It’s awful. I’m a recruiter and constantly seeing how hiring managers talk about candidates that are in the last third of their careers is depressing.
One of my primary career goals is to make as much money and get as much experience as I can now, and then in my mid to late 40s find a job at as stable of a company as possible to hopefully ride it out for 15-20 years until I retire.
Based on what I’ve seen, no way would I want to be in a job hunt anytime after 50.
Yep. Just landed a job in October at age 61, but it was tough. Actually had a hiring manager say to me in an interview that their company "wasn't a place you come to retire." I hadn't said anything about retirement; was focused on selling my skills and experience, but for some reason she felt the need to say that.
It’s brutal, but I lucked out by following up with on a position that hadn’t been filled and got the job. I plan to ride this out for the next 6.5 years and then retire
I will tell you: after a restructuring that conveniently eliminated my position, 500+ applications, and 13 months… being over 45 is just one of the threads your mind pulls.
Same. Just now, in the last few weeks, “side quests” have started showing up. But I picked up some part-time work that has helped keep me moving forward. I have a feeling ‘26 is going to be all about stitching together part-time, consulting, and odd jobs.
i will level here that I was laid off in the Great Recession at 46... I searched for YEARS and got 45 interviews but no offers before giving up (to do something entrepreneurial that turned out to be a lot more fun and ultimately more lucrative than working). Those were some hard years for me however.
After either getting rejected or ghosted (about 50-50) by employers, a while later I'd search on linkedin to find out the new hire was nearly always in their 30's. But here's the thing: I was applying for mid-level positions, not more senior roles consistent with someone in their late 40s/early 50s (eg director level- that are rarely advertised and require a TON of experience, including promotions, to be qualified to recruiters). I had switched fields a COUPLE times (mostly, after layoffs, taking the 1st job I could get).
The people the companies hired were FOCUSED, with more in-depth experience in whatever I had been interviewing for despite fewer years of experience overall. Plus, I'd gone to graduate school, getting a PhD and post-doctoral work, killing years off my resume that other ppl who'd maybe just gotten an MBA or MS in engineering were using building their careers.
So it was my own fault for decisions I made early career to something fun as opposed to build a career just doing ONE thing. Employers HATE field jumpers. But if you get bored easily as I do, I would have gone nuts just doing one thing.
As you age you have GOT to be recognized for being successful at your jobs- by being promoted to more senior roles. If you are late 40s w/o those promotions, employers will assume, reasonably, you are simply low achieving so why shouldn't they hire someone younger who hasn't been passed over, so who has potential?
As careers progress, the options narrow and you have to FOCUS to stay employable.
51 here, just landed a job in tech after 3 months of unemployment after a layoff. I took a significant pay cut, but I really like my new manager and the team.
My experience is that tech startups are allergic to grayhairs, but the larger, more established companies seem more amenable to giving us a shot.
Experience has taught me it’s much better to work with and hire the expensive seasoned professional than it is to hire the new guy using new tech to reinvent the wheel for the umpteenth time.
I was just about to say—I’m 36 and I feel concerned for my own job situation in the next few years. This is mostly because, in the last 5 years I have had very few coworkers over 40-45.
The US is huge comparative to many other countries. Many people move away from home for jobs, which is a big limitation to allowing extended family situations.
Fuck that, we had a higher standard of living, and we need to fight for that, instead of changing an entire culture to suit the economy. Other cultures in other countries may think it's fine, but to me it amounts to acquiescing to a backslide.
It’s a shame, because many people can’t afford to retire either. On one hand, elites say “nobody wants to work,” but then on the other hand, your age is a mark against you like this. Major SMH…
Depends on if male or female the extent of this, and some careers are safer (like accounting, bookkeeping for example) per my 76 yo dad. However, yes, ageism is very real.
There's unfair discrimination - where you project unlikely negative stereotypes onto somebody because of their age, like assuming that 47 is too old to learn how to use new software.
And then there's the realities of hiring a 65-year old.
This is where the agism discussion just sort of goes off the rails - we're no longer just assuming unfounded stereotypes, and are entering a bracket where people truly are very commonly tired, sick, and winding down.
There's a reason why 65/67 are common retirement ages - sometimes even a mandatory retirement age for certain officer and board positions.
It's not an unfair stereotype to recognize that we all age and reach that place.
Exactly. People who are working past traditional retirement age are either doing it because they love their work (making them less of a flight risk than younger people still trying to climb the ladder), or because they can't afford to retire (and since ageism is a very real thing, they're probably not going anywhere either).
A lot of truth to this statement. They also tend to have a better work ethic. They’ll show up when needed, if they’re skilled in the job, they’ll work circles around some of the younger ones (the old ‘work smarter, not harder’ idea), and they bring a ton of experience.
Add to that the chances are they’ll stick around longer than two years chafing the next promotion.
Stereotypes suck. I'm 64. I've been working on a team with people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. I'm one of the most energetic, and I also am the one least stuck in a rut. For every negative about my age (e.g., "people truly are very commonly tired"), I defy that and bring something positive, such as decades of experience (e.g., every situation we encounter, I've encountered it before). Likewise, I also avoid stereotyping the younger people. Everyone is an individual.
