Being excitable - is this a bad thing?

[Ginandpink]

I work in a financial role which is fairly corporate. I am serious at work although dress in a fairly young way (I’m in my late 20s) but my actual personality is quite non serious… At work I probably present as friendly and personable? Here’s hoping!

my boss recently mentioned that he had turned down a young female candidate for being “quite excitable”. This concerned me a bit as I feel like it describes my actual personality…!

is this a bad thing and should I mask it even more than I’m already doing? I feel a bit resentful that something that is intrinsic to me is dismissed as a negative quality in my workplace.

There's a world of difference between being friendly and personable and even ready to have a joke at work, and being 'excitable'.

I would read 'excitable' as not being calm, and measured in decision making. That doesn't mean you have to stop being friendly and outgoing.

Well, excitable suggests annoying, unpredictable and unreliable.

The description could also suggest your boss is sexist, in a 'I am witty and entertaining, he doesn't take himself too seriously, she is excitable' sort of way.

Or more about not being on her wavelength, so not sharing her jokes and enthusiasms. Perhaps an age difference issue.

I wouldn't worry about it. You've been given the job there and you're capable of doing it. A workplace would be boring if everyone had the same personality or the same energy levels.

There's a difference between being vivacious, and being excitable and/or ditzy. One brightens everybody's day, the other is irritating.

I would interpret 'excitable' as they panic about everything.