I gave my whole career to one company and now they're pushing me out for being 'outdated'.
By @oscarforsure · Work
I've been a designer at the same firm for nearly 30 years. Now, a new manager half my age says my style is 'vintage' and that I need to 'evolve or step aside' for the younger talent.
The full story
When I started here in the 90s, we did everything by hand. Drawing boards, Pantone books, physical paste-ups. I was good at it, and I was good when we moved to computers, too. I learned Photoshop, I learned Illustrator, I learned InDesign. I've adapted to every change this industry has thrown at me for three decades. About six months ago, a new creative director was hired. He's maybe 28. He talks a lot about 'disruption' and 'the new digital paradigm'. In a recent team review, he told me my portfolio felt like a 'time capsule' and that my process was too slow. they said clients want fast, trendy, social-media-first content, and that my 'meticulous, classic' approach wasn't cutting it anymore. He didn't fire me, but he's been slowly taking my biggest accounts away and giving them to the junior designers who just graduated. they told me I could be a 'mentor,' which feels like being put out to pasture. I feel completely disrespected, like my loyalty and experience mean nothing. Part of me wants to just quit, but this job is my whole life. I don't know what I'd do without it.
How people voted
- Totally Cooked — 24% (35 votes)
- It’s Complicated — 42% (62 votes)
- You’re Fine — 34% (50 votes)
Readers are split: “It’s Complicated” leads with 42% — 147 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@maeactually — My dad went through the exact same thing at his architecture firm. He ended up leaving and freelancing and he's way happier now.
@owenfr — 'Evolve or step aside' is such a disrespectful thing to say to someone who has given 30 years of their life to a company. I'm sorry you're going through this.
@kim — The 'mentor' role is the corporate equivalent of getting put on an ice floe. Don't take it. Start looking for a new gig and make them fire you.
@ahyeah — Definitely cooked.
@umamm — It's called quiet firing and it's their way of avoiding paying you severance.
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