Making the Best of My Baby Face

[YMZ PE]

I work in construction management for a public agency. I get asked at least once a day whether I'm an intern because of how young I look, especially at jobsites. The thing is, I have five years' professional experience, my PE license, and a good amount of common sense. Contractors will assume I'm green until they get to know me, but until then I'm often dealing with snarky comments insinuating I lack an understanding of what's going on.

Rather than getting self-conscious about it though, I'm trying to figure out how to use my youthful appearance to my advantage, especially in dealing with contractors at the beginning of jobs. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Krakosky]

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. 28 going on 18. I don't think it helps that we're women either. I don't have any advice for you but just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

 

[frazil]

I've heard those comments my whole career so far (10 years), but they seem to have slowed down since I started getting gray hair. In fact I'd say the respect I get is directly correlated to the amount of gray hairs on my head.

So you could try dying your hair?

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I looked 14 until I was 29 or so. Trust me, you grow out of it.

 

[Krakosky]

I'm not sure I want to lol. Baby face, tank ***...how can anyone resist?

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

I got 10 years on the job now, so I've heard most of the typical contractor stories.

When I was a noob, I didn't know just what they were up to, but my ******** meter went off when something fishy was going on. I'd offer to call my boss to get some change approved, and suddenly the contractor would back off. I wonder why.

I assume if you're young and a woman they'll to get away with everything.

It could be worse Krako - it could be tank face and baby ***.

 

[Krakosky]

^ haha. So true.

 

[knight1fox3]

^ LOL

 

[YMZ PE]

I've heard those comments my whole career so far (10 years), but they seem to have slowed down since I started getting gray hair. In fact I'd say the respect I get is directly correlated to the amount of gray hairs on my head.

So you could try dying your hair?

Good idea. I've heard meth works wonders for looking older too.

 

[csb]

Same thing- 10 years, people still think I'm the intern. Got a new haircut and some gray hair and now people don't talk over me as much. Still can't shake the first impression that I'm the secretary, though.

 

[YMZ PE]

Still can't shake the first impression that I'm the secretary, though.

Don't get me started on this one.

Baby face seems to be a problem for a lot of us. Are engineers more risk-averse than other professions or something? Personally, I slather on sunscreen even on cloudy days and stay away from drugs, skydiving, and other things that might make me age faster.

 

[snickerd3]

^ this is why i like to send people some sort of correspondance that has my signature block with the big fat PE after my name before meeting them for the first time.

 

[frazil]

Well I admit I'm a little nervous when seeing a doctor that looks about 18 years old, man or woman. I think its any profession where you're entrusting the person with a lot of responsibility.

 

[csb]

I'll admit that I've let people go on and on, thinking they are impressing some young college student, just to see how far they'll talk. I've also had co-workers bust me while I've been doing that. Frequently the people who are egotistical enough to feel they need to impart ALL of their knowledge to someone who looks young also are egotistical enough to rattle on for a long time before they ask about me. Then I hit them with my experience.

I'll also mention that people are more likely to spill things to the intern than to the engineer

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

^ this is why i like to send people some sort of correspondance that has my signature block with the big fat PE after my name before meeting them for the first time.

I find whipping out my big fat PE-ness puts any doubts aside.

 

[YMZ PE]

I'll admit that I've let people go on and on, thinking they are impressing some young college student, just to see how far they'll talk. I've also had co-workers bust me while I've been doing that. Frequently the people who are egotistical enough to feel they need to impart ALL of their knowledge to someone who looks young also are egotistical enough to rattle on for a long time before they ask about me. Then I hit them with my experience.

I'll also mention that people are more likely to spill things to the intern than to the engineer

Sweet! This is exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for!

I find whipping out my big fat PE-ness puts any doubts aside.

..and this one was a freebie.

 

[Chucktown PE]

Still can't shake the first impression that I'm the secretary, though.

Don't get me started on this one.

After I finished grad school my first job was for a big national consulting firm in a small start up office in Atlanta. We were short on funds and office space so I had to sit at the front desk for about 2 years. When I made appointments with vendors, other engineers, contractors, etc. they'd all come by the office and ask to speak to Chucktown PE. I always enjoyed telling them that I was Chucktown PE and that I was both a secretary and an engineer. I felt that it made me more humble, although there are some on this board that might beg to differ.

Baby face seems to be a problem for a lot of us. Are engineers more risk-averse than other professions or something? Personally, I slather on sunscreen even on cloudy days and stay away from drugs, skydiving, and other things that might make me age faster.

I for one enjoy hookers and blow as do a few other folks on here. Don't knock the lifestyle till you try it.

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

I find whipping out my big fat PE-ness puts any doubts aside.

..and this one was a freebie.

When an opportunity presents itself, you gotta go with it.

 

[YMZ PE]

^ Also good advice. I'm not as confident as you though - my PE-ness is only valid in one state.

 

[pbrme]

^grow a beard bro

<--- Has a baby face, gets carded for bubble gum, but not with beard.