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- 8:30 AM
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Take it Slow: Most of the people I work with anticipated everything to get better immediately. It takes time. A brand new company means a brand new group of people and new processes. Getting the hang of those changes is going to take some time so don't expect for everything to go right in the first week or even month of a transition.
Avoid "Warrior Mode": Like I mentioned early, a new company means new people to work with. With not against. These people have been doing things their way for years. Every company has their own way of working so reaffiliating with new management changes the way everybody is going to get things done. Avoid resorting to warrior mode and try to compromise.
Keep Your Attitude in Check: When you're caught in the middle of a huge change, it's very easy to get upset. Trust me. Not being able to see what's on the horizon or even the light at the end of the tunnel is infuriating, especially for control freaks like me. However, that doesn't mean you can take it out on the rest of your coworkers. Now is not the time for smart-mouthing or sarcastic comments. Maintaining a positive attitude shows that you can work well in uncomfortable situations and your employer will appreciate you keeping everyone looking on the bright side!
You're Not In This Alone: EVERYONE is going through the same thing you are. Be open and honest with your boss about your questions or concerns. I spent at least three weeks scared to ask my supervisor about the transition. I knew I wouldn't lose my job but what else was in store? Would my job duties be the same? Who else am I working with? After weeks of stressing, I opened up to her about my frustrations. Surprisingly, she was just as curious. Even though she couldn't answer a majority of my questions, she reassured me that anything she learned about our positions would be shared with me. It was reassuring to know that someone had the some concerns as I did.
How do you adjust in times of transition? What tips do you have for people going through the same thing?
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A 2014 study showed that black women are the most educated group in the United States, outranking every other race and gender in college enrollment. If you are a woman of color, you already know that you've had two strikes against you since birth. We still have many (many many) steps to take before we are even close to an equal playing ground with our white, male counterparts, but this is a step in the right direction, right? There shouldn't be anymore obstacles to overcome after we pass race and gender, right? Hate to break it to you, but there's someone new on the pitcher's mound so be prepared for strike three.
The term ageism was coined in 1969 to define the stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. In that time, the term referred specifically to older individuals who had spent decades in the workforce. Now, millennial's and generation Y can look forward to another closely tied concept called reverse ageism. Yup, that's right. Along with overcoming obstacles based on race or ethnicity and gender, let's go ahead and add age into that as well. For my non-WOC readers, don't feel left out - this will definitely affect you as well.
According to an article from the Wall Street Journal, many employers are adopting a "last in, first out" policy to prevent age-discrimination lawsuits. Increasingly so over the last few years, the majority of those being laid off are younger employees. "While no age group is exempt from layoffs, younger workers seem to be shouldering a larger percentage of the burden, according to recent Labor Department figures," WSJ notes.
Not only is this in regards to layoffs, reverse ageism happens even in the workplace. In the measly six months that I've been employed full time, I would have to say that someone brings up my age at least four or five times a week. Whether asking if I've seen a movie that came out at any point in the 90s or referencing my "millennial-like" lingo, I am always aware that I am new to the grown up table. Try as I might to adapt to my coworkers way of thinking, I've realized that I just don't fit in. Never mind the fact that I am one of two African American's that I see on a daily basis.
My boss, who is dreading her upcoming thirty-first birthday, is the one who I feel youngest around. In an office surrounded by physicians who've spent nearly two decades at the practice, the person who makes me feel most self conscious about myself is a staggering nine years older than me. Every time she says something, I think to myself "why does it matter if I know who Jem & the Holograms are? Isn't it more important that I know how to update a website or write a press release?" Not really. She may joke about it (often) and laugh it off, but what it really comes down to is relatability. Can I identify with you? Can I relate to you? I'm not expecting getting the boot anytime soon but understanding how reverse ageism could affect me not only as a millennial but as a female, African American millennial definitely has me on my P's & Q's.
Have any of you experienced reverse ageism in the workplace? What are your thoughts on the concept as a millennial just entering the workforce? I'd love to hear what your thoughts!
