It seems to me that what we are seening here in this forum is quite likly what is happening to RJ, and the IT comunity in general.
There are a number of IT professionals who have very strong opinions regarding what is termed "Professional Experience", and may feel that someone who is very young has not "Put in their dues". I can see where this could lead to some people making judgements about young IT professionals before really understanding their capabilities.
Keep in mind that you are dealing with a profession where the people who founded the technology that we work with, and are still working in the field today. And I'm sure many of them are in managment roles now and could feel that some young upstart could not possibably know more then them! After all they helped create the technology. I don't know if this is the case with RJ's situtation, but its a safe bet that the director is from another generation, mid 40's+, and may feel that RJ could not possibably have the experience that someone who is 25+ has. He probably thinks he can find someone with more experience that could do the job better. (And in the current job market, its a safe bet unfoutunatly)
One thing to remember about the "Real World" is that it is very political. Everyone is looking out for themselves, and have strong opinions on their profession. It may be that RJ has claimed 5 years of experience and the director feels the same way as many of the people posting here, that its not possible. And this alone could have marked RJ as a showoff, and no one likes a showoff.
As for advice, your best bet is to keep your head down, and do your job to the best of your ability. Look for oprotunities to be proactive, that is, don't wait for someone to tell you to do something if you know it has to be done anyway. One thing you can look forward to is, you will get older, and then for a breif time you will be the right age.
Slashdot Mirror
It seems to me that what we are seening here in this forum is quite likly what is happening to RJ, and the IT comunity in general.
There are a number of IT professionals who have very strong opinions regarding what is termed "Professional Experience", and may feel that someone who is very young has not "Put in their dues". I can see where this could lead to some people making judgements about young IT professionals before really understanding their capabilities.
Keep in mind that you are dealing with a profession where the people who founded the technology that we work with, and are still working in the field today. And I'm sure many of them are in managment roles now and could feel that some young upstart could not possibably know more then them! After all they helped create the technology. I don't know if this is the case with RJ's situtation, but its a safe bet that the director is from another generation, mid 40's+, and may feel that RJ could not possibably have the experience that someone who is 25+ has. He probably thinks he can find someone with more experience that could do the job better. (And in the current job market, its a safe bet unfoutunatly)
One thing to remember about the "Real World" is that it is very political. Everyone is looking out for themselves, and have strong opinions on their profession. It may be that RJ has claimed 5 years of experience and the director feels the same way as many of the people posting here, that its not possible. And this alone could have marked RJ as a showoff, and no one likes a showoff.
As for advice, your best bet is to keep your head down, and do your job to the best of your ability. Look for oprotunities to be proactive, that is, don't wait for someone to tell you to do something if you know it has to be done anyway. One thing you can look forward to is, you will get older, and then for a breif time you will be the right age.
My $0.02
Good luck!
Ben