Have you encountered ageism in executive support roles, either in hiring or in workplace dynamics? If so, how have you navigated it or advocated for yourself while maintaining professionalism?
Yes—ageism can show up in executive support roles, both in hiring (“too senior,” “overqualified,” “not a culture fit”) and on the job (being left out of key projects, assumptions about tech skills, comments about “energy” or “pace”). A few ways to handle it while staying professional:
Don’t argue “I’m not old” In interviews and at work, keep bringing it back to outcomes: speed, discretion, judgment, calendar control, stakeholder management, anticipating needs.
Stay current and make your skill with tools visible. If you’re strong with tools (O365/Google Workspace, Teams/Slack, Zoom, Concur, Salesforce, Asana, etc.), name them. Even better: “I streamlined scheduling using X,” “I built a tracking system in Y.”
Control the narrative in interviews. If you sense the “overqualified” vibe, address it directly and calmly:
-“I’m intentionally looking for an executive support role because I enjoy the work and I’m great at it.”
-“I’m here for stability and impact, not a stepping-stone.”
Set boundaries around respect. If comments cross the line, you can redirect without escalating:
-“I’m happy to talk about priorities and turnaround time—what deadline do you need?”
-“Let’s focus on what success looks like in this role.”
Document patterns, not feelings. If workplace dynamics get problematic, keep notes on specific behaviors, dates, and impact (missed info, access removed, undermining). If you need to escalate, it’s much stronger when it’s factual.
Build allies and visibility strategically. Executive support runs on trust. Find one or two internal partners (HRBP, chief of staff, senior EA, key manager) and make your work visible through clean updates, tight follow-through, and measurable wins.
If you’re open to sharing: did it show up more in the hiring stage (screening/interviews) or after you were already in the role? The best approach can differ depending on where it’s happening so more details can help others offer suggestions and comments.
