I'm 25, now hitting 2 years in my first full-time/office job and the thing I struggle the most with at work is visibility. Everything about the corporate world feels so performative and it is such a struggle for me to schmooze up to the CEO or make small talk with everyone I pass by.

We are a small company (only 12 office employees and 6 warehouse guys) and the CEO is your typical super-extroverted type who loves people kissing his ass. I could simply care less about doing that and while i understand mostly everyone fakes it, i am so bad at that kind of thing!

I've gotten two raises during my time and consistent positive performance reviews, but it still feels like i'm overlooked with how much i have on my plate and the value i bring to the company. I'm a very introverted, "let the work speak for itself" type of person, and that is an obvious point of weakness in corporate culture

In need of any suggestions or tips for people who have struggled with similar things

Suck his cawk

How could you not be visible amongst 12 people maybe you are overthinking it and they understand your quiet personality just fine

1 minute ago, brenda-walsh said:

I'm a very introverted, "let the work speak for itself" type of person, and that is an obvious point of weakness in corporate culture

wait, this is so real. I don't work in corporate but it's held true for me in academia too.

I respect others more when they deliver work and keep socialization a separate, sincere thing. it's a shame it's a vulnerable MO that allows others to wallpaper their assumptions onto you

The thing about the corporate world is that people that are introverted will eventually stagnant career wise while extroverted people will move up the ladder and given the best front office roles.

It's all performative. Everyone in one way or another is faking it. It sucks but if you want to see yourself move up you're gonna have to suck it up and be extroverted. If you want to coast then you don't need to do that.

You just have to force yourself to fake it. Consider it like an acting role, it makes it more fun tbh. Maybe even add lies to your life to make convos more interesting. Make things up to keep convos going. I love lying to colleagues, bosses, and clients that I know I will never have a relationship with beyond my job.

So you have a job... and you have gotten multiple raises?

Nn I find this very relatable, especially when you have administrative work. Everyone is so social and easy-going but idgaf and I can't hide it. At least they don't seem to mind most of the time.

Focus on building good relationships with your direct superior(s) and those within your immediate team. Develop a positive reputation within your immediate circle, that will spread that to others and they will engage with you and gravitate towards you with that perception in mind. A positive reputation also means people are willing to cut you a lot more slack than others.

I'm not the most social guy nor do I kiss ass (couldn't think of anything worse), but I always try to be friendly and receptive when interacting with others whether it directly relates to work or is just social chat, coupled with my reputation I think makes me approachable (unless you're one of my work besties or I need something from you work wise I rarely initiate). If you do your job well and are likeable, combined with if you advocate for yourself I think you can do well in the workplace.

The problem is that there are some people in management who are nice people but leadership wise are always on a power trip and so come across as incredibly two faced, and/or they play favourites, but those things are largely out of your control.

Maybe your problem is you aren't social enough as you put it, maybe it's that you don't advocate for yourself, maybe it's a bit of both. It sounds like you do a good job so perhaps you need to leverage that to improve your visibility in other areas

don't kiss ass. continue to be yourself.

i mean, you've gotten good reviews and raises. so you're doing something right!

i would suggest though, that you do learn to play the game a bit. not kissing ass, but if the team is say going out for drinks, don't always say no. agree to go every once in a while. try to make small talk with the boss when you can. even if you have a question that you already know the answer to, ask them anwyay, just to engage in conversation

a smile goes a long way. very misogynistic to say in this context but i'm assuming you're a man so idgaf. pump that confidence and start talking! a compliment coming from the most quiet guy in the room (since you've established that reputation i guess) is like 100x more valuable than the over-confident ass kissing spécialiste.

let's research mama

Quit and make an onlyfans

What a miserable American life you're living OP. You need to rethink your life and whether you are actually content with what you're doing.

I'm in a very corporate environment, a big company, and can relate to every single word you wrote, except all of this happening to you in a company with only 12 people??? My advice to you would've been moving to a smaller company, but the one you're in is already small, gurl maybe you're the problem.

1 hour ago, Sours said:

a smile goes a long way. very misogynistic to say in this context but i'm assuming you're a man so idgaf. pump that confidence and start talking! a compliment coming from the most quiet guy in the room (since you've established that reputation i guess) is like 100x more valuable than the over-confident ass kissing spécialiste.

let's research mama

That's such an out-of-touch, OK-boomer piece of advice to give. Why don't you also tell him to "man up"?.

Let them all know in a company wide email blast that Olivia Rodrigo just announced her third album, coming out June 12th

Suck his cock

Fondle the balls, too

I'm in the same shoes as you and it certainly doesn't help that I am the youngest on the team and everybody is 35+ and is gagging at AI slop and is using Copilot to write emails and messages on Teams. Mind you, I am one of the best and efficient performers yet I have never seen a bonus, and I doubt I'd see one soon.

**** capitalism and all corporations.

Suck his cock and then blackmail him.

if sucking cock and/or licking ass was the solution then the world would be full of ceos

3 hours ago, Genie in a Bottle said:

Quit and make an onlyfans

Isn't OnlyFans already a saturated market?

This is why I do the bare minimum and only what's required of me

4 hours ago, Night Howler said:

That's such an out-of-touch, OK-boomer piece of advice to give. Why don't you also tell him to "man up"?.

well… yes!