Things My Boss Said To Me

"They normally hire people younger than you for those jobs."

Oh snap.

This came from the head of the the last department I worked in at Bear Stearns. He was an academic wonk from the SEC and was socially awkward. Everyone dreaded having to interact with him. I got stuck waiting for an elevator alone with him. Now, anyone that knows me - knows I can talk to a cardboard box. But this guy was a challenge even to me.

So, after some awkward silence, I started chatting about returning to school to get my Masters degree. Thinking - academic - good topic. He asks what I'll do with a Masters in business reporting. I answer: not sure where it will take me. Who knows - maybe I'll be on TV talking about the market. That's when he zinged me. I stammered something about ..that may be...but I can try...some other weak response. Thinking is this the longest elevator wait in history?

Now, I'm no spring chicken and I agree that many women on TV are young. But really? You say that directly to someone? To their face? Someone who is enthusiastically waxing about school?

Thankfully I dismissed his rude, mean, biting remark. I proved that jerk wrong.

And now - knowing what I know about the SEC - I'm not so impressed with his credentials.

These are the kinds of things that in a weak moment  could have sent me to the bathroom crying. He's right - what am I thinking? I'm too old for this. Too old to go back to school. Too old to be on camera. But I didn't.
Instead I said to myself  - what an idiot.

Yeah, they normally hire women younger than me, but they didn't.