Q: I feel like I’m in highschool all over again. I work for a company that is 95% women and they are so damn cliquey! I can’t believe we’re all in our 20s and 30s and they’re acting like this. I became close with a group of 4 girls as we worked on projects and traveled together for work conferences. I’ve gone to a few happy hours with them, but they never invite me to hang out with them on the weekends. They go to brunch and winery tours-places I would love to go with some girlfriends. I moved to Chicago for my husband’s job from Florida, so I don’t have a lot of friends here. I mean, I know I’m a few years older than them and none of them are married, but I don’t think that should be a big deal. I can obviously see what they’re up to on Snapchat or Instagram so I just feel awkward when I see them on Mondays. How do I not let this bother me or interfere with our working relationships?

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A: Doesn’t matter what age we are, it never feels good to be left out. Rather than waiting for an invite, why not plan something fun one weekend and invite them? I think this will be an awesome way to break the ice and let them know that you’re down to hang out, despite any age difference or the fact that you’re married. If they aren’t responsive to your gesture, then it’s their loss. It’s best to just let it go, so you can maintain your professional relationships at work. If your company is mostly women, why not have lunch with some different coworkers? Send out an email about a happy hour or a meet up to workout. It’s tough moving to a new city and not having a core group of friends, but Chicago is a huge city. You just have to put yourself out there. Check out my post for the best ways to meet new GFs when you’re the new girl in town or just looking to widen your social circle.