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It's them, not you! In 20 years I have found no demographic more difficult to work with than Gen X females. In my experience, they are generally mean, judgmental, and have a chip on their shoulder. For about 2 years I haven't worked with any and I'm pretty convinced that I will make a concerted effort never to do so again in the future because UGH! I'm very sorry to hear you are encountering such issues.
Seconded. The partner that made me want to quit my job was Gen X, she was just so rude and condescending all the time.
Just realized the question didn’t post lol.
There’s something I’m putting down that they are not liking. I’m interviewing for juniorish roles, so I’m not threatening their positions at all. I’m also a WOC if that’s relevant. Is there anything I can do to fix this issue?
I get skeptical of whether someone would stay in a role when they have more experience than the position requires. The comment they had regarding similar vendors is odd. Maybe they were trying to see if your adaptable which is what I think your example was getting at.
Have you considered your attitude during these interviews? If the common denominator in your mind is gen x women (which I am not, but I am in my late 30s) maybe consider if youre putting off a different vibe when they are interviewing you? Does it make you more nervous?
Your comment regarding interrogation questions also makes me think are you interviewing with litigators. Lol.
I think sometimes litigators act differently than transactional attorneys. Were the women previous litigators? Are you a litigator and are they transactional attorneys? Was everyone you interviewed with the same practice, etc.
Some women prefer working with men and dont like working with other women, but to come across it multiple times seems odd.
Frankly, I'd be relieved I didnt end up at a company working with someone like that
I'm a Gen X woman (JD & MBA in 1996), and I love working with individuals period. But ...
I'm solo (I've endured plenty of misogynistic behavior from men and women, and it is all unacceptable).
I also focus on transactional work. I love working with my clients, and I enjoy commentating with clients, attorneys, judges, etc. I like to find solutions.
My guys is that your field (media/entertainment) tend to be cutthroat anyway and lend itself to destructive Queen Bees.
At this point, your best bet is to stay true to yourself, but don't overthink the Gen X thing. Be prepared, but not defensive.
You'll avoid the toxic environments without accidentally cutting yourself off from the Gen X women who will value and support you!
Are you attractive and well-dressed? If yes, I would think it’s partially a woman hating issue unfortunately. Gen X women can be very nasty. I hate to say, as I’m the ultimate girls girl, but I have had such bad experiences that I generally try to avoid them as much as possible.
Hmm. I’m a gen x woman in leadership and we don’t hate other women. Of the same or any other generation. I think there’s just not enough info here
I mean this in the kindest way possible, but you can’t speak for all women in your generation (and neither can I!). I have had many negative experiences with Gen X and elder millennial women, and so have several of my peers who are younger, attractive, and smart. It is noticeable enough that my own mom warned me about it going into the profession. Women can be plain nasty to other women and I think the generational gap causes it to be worse sometimes.
That said I’ve also had some fantastic experiences and great mentors that were Gen X and elder millennial women so I don’t want to generalize. But it’s definitely a thing that happens even if you and your peers are great.
Trust your instincts. If you feel you were being judged based on your external characteristics, you probably were.
I’m a Gen X woman of color in the same industries. I do believe there is stereotyping and bias going on.
I don’t think it’s ultimately a Gen X female thing, but more a bias against women of color attorneys that spans the legal industry.
Honestly, I would cross these companies off your list and keep looking for places where women of color attorneys are thriving and are in leadership roles, including GC and other C-Suite roles.
Not you. I’m also 30 at a big law firm and the only people who have ever been condescending and made me feel inferior are late Gen X and early millennial women. I have multiple girlfriends from law school who have experienced the same at their firms.
As a genX attorney (graduated 1999) and a litigator, my biggest pet peeve is not having my specific question answered. I don’t know if it’s an age thing, but it’s the first thing that popped in my mind when I read the vendor question response. I think my generation is harder on “spin” and more cynical. I also think we were more raised to compete with other women rather than support one another. Many of us were trained to “pick me” girls - myself included. Working with milennials/gen z broke me of this. It’s a whole different mindset.
I honestly had no idea about any of the messages I got around being a woman. (Before we were referred to as females). I remember sitting in court and being one of two women at the bar, the rest men. The goal was to be one of the boys. Distance myself from the “needy women”. I had no idea how I was self-internalizing misogyny. https://www.purewow.com/wellness/pick-me-girl. I finally got a boss (millennial) who showed me the issues with my approach. I still have a lot to learn and I love GenZ!
This is very interesting, and I'm curious to see what responses you get. Are you finding they are asking different things than others? I know you said interrogation vibes, but is that in how they are coming across or what they are asking? I'm a millennial, and I think our general way of doing things is much different than Gen X and Boomers in how we approach things, speak, interview, and generally relate to people. Do you think you may be coming across as too relaxed and not enough of an "old school" mentality? What types of IHC roles have you been interviewing for? (Industry, location, remote v in person, etc.)
It’s coming across mostly in how they’re asking, but it’s also a bit of the “what.” Two were non-legal stakeholders in the business, so I was already anticipating their questions to be more business-focused (and they were). But the tone, especially for a junior role, felt skeptical of my experience even though I’d already cleared several interviews. Any answer I gave, I made sure to emphasize that the business was the ultimate decision-maker, and even as a regulatory partner, I saw my role as collaborative/giving them the tools needed to comply but also reach stated goals. They seemed fine with those answers (read: didn’t react to them either way). But when they’d ask me business-specific questions, like “have you ever worked with this vendor?” I’d either say yes and explain, or say no and give an example of a similar vendor I’d worked with and how I handled the relationship. The response I got was “yeah well they aren’t the same so.” I was taken aback lol
I think you’re right that there are generational differences in how we communicate. I wish I could say that the demeanor towards me turned during the interview, because that would imply my performance wasn’t great and would point to areas for improvement. But they showed up acting suspicious of me before I’d even said a word. Industry is media/sports/entertaiment, VHCOL city, in person
Is there any way you can find out who was ultimately hired for those positions? If it was a woman around your experience level, then maybe you’re misinterpreting things.
I don’t have enough data points here. Only one of the positions seems to have hired so far, and they hired a man with the same YOE and caliber of work history
Are you dressing even remotely nonprofessional? Low v-neck tops? Anything like that? If not, then I have no idea.
Turtlenecks, sweaters and blazers