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My current boss turned 30 less than a week after I turned 21. Aside from the fact that she's my boss, I don't see her as being much older than myself. She binge watches Pretty Little Liars, shares my love of wine and spends half of the summer lounging by the pool. I probably wouldn't even notice that I was so young if she didn't mention something about her age every other day. Oh and my work environment doesn't help too much either. I’m surrounded by people who've been at the company for at least five years, are married with children and own their homes. It's hard not to be known as the kid in the office. In the last five months, I've learned a LOT about being an adult and about being recognized as one as well. Here are my tips on how to be recognized as an adult when you're clearly not old enough to have a mortgage:
- For Goodness Sake, Sit up Straight: body language is one of the most important giveaways. Young people have a tendency to slouch, which gives a "submission" effect. When I'm sitting across from my boss and she's asking me to work on something, I subconsciously slouch. Hunched shoulders and big puppy dog eyes make you look like a kid. I'm not saying posture is the end all, be all, but give it a try and tell me it doesn't make you feel more sophisticated.
- Language Is Just as Important as Body Language: Unless the sentence is a simile, try your hardest to refrain from overusing the word "like." It's really hard, I know. But one thing that my boss encouraged me to work on during my 3-month evaluation is stepping up my professionalism in the speaking department. Hearing the words "like" or "cute" over and over again is not only really annoying, it makes you sound like Alicia Silverstone from Clueless. You are not Cher. Stop it. Oh and believe me, I'm being just as mean to everyone as I am to myself. (After my boss pointed out that I say "BRB" and "probs" on a daily basis, I had to make some lifestyle changes.)
- Dress for the Job You Want: I love dressing up. Heels, jewelry, dresses - the whole nine yards. I'm not a fashionista like Zaria from A Dose of Fab, but I do what I can. Working in a semi-medical environment, most of my coworkers wear scrubs and sneakers. However, most of the other administrative people wear similar clothes to what I wear. Recently, I got my own cubicle space located near the physician offices. Which means that now, I am surrounded by people in comfy shoes and stretchy pants. Do I feel out of place walking in 4-inch heels and business casual dresses? Extremely. But guess what? You dress for where you want to be, not for where you are. Sure, I could get away with throwing on oxfords and dressy-ish pants, but I'd rather be recognized for my professional and dressy attire.
- Understand the Company Culture: At this company, we always have meetings. We have meetings to prep for meetings and sub-committee meetings to plan the agenda for the prep meetings. Personally, I hate meetings. However, I understand that if I need to talk to someone important, chances are they will be at the meeting. There's a 50% chance I'll catch them at their office but there's a 100% chance they'll be at the meeting. If said person only responds to emails, don't leave them a sticky note on their desk or a voicemail. Understanding how to communicate with the individuals in your workplace show that you have a greater understanding of the organization and, yes, are an adult with sound communication skills. It might not seem like a huge deal but when you're trying to coordinate company-wide events, those things are important.
- Be an adult! Gone are the days of partying every single night. (Every other night should suffice by now, guys.) Coming to work with a hangover is not only unattractive, it shows everyone you work with that you're just another college kid, even if you graduated a whole 6 months ago. You don't have to watch CNN every day to stay up to date on current happenings! theSkimm is an excellent resource for getting the news. Be open-minded: if you're in a workplace where everyone is at least nine or ten years older than you, there is a huge age gap. Open your mind to understanding their viewpoints. While you might not agree wholeheartedly, you've just showed your coworkers that you can have an intelligent conversation without pouting and having a temper tantrum. That, my friends, is adult-like behavior and kudos to you.
Are you the youngest at your job? How do you get your coworkers to see past your age?
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I am far from a career expert. In fact, I just started my career like five months ago. Technically, I'm a career beginner. But since this is my little piece of the universe (or Internet, whatever you call it), I've decided that this will be the place where I share my career experiences, frustrations, excitements and everything else you associate with your first job. If you haven't started the first job of your career, take heed to these tips Since this is my first series, I'm super excited and even more nervous so help me out and share a little.
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