Because you are just a hard working nerd, ？

If that's the case, you should polish your personality and make youself more charming and likable. Imaging that you are the boss, and your have a team of "民工“， then you have your college schoolmate also working for you. If the ”民工“ is not charming and likable, your classmate will get favorable treatment from you. Same case here, you have to win your boss over, not only with your hard work, but also your personality.