Corporate Millennials Discuss Being in Middle Management: Is It Empowering or Utterly Soul-Sucking?

Apparently, Millennials have reached that part of their life where many of their generation is starting to make their way into middle management. Some of us might be falling into the position nice and comfortably, but many of us are confused and scared… When did we stop being the rebellious youth? Are we becoming the man… How do I make money but not conform?? How do I manage people and not become the A-hole boss I always despised?? WHO AM I?

TikToker @nitetoast recently asked “corporate millennials” how they were settling in to their new roles in middle management. Because, she admits, she's straight up not having a good time. She no longer has imposter syndrome, which is great. But now she has existential dread pondering about wasting away the next 30+ years of her life in pointless zoom meeting after pointless zoom meeting—IF the climate even allows there to be another 30 years… It's all very confusing for millennials right now and nothing feels like it can just be alright for like one freaking second. 

“Plz fix thx”

“I have a question for corporate Millennials: How are we all settling into middle management? Because for one feel very conflicted. On the one hand, I am competent, I am an expert, promote me! But on the other hand I baby… I am a hot fun corporate girlie, but I'm also skipping happy hour so I can stay home with my plants… I don't have imposter syndrome anymore—instead, I have existential dread that I'm going to spend the next 30 years of my life on pointless Zoom meetings… So can you guys let me know, is there like, a shoulder exercise I should be doing? Or an app I can download to solve this?”  

Millennials in middle management positions or at least ones who have been offered middle management positions have flooded the comment section. Some are all about middle management, though most are not. Many advise to avoid management at all cost and be an “IC” aka an individual contributor. Others say they're simply trying to figure out how to balance being an authoritative figure while simultaneously staying as part of the team. One person even talks about how they are simply waiting for the work environment revolution that will eventually be brought on once the millennials and Gen-Z start working together. What everyone can agree on though, is the existential dread. Yep. At least we're all in that boat together…