Too Fresh Faced to be Taken Seriously?

American culture places a great value on youth.

The anti-aging industry is projected to grow to over $114 billion by 2015.

But bright eyes and a fresh face can also communicate inexperience and naiveté in the workplace. Just ask 25 old journalist Marissa Hermanson.

“Hermanson dreaded doing in-person interviews, because I was afraid of what someone was going to say.”

“It made me feel incredibly insecure and I was always aware of it.”

Hermanson dreaded doing in-person interviews, “because I was afraid of what someone was going to say to me to make me feel bad or not adult enough or not professional enough in my job.”

She remembers comments like “Oh, you look like you are still in high school.”

“That makes you feel awful,” she tells PINK.

Hermanson often still feels this way but has developed methods to present herself as more mature to encourage colleagues to look beyond her appearance.

Now she jokes about looking younger. “I acknowledge what the person is saying and add, ‘Yea I know I am going to be fabulous when I am 40’ or something silly like that.”

“It helps set a more laidback tone, which starts the meeting on a nicer note.”

COMMENT: Has your age ever affected your career? Tell us here.

BONUS PINK LINK: Want to keep your youthful edge? Here is how.

By Kelli Richardson

“Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth.” J.K. Rowling

Image Shutterstock: 107041832