What Happens to People In Their 50s Who Never Become the Supervisor?

[Anonymous]

Are you destined to be the old guy in the office being supervised by someone younger? Should you grab the ring when it is reasonably in sight (go for and likely get the promotion) or plod away as a worker bee doing the same thing day in and day out, knowing you will likely retire in that same position? There was a time in my life where all of my supervisors were smarter, more experienced and had much to offer in the way of mentorship. Now, I am seeing the supervisors at my job get younger and younger and I feel like the old person in the office. I am 51.

[Anonymous]

The smartest people at my work don’t supervise because they like engineering.

[Anonymous]

Take or keep the job that satisfies you

[Anonymous]

Hah. I’m mid 30s and everyone I supervise is 45-65. At first it was awkward but I’ve treated everyone respectfully.

The thing I’ve found is that none of them want my job. Being a supervisor is hell and I barely make more than them. They enjoy the work and don’t want to deal with the headaches I encounter outside of my office. To be fair, I do have more job knowledge and am still better at my job. There are still things that even those who have been here longer than me can learn since I’m constantly told things from my supervisors and coordinates with my colleagues at my level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hah. I’m mid 30s and everyone I supervise is 45-65. At first it was awkward but I’ve treated everyone respectfully.

The thing I’ve found is that none of them want my job. Being a supervisor is hell and I barely make more than them. They enjoy the work and don’t want to deal with the headaches I encounter outside of my office. To be fair, I do have more job knowledge and am still better at my job. There are still things that even those who have been here longer than me can learn since I’m constantly told things from my supervisors and coordinates with my colleagues at my level.

+1 This is often true. Depending on personality and interests, the admin and people management involved in management isn't for everyone. Manager positions where I work are often going to young people who are less experienced who are willing to talk on the human resources management and bureaucracy, whereas senior professionals would rather focus on technical work.

[Anonymous]

I've been outcompeted for jobs by young men for 25 years. It's always the 30-year old young dads with finance or engineering backgrounds. They are really good at posturing. I won't say networking, because they aren't really that social. I'm wondering whether to give up. I'm considered good at what I do, but not leadership material. I have a Hillary-Clinton-like "something about her" factor which means I'm too smart but nobody is sure what they want to have me work on because I'm not the kind of person they want to hang out with.

The technical part of my company has a 70/30 ratio M/F in most meetings. Lately, in my particular area, which is more business than technical, it's been 90/10. How is that even possible that it's been getting worse, not better, in a less STEM-my area? It's psychologically draining. I make enough money. But I'm sure I'll be faulted if I stop showing any ambition. Even though I mostly get the mommy jobs of teaching and cleaning up after the youngsters. Which has to get done. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hah. I’m mid 30s and everyone I supervise is 45-65. At first it was awkward but I’ve treated everyone respectfully.

The thing I’ve found is that none of them want my job. Being a supervisor is hell and I barely make more than them. They enjoy the work and don’t want to deal with the headaches I encounter outside of my office. To be fair, I do have more job knowledge and am still better at my job. There are still things that even those who have been here longer than me can learn since I’m constantly told things from my supervisors and coordinates with my colleagues at my level.

Sounds like you are a good supervisor but not a good mentor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hah. I’m mid 30s and everyone I supervise is 45-65. At first it was awkward but I’ve treated everyone respectfully.

The thing I’ve found is that none of them want my job. Being a supervisor is hell and I barely make more than them. They enjoy the work and don’t want to deal with the headaches I encounter outside of my office. To be fair, I do have more job knowledge and am still better at my job. There are still things that even those who have been here longer than me can learn since I’m constantly told things from my supervisors and coordinates with my colleagues at my level.

Sounds like you are a good supervisor but not a good mentor.

Ok, Dave

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been outcompeted for jobs by young men for 25 years. It's always the 30-year old young dads with finance or engineering backgrounds. They are really good at posturing. I won't say networking, because they aren't really that social. I'm wondering whether to give up. I'm considered good at what I do, but not leadership material. I have a Hillary-Clinton-like "something about her" factor which means I'm too smart but nobody is sure what they want to have me work on because I'm not the kind of person they want to hang out with.

The technical part of my company has a 70/30 ratio M/F in most meetings. Lately, in my particular area, which is more business than technical, it's been 90/10. How is that even possible that it's been getting worse, not better, in a less STEM-my area? It's psychologically draining. I make enough money. But I'm sure I'll be faulted if I stop showing any ambition. Even though I mostly get the mommy jobs of teaching and cleaning up after the youngsters. Which has to get done. Ugh.

You have to stop doing those types of jobs well. Sometimes, as women, we have to learn to not do everything perfectly and to stop caring about everything.

[Anonymous]

I'm 49 and the youngest in my office

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take or keep the job that satisfies you

This - why would I ever want to supervise someone? The headaches of HR, performance reviews, and I don't get to do the work that I really like to do. I don't mind being supervised by someone who is younger than me as long as they know what they are doing, which, in most cases, they do. And in other cases, age is not the limiting factor.

[Anonymous]

Supervising is a terrible job.

[Anonymous]

Generally to be in management you actually have to believe in the mission of the organization. I was in management and stepped back and I am so glad I did, because I think the whole thing is a farce. "Exciting new initiative" and all that. Who needs it? i think there is an age at which if you don't believe in the organization you just start phoning it in. Never thought that would be me but here we are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been outcompeted for jobs by young men for 25 years. It's always the 30-year old young dads with finance or engineering backgrounds. They are really good at posturing. I won't say networking, because they aren't really that social. I'm wondering whether to give up. I'm considered good at what I do, but not leadership material. I have a Hillary-Clinton-like "something about her" factor which means I'm too smart but nobody is sure what they want to have me work on because I'm not the kind of person they want to hang out with.

The technical part of my company has a 70/30 ratio M/F in most meetings. Lately, in my particular area, which is more business than technical, it's been 90/10. How is that even possible that it's been getting worse, not better, in a less STEM-my area? It's psychologically draining. I make enough money. But I'm sure I'll be faulted if I stop showing any ambition. Even though I mostly get the mommy jobs of teaching and cleaning up after the youngsters. Which has to get done. Ugh.

You have to stop doing those types of jobs well. Sometimes, as women, we have to learn to not do everything perfectly and to stop caring about everything.

NP

True but it is hard. I'm 56 and I just let a coworker crash and burn for the 1st time in my career. Of course the bosses were like, hey did you know this was going to happen (yes but im not telling you that), I say I was not babysitting him I was busy with a much bigger project.

[Anonymous]

^^^ queue somebody saying I'm not a team player