5 Tips For Working With A Younger Boss

 

The work environment today has been shaken up; employers are considering young candidates for managerial positions because they want new ideas and believe in their need for being innovative.

Not that the old folk are not innovative, but young individuals are more willing to embrace new methods of doing things and that is why you probably are working under a boss younger than you or will be in your next job.

This can be frustrating to some and you might feel intimidated at one time or the other. To avoid letting your younger boss ruin your career, here are a few tips to take into consideration.

Tips On How To Work Well With A Younger Boss

1. You need to get used to it already
Like everything else, we improve with practice. How comfortable are you talking to younger people? Will you be able to work for one? While we may have been brought up to respect our elders, will respecting the wisdom of someone half your age be an issue for you?
Brad Karsh, president of JB Training Solutions and author of “Manager 3.0: A Millennial’s Guide to Rewriting the Rules of Management,” says it’s incumbent on the job applicant to “show a little respect.” He notes, “Younger interviewers are in that job because they earned it, and you want to show that you respect their experience and position and that you’re excited to be on their team.”
Does it feel strange to be addressing someone your daughter’s age as “Ms?”, it is time you got over it and moved on.

2. Rethink where and how you network.
Since networking remains one of the best job-hunting tools in your arsenal, expand your reach to younger people. This will also serve as good practice for when you are being interviewed by someone younger. Besides, by now you’ve probably figured out that calling up people your age — many of whom have left the workplace — hasn’t gotten you very far.
Invite over a group of your children’s friends and work colleagues to let them know you are in the job market. Tell them that you want to build a diverse network that includes young professionals. She says to update
your LinkedIn profile with recommendations from someone younger that either worked for you or with you.
Also, try going to a few professional meetups in your area, even if they are a little outside your comfort zone. It’s good practice connecting to people of a different generation. It’s also a good way to learn about the office culture of specific companies.

3. Drop the stale language.
Most companies will schedule a screening interview by phone before they invite you in. This is a great chance for you to impress them with how current your knowledge and thinking is. There is a high value placed on forward-thinking innovation rather than experience for experience’s sake. Present your ideas for how to achieve goals. Learn what other companies in the space have done that’s worked. Drop the “We tried that once and it didn’t really work,” and “This is how we always did it.” Kiss of death, those two.
Instead, accentuate your flexibility and willingness to learn new things. Stress how you continue to sharpen your skills and study up on technology and innovations in the industry. Older workers sometimes face the stigma of being stuck in their ways, so emphasize how your experience and flexibility are a great pair, he said.

4. Save the war stories for when someone shows a genuine interest.
Somewhere, sometime, some interviewer will ask you what it was like to work in your chosen field “back in the day.” It’s fine to tell them and answer their questions. Just make it clear that you don’t live in that era anymore. There is little upside to being seen as a living relic of a bygone era. If it happens during a job interview, try and steer the question back around to something current.

5. Don’t read rudeness where none is intended.
You are being interviewed by someone who was born with a smartphone in his hand. It is fairly typical for workers today to bring their laptops and phones into meetings. While it may feel rude to you if someone checks his texts while you are answering his question, don’t take it personally and don’t assume you’ve lost his attention. If it helps, try and remember the guys who used to lean back and put their feet up on the desk, leaving you to stare at the soles of their shoes.

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by Kenyanjobportal