We’ve all been there (or will be soon!)—you’re excited because you just got hired at a company with values that align with yours. You think there is potential for growth and you’re ready to move beyond college life to do something that challenges you professionally.
One potential pitfall: you have absolutely no experience interacting with older adults as equals. Sure, you’re used to shooting the breeze with your friends’ parents or chatting with professors about research projects, but many young professionals have little applicable experience working with people in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
So what do you do when you hear choruses of “You were born in the NINETIES?! Do you even know what a cassette tape is?!” You resist the eye roll, paste on your best smile and try some of the following tips.
Embrace the plethora of advice.
Experience counts for a lot, regardless of your industry. Yes, you probably bring a fresh perspective and level of enthusiasm, but your older coworkers know a lot about the workplace. Soak up all the advice you can, whether it’s about a particular office, your industry as a whole or how to navigate LinkedIn.
Share your stories…sometimes.
Older coworkers may want to hear your “crazy” young weekend stories. Indulge a little if you want to. It’s perfectly legal for you to go out on Friday nights and chances are other people in your office have had some wild nights, too. Just be thoughtful about how detailed you get, especially early on. Keep it fun and classy. Crazy dancing is cute, hungover struggling is probably not.
Ask about their kids.
There’s a reason adults post pictures of their babies everywhere—they’re proud of those little munchkins and they want to talk about them. Ask what your boss’s son likes to read. Find out if your office mate’s daughter plays any sports.
And if you heard someone talking about a dance recital or a birthday party on Friday, ask how it went on Monday. You’ll get to know your coworkers on a more personal level, you’ll show that you’re a good listener and you’ll hear some hilarious stories.Ask about their lunches.
This tip is far less important than asking about their kids, but possibly more helpful. Ask about great lunch or leftover recipes you see in your office. Packing a lunch every day can be tricky, and it can be all too easy to fall into the takeout trap, which adds both unnecessary calories and expenses. If you smell something delicious in the kitchen, ask how to make it.
Give sincere thank yous.
Very few things provide the level of warm-and-fuzzy that a well-written thank you note can. Handwritten notes used to be commonplace, but they have been phased out in exchange for quick emails. If an older coworker helps you out or gives you a great piece of career advice, take the time to write them a genuine thank you on a nice card. That gesture will make you stand out from other young professionals and it will show that you really appreciate the efforts of the others in your office.
Make friends if it feels right.
“Age is just a number” doesn’t just apply to romantic relationships. If you hit it off with an older coworker, truly become friends by finding out what they do outside the office and planning a date to join them. At the same time, though, don’t feel forced to be chummy with everyone. While it’s great to have friends at work, that is not your primary responsibility. First and foremost, you are there to accomplish the tasks assigned to you, so don’t worry about forcing super personal relationships with everyone.
Be careful how you talk about technology.
No one likes to feel old. If you see one of your older coworkers struggling with Gmail or the new copier, think carefully about how you offer help. Avoid taking on a condescending tone or saying “This is really hard for my mom,” especially if your coworker isn’t really your mom’s age. And be open to the potential that your older coworker might be able to teach you a thing or two about your office’s systems! They have worked there longer than you, after all, and you shouldn’t have to figure things out by trial and error when there is already a procedure in place.
Someday soon, you won’t be the youngest one in the office, and you may find yourself nostalgic for the time when you were the fresh-faced newbie. Believe it or not, we will soon be saying, “You were born in the 2000s?! Do you even know what a CD is?!” to new members of the workforce.
Feature Photo via Careerealism