Are there any companies who appreciate the GenX crowd?
I have great skills and have been in a role for 8 months, hoping that if I prove myself I can have opportunity to move up. My manager who is probably 15 years younger than me, does not want me to grow. In fact, the company recently put out to the managers assignments for goals. For cross training, my manager specifically told me not to be specific because she wants to be able to say that there were no opportunities for cross training. She actually was dumb enough to write this to me in a chat. I know I have great skills and a lot of good experience, but the job market is tough and this is the role I found. I left a prior position which was so toxic because my manager was insanely mean and hateful. I am studying for the CPA exam late in the game because of life and divorce and difficult years. I just want to find my place where I can really make a difference and a company who will appreciate my ambition and desire to learn as much as I can. My current manager is shocked that I am good at Excel and can draft an email. I always wonder, did she not read my resume? I went from a toxic hell manager to this and I just want to find my place. I am in a good position in that I am not desperate to find something else, but I can take time to do good research on finding my dream job. I appreciate constructive suggestions. I'm so tired of the ignorance and arrogance.
Anonymous
03/04/24 at 2:41PM UTC
As a fellow genXer...I think there are plenty of companies that appreciate us we just need to find where we (as an individual not as a generation) fit and where we are valued and contribute.
Anonymous
03/04/24 at 1:27PM UTC
As someone about the same age as you, I would caution against making it an age/generation gap thing. If your manger is that much younger than you, is it possible that they're just new and inexperienced in being a manager and that's why they're surprised of what you're capable of? As people are working longer, it's taking everyone longer to move up and into more senior roles, so while someone at the age of your manager may have had more experience in the past, this may not be the case now. In fact, I wonder if inexperience is leading to their being sloppy about not wanting to mention opportunities for cross training in writing, and that they would think it's beneficial to say that there aren't opportunities for cross training. I'd be willing to bet that your manager might think that admitting there's room for cross-training would somehow reflect negatively on them.
Have you asked your manager why they wanted you to write that? Did you express that you would like more training opportunities?
Anonymous
03/04/24 at 1:10AM UTC
After 8 months? I'm trying to I understand exactly what you expect and need to happen after 8 months?
Anonymous
03/04/24 at 12:42PM UTC (Edited)
To help you understand, I will be specific.
Micromanaging basic communications, limiting exposure to background information, inhibiting cross training for growth while upper management wants teams to cross train to strengthen teams, assuming zero knowledge of basic tasks like drafting an email or filling out a simple spreadsheet, etc. After 8 months, based on my prior experience with my jobs, I have been able to manage a full time work load with more complex work. To answer your question, I expected more from this position based on the interviews where they said cross training is encouraged, growth is encouraged, ownership of duties rather than small tasks here and there. I end up having a lot of free time but after 8 months with my free time I ought to be given assignments so that I am better utilized. I have received glowing reviews as she is so surprised that I surpassed her expectations, surprised that I know how to write, surprised that I know Excel. It's all on my resume so I don't know why she is surprised. Not sure if this helps you to understand better. It's just a dumb situation and I expected the role to be more substantial than it is.
Anonymous
03/03/24 at 6:05PM UTC
Give it a little bit of time. It's unfortunate with all of your years of experience, being new in an organization still requires us to develop new relationships, understand the political arena, and focus on how we can expand what we already know and show it in the new position. Hang in there. Don't jump too soon. Gen X is often the forgotten Generation, but we are also great at navigating to fit in and get the job done. How do you know the manager doesn't want you to grow? If she doesn't want you to grow through cross-training, then find a mentor within the organization or navigate, learn more about the politial dynsmics, and reach out to others in the organization where you can find a mentor that can help you get to where you need to go. In addition, if after 1-2 years you are finding the organization to be toxic, then consider going elsewhere. I find managers like that do not last long in an organization. Time will tell, but give it a little bit of time. There are good leaders and poor leaders. I have worked with both.
Anonymous
03/03/24 at 6:27PM UTC
This is a good point. There are other departments, as it is a large company. I have considered that a few times.
User deleted comment on 03/03/24 at 6:03PM UTC
Anonymous
03/03/24 at 5:54PM UTC (Edited)
Often managers get insecure if they aren't the smartest in the room.
Been there !!
I , too, am an accountant and some are "amazed " I can actually do something intelligent (yea ,you hired me. )
I'd play the game, study for CPA so when you leave, you something to leave FOR
Anonymous
03/03/24 at 5:41PM UTC
You have to ask better questions in your interviews. Things like how do you motivate your staff. What have you done to grow an employee that wants to get ahead - give me an example. Don't forget interviews are a 2-way street and you have to go deep or you will find this same thing in the next place too. I would take that chat that she wrote and alert your HR business partner and Manager that this is going to be limiting for you and you want to know how they will help you get further apath in your career there. If they or the manager cannot offer you more options for growth and success it's time to move on.
Anonymous
03/03/24 at 6:07PM UTC
Thank you. These are great questions. When I took this position, I was desperate to get out of an unhealthy situation that threatened my health. In this case I can prepare better and be more focused in my job search. I am hoping that after 1 year in this role I will not be viewed as a job hopper.
Anonymous
03/04/24 at 5:13PM UTC
Glad I could be helpful...
