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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ageism is real, but it's seemingly the natural order of things.  Companies are pyramids.  As you work your way up the corporate ladder and get paid more, eventually you will plateau in your mid-to-late-40s.  Once you're been at a certain level for more than 3 years or so, the bean counters will look at your compensation and see an area to cut by replacing you with a cheaper model who is 10 years younger.  The company pays less for your replacement and gets 5-10 years of service.  Win-win for the company.

If you're 40+, in middle management, and don't think you have a target on your back - you need to wake up.

Plenty of folks have asked what can you do about it?  Doing good work isn't enough.  You must justify your existence.

Link your productivity to the bottom line.  Always think about whether what you're doing will have a positive ROI for the company and make sure your name is attached to every project, initiative, product launch, service, etc... that makes money for the company.

Stop helping anyone who isn't in a position to help you down the road.

Make your boss look good, but don't let him/her take the credit for your hard work.

Never document how your job is done, nor the recipe "secret sauce" that you've acquired over your years of working.

Get out of your company and make a name for yourself in your industry by speaking at conferences, writing papers (preferably co-authored with a VP in your company that needs some street cred), serving on industry trade groups/councils, etc...  People need to know who you are outside of your company and business unit.[/quote]

How do you prove adding value if you are in accounting, HR, or possibly legal? To some degree you're doing compliance. Ok, I reduced the monthly close process, but try quantifying what they saved. Everybody just worked less hours.[/quote]

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