2.27k
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.
Reporting to someone 20+ years younger than you
I am interviewing with a small company who reached out because they need someone with executive level experience but due to funds/structure, whatever else, they're calling it a director level role which is a topic for another thread :). My potential supervisor is considerably younger than me. Are any of you in this type of set up and have you been successful? I am not an ageist and think everyone at any age has a lot to offer, but I got the impression that my expertise may intimidate him a bit. Anyone?
Carmen HonackerFraud/Risk, Content Moderation, Trust & Safety
407
07/31/20 at 8:46PM UTC
I wouldn't worry about it. I have promoted people into management that were in their 20s and they did outstanding work.
I would only worry about "biases" if someone actually demonstrates that they have one.
Anonymous
07/31/20 at 7:58PM UTC
Eventually we all experience this situation. I know a little bit about it because I've worked in software development for 15 years (started in my late 30's) and have almost always been the oldest one in the room! It used to bother me until I woke up to the fact that my boss was just trying to get the work done by the team. I'm very experienced at my work as well, and I found that as long as I was a reliable contributor to the team's goals, my age wasn't the focus. The bottom line is you're there to do a job; and if you do that job well, you are appreciated for your contributions. Good luck!
Nancy Juvrud Mason
14
07/30/20 at 1:35PM UTC
Begin with an open mind but be aware of subtle hints - “we need you to be the ‘Mom’ of the team.” “I’ve noticed that everyone comes to you...”. “I’m sure your years of wisdom and experience will be valuable in some ways...”. I retired as quickly as I could.
RebekahGlobal Head of Ethics & Compliance, London
36
07/28/20 at 8:59PM UTC
I've also been in the younger manager role, and I've valued hugely the experience of team members who are older than me - in fact most of my direct reports are older than me. I've deliberately made choice to hire them (in combination with some other less expereinced ones), and they've stuck around which I view as positive. Think about whether you connected with the person at interview, whether you felt they were listening to you, would value your opinion and experince, whether your values were aligned and try not to get too focused on the fact they are younger. Good luck with your decision!
Laurel Fernald, CSM
16
07/28/20 at 1:21PM UTC
There has been great information so I am not going to repeat. Please consider the following: the supervisor not having the experience is known above him but is respected and brings other qualities to the table. The company is looking for someone like you with the experience to help train him. Before taking the job, ask if this is what they are looking for and ask how he feels about it. If this is the case, what happens after he is trained?
Molly BallersteinEvents Manager and Theatre Admin in NYC
11
07/27/20 at 6:43PM UTC
I have been a supervisor for the last 12 years and at times have had people reporting to me that were double my age. As many people have commented, I truly believe that this can work out as long as both sides come into the office with mutual respect, willingness to learn, and an understanding of what you need from your supervisor (three things that I believe should be present in any supervisor and team member relationship no matter the age).
Anonymous
07/27/20 at 6:16PM UTC
It depends on the person. Our new supervisor seemed very intimidated by the fact that 3 of us were old enough to be her mother, despite the fact that we were very welcoming and never tried to circumvent her authority. We just sat there inwardly cringing for her when she decided to read off her resume, just to make sue we all knew she was qualified, 3 months after she started. (Shudder.) She is a friend of the director. We have been in the business long enough to know how she got the job, but we don't care. We just do our jobs and keep on going. Six months after she started, she finished her probationary period and instantly moved to a different department. We're so happy just because she seemed so awkward as a supervisor. We wish her luck and hope that as she ages she will realize that she doesn't have to try so hard to prove herself.
Anonymous
07/27/20 at 5:57PM UTC
There's nothing fair about business or pecking orders--things happen the way they happen and we have to be open to change and adapt to grow. I have been on both sides of this. I was a manager of a large team by age 26 (when I had a man twice my age struggle to take me seriously) and now, 20 years later, I've had bosses who are my age and younger. I've seen people who are 10+ years younger than me skyrocket in their careers to become c-levels and business owners, while I just keep on keepin' on. I try to look at it this way: everyone we work with, whether they manage or report to us or are our peers, has something to offer us, and they also have flaws, too.
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.