How do I get past people's first and lasting impressions of me being younger than I am?

Question

I actually look my age, and only where I live do people mistake me for younger. I go someplace else and people know my age pretty much. It sometimes helps me to seem younger here, but mostly it's a disadvantage, especially when it comes to employment. No matter how I dress and behave, people still assume I'm younger. How can I get people to stop thinking of me as "sweet" or "too young" or whatever comes to mind when they think I'm younger? If I can't get some of them to go beyond that, there's no chance for them to pay attention to better things about me. :(

Answer 1

I am 24; I don't feel young, but people still ask me which high school I go to. I don't dress like I'm in highschool, and I don't act like I am in highschool. I am at the point where I appreciate being thought of as very young (I am gonna be one of those people that cries on my 30th b-day); however, it does affect you with job interviews. What I have found is that the moment I sense they think I am too young, I immediately tell them how old I am and that even though I look sweet and innocent, I am tough and smart. My educational and work backgrounds proves what I really am. You just have to be prepared to stand up for yourself. Go into job interviews with and smile on your face and your head held high. Prove to them that there is more to you than your age or looks.

Answer 2

I have this problem too! I am 23 and I'm a representative for my company and sometimes when I meet clients they don't want to talk to me because they think I am too young and must not be educated. I've got my degree, I've got 6 years experience in my field, I know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, enough about me. This can be very frustrating. You dont want look old and frumpy but you want people to take you seriously. Things that I have tried that work well for me:
1. Pull your hair back into a bun or twist. You can do this and still look sexy and professional.
2. Wear a shirt that makes you feel good--like a pretty tank or scoop neck. Then put on a blazer over top. Even if you are out on the town or somewhere casual, you can wear a blazer with jeans, a skirt, or whatever. And you will look a little "less sweet"
3. Wear jewelry right. Keep earings small, necklaces around the collar line and limit the number of rings/bracelets you wear.
4. Put blush under your cheek bone instead of brushing it on top of the cheek bone. Rosy cheeks make you look young and vivacious (great for most women but if you look young already, you need to stear clear from this).
5. Don't wear glitter, sparkles or shimmering makeup.
6. Be confident. Nothing says "adult" like confidence. Besides, if people say you look young that is only because they are jealous of how great you look. (My husband taught me this one )

Good luck!

Answer 3

I am 27 and people think I am like 19 sometimes. I hate it because no one takes me seriously like when I go for a job or whatever. As you said, it doesnt even matter how you act or dress it's like they see you and assume you are too young to possibly fit in there. I have a 5 yr old boy and when he was younger and even now people look at me like I am some unwed teen mother. I even bought a ring to wear on my ring finger so people may think i am married so they will maybe think I am older. I shouldnt care but whatever. I even get people in stores looking at me like I am a teenage thief, lol. I guess when you are in high school they think it automatically means you steal stuff.

I was in a Wal-Mart where they had put a checkout in the makeup section to cut down on theft so that you had to pay for that stuff before you walked into the rest of the store. So i was probably 19 at the time and looked 14, lol, and I saw an old lady with makeup stuff go up to the two old ladies working the checkout and they said oh dont worry about it you can pay for it up front...so I took note and when I went to walk into the rest of the store they had the nerve to stop me and say I had to pay there. I said well then why the hell didnt that old lady have to? Because she doesnt look like a thief and I do? They just looked at me and I said I was NOT paying there and they could call the manager if they had a problem with it. Nothing happened but I bet I coulda sued them if they had given me any more problems. It's discrimination no matter how trivial you think it is.

Another thing is my last three cars have been luxury cars and you should see the looks people give me like I am out joyriding in my parents car or something illegal, lol. So stupid. I feel I look around 25, I dont get it.

Answer 4

Try this . . . take a picture of you and place it next to a picture of someone the age you would like to portray. Then compare pics and see what they do different than you. For example, an older person might wear their slacks higher on the waist than a younger person. An older person may not use barretts but combs. etc. You get the point? Try different "looks" until you get the one you want.

Answer 5

Sounds to me like a good thing..
Be thankful of being thought of as young & sweet....
It is tough to get better than "young & sweet"....

Answer 6

You will miss this after you get older, Enjoy it now :)
People have told me the same thing my whole life, Now that I'm 50 its not too bad to hear!!!!

Answer 7

who cares? If you think there's no chance then there isn't. Just be confident and accepting of you for who you are. =)