I'm the oldest in my job

[Kjones27]

I just turned forty. And I just started a new job.

I'm the oldest by a good bit. I'd say the second oldest is 28, and the majority are around 25.

This is the first time this has happened to me. Usually there were people older than me in the job.

Obviously I'm getting older, and this is part of getting older. That I will begin to be one of the older colleagues.

However this is the first time its happened to me. I'm not sure how to socially navigate. They obviously all have more in common with each other, so they chat to each other. They're not rude to me. But I think they just see me as different and kind of leave me out.

What did you do when you became the oldest in a job, to make it easier?

I'm 62 and share an office with a 36 year old. We get on wonderfully well. I love being amongst younger people as they keep me up to date and I enjoy hearing their take on life

Must be a v different sector to me. I'm mid 50s and probably about average age wise at work.

I'm the oldest in my team. My manager is only a couple of years older. My team leader is younger than me and the rest are even younger. But most are mature for their ages.

Try and find some common ground.

Maybe organise a team night out. I love going out with the team and have been on a few late night benders but I've got to the stage where I'll happily meet for a few drinks and food and then leave, at which point they begin their pub crawl. It works for us all.

I do often make a joke out of being the oldest and I think they love me for it 😆

Are you in the non profit area.

I remember working for a charity once, and a lot of the staff were female, and in their forties fifties and sixties.

I wanted a change into different career. But in finance and banking (some, I can't speak for every office), it is definitely a very young crowd

I'm the oldest female in our team.
We're all pretty friendly, get coffee together, go out to lunch, been out for cocktails.
Everyone off loads their problems on me, all good, I'm happy to help.
I thought we were all friends until they started calling me their "work mum"
So they basically see me as a mother figure, I thought we were friends, these women have been to my house and I've been to theirs.
I've been invited to one of their hen parties, all good except she added that their mum and future mil will be there so I won't be on my own.
Knocked my confidence a bit, I'm late 50's but a young late 50's (think mutton dressed as lamb!!) they're in their 30's.

I'm the oldest in my job. My boss is 14 years younger than me, next in line is 19 years younger. The youngest two are about the same age as my son.

It's all fine. I'm there to work. We get along OK.

At my old job I worked with a lady who is 67 turning 68. And by god you wouldn't think it she is such a lovely funny woman, she was my favourite person to work with and everyone adored her! You could chat to her about anything.

I'm late 50s and in a team of 30 I could easily be the mum of half the team, it's odd. And I do wonder where all the other 50+ people are!

I am older than my colleagues and managers by a long way most are the same ages as my DC's.
I enjoy the work and enjoy being with them and watching them climb the greasy pole to promotion (sometimes succeeding sometimes not) and being asked my opinion as I have been in post long enough to have seen it before.
Don't worry.
Joe biden may be older than his predecessors in years but has wisdom to listen to his advisors