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For more help on how to talk about yourself when you’re going for a promotion (or a new job), how to update your resume to reflect your achievements and how to be prepared if you decide to look for a job elsewhere, see Interview Strategies That Will Get You the Job You Want, Resumes That Will Get You the Job You Want and Greener Pastures: How to Find a Job In Another Place.

 

50+

"Unjust treatment"
Dear Andrea:

    I am a receptionist for a young company with 40 employees. The CEO and I are the oldest at 49 and 50. I am one of four hourly employees. The six managers take different views of employee behavior. They don't seem to care that salaried people show up late and leave early and take their half hour Starbucks breaks. I must account for every minute and get yelled at if I am five minutes late. Why is it so hard for the yuppies to treat the bottom of the totem pole employee like a person? Is this common behavior or should I try to find a different job?

    --Sick of Injustices

Dear Sick of Injustices:

    Your complaints are not uncommon. But keep in mind that the nature of many salaried positions allows people to be less tied to a desk, to take work home or hold conversations in another venue. Many very productive work conversations take place in spots like Starbucks. So don't be so quick to criticize.

    The "Us versus Them" mentality is also unproductive. Focus more on how you can be valuable rather than how unfair others are. If you need flexibility, have a conversation with the person who yells at you if you're five minutes late. Do your job functions allow you to have a looser schedule? Perhaps someone else can fill in at times.

    If you decide to look for a new job, be able to describe the environment you do want to work in. If it's a team culture where everyone is working towards the same goals, is clear on what those are and inspired to be a part of that, you'll need to stop focusing on what's fair and be willing to do whatever it takes to meet the goals.

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