Huh?

My normal carpool consists on myself, a girl I used to work with, and two guys (one of whom hardly ever participates). One of the guys neighbors is in Josh’s carpool (we’ll call him New Guy) and sometimes he has meetings in our office. Monday was the first time he rode with us, and then again today. This morning on the way in to work we were talking about where we were from originally, how we got started at Cat, etc. At one point, New Guy turns to me and says, “so, you started on the shop floor and then got into an office job?” A little shocked I said, “ahhh, no, I came here after I got my Masters Degree.”

Now don’t me wrong, I have the same respect for shop floor workers as I do office workers. But shop workers that transition into office jobs are typically a Salary Grade 12 or 14. This level of employee is generally an office assistant, data enterer, or phone support. They typically do not have a college degree and are primarily interested in having a (decent paying) job rather than a career. I am a Salary Grade 21 - management. I make a point to dress and speak professionally – to keep up on the news and industry topics - to be taken seriously despite my age. So why did he assume that of me? What in the world gave him that idea?

It’s seriously bothering me.