Older Employee Feels Awkward with Younger Supervisor: Navigating Age Gaps in the Workplace

Seeking advice on career transition

In our latest Career Conundrum, an individual who has shifted careers to enter the legal field is facing challenges due to being older than their supervisor.

“Greetings Dynamic Export. I am in my mid-30s and have recently transitioned into a new team during my Training Contract rotation. I prefer to keep specific details vague to maintain my anonymity! In my previous roles, age was never a concern, but I feel that my current supervisor seems uncomfortable with the fact that I’m older than they are. The balance of authority feels somewhat skewed. For instance, when assigning tasks, they often phrase it as, ‘Would it be alright for you to handle X or Y – but only if you can find the time!’ I’m the trainee here; I’m willing to take on what you need! They also appear hesitant to delegate tasks, even though I can see they are quite overwhelmed. Have any other individuals who have changed careers or older trainees experienced something similar?”