-          While working as a part time marketing assistant my senior year of college I was asked to sit at the front desk and answer the phones.  As a marketing assistant this is expected and I didn’t mind at all. While sitting there an employee who I hadn’t had a chance to interact with in the past (the company had well over 500 people in it), came up to the desk to give what they must of thought was a friendly greeting.  “Are you here with your mom today?” the co-worker asked. I was mortified. Here I am 22 years old, trying to make a good professional impression and this person thinks I’m a high schooler at best! My indignation shined through when I responded with a curt “No, I work here.” The co-worked just laughed and said, “Oh sorry, you look so young. You’ll appreciate that when you are older.”

-          At a new position, several years out of college and trying to be as confident as possible a much older co-worker continually asked me to do his administrative work. He would ask me to make copies, or ask about my boss’s schedule and if she was available for meetings. Finally, in the nicest way possible I informed him I was not an assistant, nor was I an intern. Once he realized I had an actually position in the company and I was his peer he never did it again. But he must have looked at me and thought I was a kid. Either that or he was trying to be a bully.

-          The countless times I’ve told people that I am married and was met by a shocked look.

-          Oh and then there is the time I was meeting with a potential vendor along with the rest of my department. Towards the end of the meeting the room broke out into casual conversation.  One of the sales reps then asked me “what do you want to do when you get out of college?”

Again, I don’t believe it is my behavior that invites these remarks. I dress professionally, often times nicer than my co-workers, and I behave as a professional. My next post will give some tips and techniques for being taken more seriously when you are a young professional and look young to boot.

I’d love to hear your tales of people treating you like an intern or not taking you seriously because of your age. So please post comments with your stories.

Related Posts:

• July 2, 2009 -- Creating Work (3)
• August 6, 2010 -- Go back to watching “The Hills” (1)