When it comes to career management, new research shows that Baby Boomers are using social networks, while Generation X workers favor job security and are frustrated in their job searches. Members of Generation Y are optimistic about finding a job, value workplace flexibility, and intend to go back to school instead of continuing their quests.

The Multi-Generational Job Search is a recent study conducted by Millennial Branding and Beyond.com that surveyed 5,268 Boomer, Gen X, and Gen Y job seekers. According to the responses, all generations favor job boards as their top resource. A company's website is the second most popular resource, and classified ads the third. More Boomers use social networks than Gen X and Gen Y, and they turn to LinkedIn first, while the other generations prefer Google and Google+.

The qualities that each generation values most in a potential employer also are different. For Gen Y, location is most important, followed by meaningful work and job security. For Gen X, job security is most important, and then employee benefits such as healthcare and location. As for Boomers, meaningful work tops the list, followed by location, employee benefits, and job security.