory. We spam social media with outcries about reducing waste and our carbon footprint, then we toss out a pair of pants just because the button broke.
The truth is, we’re not trying to be hypocritical, we literally just do not know how to sew!
3. Eye Contact
I interviewed for a job about 6 months ago and left feeling very confident. However, they provided one bit of feedback I hadn’t even considered: a lack of eye contact.
When you really think about it, though, it makes total sense. Between smartphones, computers, and tablets, Millennials spend an average of 7 hours per day in front of a screen. When we’re answering emails, scrolling through social media, and watching the latest YouTube videos, we don’t think about looking into someone’s eyes for a change. What’s more, conversations these days became limited to texting so it’s not surprising we don’t make eye contact.
4. Cooking
Everyone loves to compare Millennial statistics, especially when it comes to food and beverages. We make headlines as being indulgent and frivolous, but has anyone sat down to consider why we’re not cooking?
The truth is, only about half of us feel confident in the kitchen because most of us never learned. Also, thanks to our busy schedules, we can only allot around 15 minutes per day for meal prep. Therefore, we’re busy, we’re tired, and we’re not exactly sure what the difference is between chopped and diced. So, is the kitchen dead to us?
Not entirely. While we do love the convenience of affordable meal delivery and 30-minute or less meals, we are also obsessed with Pinteresting recipes to save for a rainy day. Out of all the skills on this list, most of us actually want to cook like Betty Crocker, we just lack the skills and time.
5. Self-Confidence
We might be the selfie generation, but that doesn’t mean we actually like the shots we’re snapping. In fact, a recent college campus study found that emotional well-being is the lowest it’s ever been. But why aren’t we confident in ourselves?
For starters, we feel lonely and unable to self-validate. We wait around for someone to “heart” our most recent post or comment on that selfie with Starbucks coffee in hand. What’s more, over 90% of us say we feel like our work directly impacts our self-esteem. And when most of us are barely making it in the job market, there will definitely be a lack in confidence.
6. Home Repair
According to a recent poll by alarm.com, Millennial men don’t do home repair. Period. But why?
Well, life is obviously much more convenient now than it was when our parents first moved out on their own. Thanks to the internet, we can quickly hire someone to fix a leaky sink or paint the walls. Also, shelling out money on items like cordless drills or hammers seems entirely pointless. Finally, our generation just values different skills. While our dads found it important to work with their hands, we value things like home networking and smartphone repair even more.
7. Conflict Resolution
Remember how we just established that Millennials lack self-confidence? Well, we also lack the ability to work out our beef with others. Why? Because it’s uncomfortable and we don’t like it.
Since we’re so hard up for jobs, our generation tends to bend over backwards to please people at work, which means we also avoid conflict like the plague. However, we shouldn’t shy away from conflict entirely.
Admit it: You know that, just like me, you struggle with most of these skills. Which skills do you think we should learn? What other skills do most Millennials lack? Share with us in the comments!
Previously Published on Thought Catalog
Photo by JodyHongFilms on Unsplash
