This as-told-to essay relies on a dialog with Leslie Sonnenklar, a 55-year-old communications and content material skilled from Phoenix, Arizona. It has been edited for size and readability.
I used to be laid off in March 2025, and truthfully, the job search since then has been one of the crucial irritating and defeating experiences of my life.
As knowledgeable in my mid-50s, I’ve greater than 32 years of expertise within the communications business. I began my profession in 1994 as a advertising and marketing coordinator, owned my very own enterprise for 11 years, and most lately served because the director of content material and communications at a advertising and marketing company.
During the last 14 months, I’ve utilized for over 300 jobs. I’ve tailor-made my résumé, written considerate cowl letters, reached out to hiring managers, met with recruiters, and tried to maintain an open thoughts about positions with titles much like these I held a lot earlier in my profession.
Many individuals are good and say issues like, “Oh, I have been there twice” and even 3 times. I’ve by no means been in a scenario the place I could not discover a job. It is troublesome, and generally I really feel embarrassed. Nonetheless, I’ve to consider that I am going to discover one thing — that it is all a blip —and I am going to choose proper again up the place I left off.
In Nonetheless within the Sport, Enterprise Insider is chronicling the realities of job looking in your 50s — from overcoming age bias and navigating profession transitions to rebuilding confidence, updating expertise, and discovering new alternatives in a aggressive job market. Learn extra tales right here, and share your individual expertise right here.
It is arduous to remain constructive after solely touchdown a handful of interviews
LinkedIn will say “over 100 individuals” have utilized to a job — however that would imply 101 or 1,001. It makes me really feel like the percentages are stacked in opposition to me earlier than anybody has even seen my résumé.
Sonneklar says she believes her age is working in opposition to her.Jessie Reiser for BI
I discover it arduous to consider firms have a look at my résumé and assume I am not certified. I make it some extent to tailor each résumé with AI to align my expertise with what they are saying they need within the job description. I do know I convey worth. I convey logic, perspective, maturity, creativity, and a long time of expertise serving to organizations strengthen their model.
I actually wish to be taught and innovate, and I even taught youthful individuals use AI at my final company. It has been arduous to remain optimistic, however I do know I’ve to as a result of I nonetheless want to return throughout as skilled, succesful, and certified.
I really feel like expertise turns into a legal responsibility when you attain a sure level in your profession
The one conclusion I can come to is that I am overqualified for lots of those jobs, or they assume that I am too caught in my methods as a result of I have been doing this for 32 years. I consider ageism is at play in at the moment’s job market. I used to be even informed by recruiters: solely embrace the final 10 years of your job historical past.
An organization can rent somebody of their 20s or 30s and pay them much less, and mould them. Possibly firms need to train youthful workers alongside the way in which and pay them lower than what they’d pay somebody with my expertise.
Firms say they’re searching for skilled individuals, however the job descriptions learn like they’re searching for a unicorn. I’ve seen roles that need one particular person to steer technique, write copy, handle search engine optimization, be an analytics skilled, and even deal with design. These aren’t the identical talent units, and senior communications professionals should not need to have all of these to show their worth.
I’ve lowered — or at the very least adjusted — my expectations
Sonneklar is specializing in connections over purposes.Jesse Reiser for BI
In 2025, I used to be solely making use of for distant jobs as a result of that is what I ideally need. However after 9 months and just a few interviews, I began making use of to jobs with firms within the Phoenix space.
I additionally pivoted away from making use of to jobs posted on LinkedIn and began focusing extra on jobs the place I may discover an inside connection or referral. If you’re out of labor and doing all the pieces you’ll be able to, even a small introduction can really feel like a lifeline.
One of many extra irritating issues has been reaching out to individuals I do know — together with individuals I’ve identified for years — and getting no response.
Sometimes, somebody has been variety sufficient to make an introduction to a hiring supervisor or recruiter, and I’ve secured a few interviews that means, however it hasn’t been sufficient.
It might really feel hopeless, however I’ve to consider the correct job will come alongside
Her retirement plans are presently unaffected.Jesse Reiser for BI
This search has been one of the crucial humbling experiences of my life. I by no means thought I might be on this scenario. The fixed questions from household and pals come from a superb place, however each time I’ve to say, “No, I nonetheless have not discovered a job,” it makes the method really feel much more defeating.
I am not anxious about my future retirement, monetary plans, or sense of stability but. I’ve saved properly — I used to be good and deliberate financially, ought to one thing like this ever occur.
It does trouble me, although, that I wish to be ready once I do retire, and I’ve spent the final 12 months not contributing to that retirement. I additionally know that it is only a matter of not discovering that proper alternative. I do know in my coronary heart that I am going to discover one thing.
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