Being the youngest at work

A university student suffers through countless traumas on a daily basis. Heartbreak, exams, being financially broke, having an existential crisis are just a few of the challenges we have to face.

Now, let’s throw another one into the mix, just for the fun of it – working when you’re young. It can have its own set of obstacles that we’re forced to hop over in the marathon of life.

YOU ARE NEVER TAKEN SERIOUSLY

See, you’re young, which means most of the times, your seniors have the authority to boss you around at the job that you were hired for, in the first place. Doesn’t make sense, does it? Well, that’s life.

Your opinions are rarely taken seriously and you can quite easily be told to quiet down and because of the vow of respect that we have to take, we have to do it.

YOU CAN’T POSSIBLY HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO

Sometimes, because you’re young, your employers tend to think you have nothing better to do than to run to work for another last minute job.

They forget that you may have a life and other commitments that you have to honour. You have your mid terms, a friend’s birthday, you have the other job that you’re working at, you have deadlines. They, either intentionally or unintentionally decide that your plans aren’t worth anything. They assume that when you’re not working for them, you do nothing. At least nothing important.

WE’RE DOING YOU A FAVOUR

Your employers and colleagues sometimes, act as though you’re being granted a huge favour by them letting you do your job. Not only your job but also running errands for them. 

They sometimes act like you should be thankful that you are where you are and anyone would die to be in your place. The fact that your qualifications got you there is lost on many.

SOMETIMES THEY CAN’T TRUST YOU WITH YOUR JOB

When you do end up finally earning a position where you may be asked to handle something on your own, you end up receiving doubtful looks.

And through their skeptical squinting eyes, they’ll ‘check’ with other employees who are also rather unsure of what you are capable of.

You’re asked for constant updates and have to repeatedly reassure them that you can do your job.

IT GETS BETTER

Despite all that, if you’re in a reasonably good environment, things change.

Your colleagues grow and they treat you as an equal. Not just that, you’re the one they come to love the most. You become the little, precious one in the office and after all that hard work, you start to develop a good relationship with all of them.

If you’re lucky enough to be in such an environment, count your lucky stars. Because you’ve struck gold. Not only do they love you, they help you get out of work and help you stay out of trouble.

So in the end, being the youngest at work is often not nice. But if you stick with it, it’ll get better. You’ll develop relationships that are worth keeping. If it doesn’t, well then, it maybe time to ask yourself if it’s worth it.

Syeda Erum Noor is dangerously oblivious and has no sense of time. Send help at erum.noor1998@gmail.com