> It's not an unfair stereotype to recognize that we all age and reach that place.
It's more than unfair, it's ignorant, prejudiced, bigoted and illegal to say what you're saying that people only younger than a specific age can do useful work.
Baby boomers, generally speaking, are useless. Everyone who has worked with one knows this to be true. We should require them to work in Amazon warehouses or on the frontlines of Ukraine in order to receive Medicare and Social Security.
It’s awful. I’m a recruiter and constantly seeing how hiring managers talk about candidates that are in the last third of their careers is depressing.
One of my primary career goals is to make as much money and get as much experience as I can now, and then in my mid to late 40s find a job at as stable of a company as possible to hopefully ride it out for 15-20 years until I retire.
Based on what I’ve seen, no way would I want to be in a job hunt anytime after 50.
I have friends who landed good jobs when they were 60 ish. But it is difficult.
Yep. Just landed a job in October at age 61, but it was tough. Actually had a hiring manager say to me in an interview that their company "wasn't a place you come to retire." I hadn't said anything about retirement; was focused on selling my skills and experience, but for some reason she felt the need to say that.
DUDE. That sounds legally actionable.
Yeah, I didn't record the interview, so it would have been my word against hers. But fortunately, I was hired somewhere else in October.
It’s brutal, but I lucked out by following up with on a position that hadn’t been filled and got the job. I plan to ride this out for the next 6.5 years and then retire
No one over 50 losing their job see it coming. So even if you feel safe in what you expect to ride out your final decade, it can be gone the next day.
Unrelenting ageism & hopelessness
I am not 65 yet… but really, I do wonder how much my age is affecting my job search.
I’m not 45 but in tech that means forced retirement. Cant imagine looking for a job at 50
I am not at this by choice 😕
You just pointed out one of my biggest fears. Not being able to find a job after 45
I will tell you: after a restructuring that conveniently eliminated my position, 500+ applications, and 13 months… being over 45 is just one of the threads your mind pulls.
I’m 47 and 2 years into searching. Just managed to pick up some part time work. It’s tough out there and being over 40 doesn’t help.
Same. Just now, in the last few weeks, “side quests” have started showing up. But I picked up some part-time work that has helped keep me moving forward. I have a feeling ‘26 is going to be all about stitching together part-time, consulting, and odd jobs.
i will level here that I was laid off in the Great Recession at 46... I searched for YEARS and got 45 interviews but no offers before giving up (to do something entrepreneurial that turned out to be a lot more fun and ultimately more lucrative than working). Those were some hard years for me however.
After either getting rejected or ghosted (about 50-50) by employers, a while later I'd search on linkedin to find out the new hire was nearly always in their 30's. But here's the thing: I was applying for mid-level positions, not more senior roles consistent with someone in their late 40s/early 50s (eg director level- that are rarely advertised and require a TON of experience, including promotions, to be qualified to recruiters). I had switched fields a COUPLE times (mostly, after layoffs, taking the 1st job I could get).
The people the companies hired were FOCUSED, with more in-depth experience in whatever I had been interviewing for despite fewer years of experience overall. Plus, I'd gone to graduate school, getting a PhD and post-doctoral work, killing years off my resume that other ppl who'd maybe just gotten an MBA or MS in engineering were using building their careers.
So it was my own fault for decisions I made early career to something fun as opposed to build a career just doing ONE thing. Employers HATE field jumpers. But if you get bored easily as I do, I would have gone nuts just doing one thing.
As you age you have GOT to be recognized for being successful at your jobs- by being promoted to more senior roles. If you are late 40s w/o those promotions, employers will assume, reasonably, you are simply low achieving so why shouldn't they hire someone younger who hasn't been passed over, so who has potential?
As careers progress, the options narrow and you have to FOCUS to stay employable.
51 here, just landed a job in tech after 3 months of unemployment after a layoff. I took a significant pay cut, but I really like my new manager and the team.
My experience is that tech startups are allergic to grayhairs, but the larger, more established companies seem more amenable to giving us a shot.
Wow ! Thats crazy
Depends on the field.
Experience has taught me it’s much better to work with and hire the expensive seasoned professional than it is to hire the new guy using new tech to reinvent the wheel for the umpteenth time.
I’m 39 and it’s affecting me
I was just about to say—I’m 36 and I feel concerned for my own job situation in the next few years. This is mostly because, in the last 5 years I have had very few coworkers over 40-45.
Ageism definitely exists. I was fortunate to get a decent job this year at 64.
god bless
Many Americans need to start doing what people in every other country do and have extended family live together.
The US is huge comparative to many other countries. Many people move away from home for jobs, which is a big limitation to allowing extended family situations.
And since the job situation ain't working out here...
That sounds effing depressing.
it shouldn't be so
Sorry. I love my mum but do not want to live with her.
Again, that's not the mindset across most of the globe.
Yep and that’s why we can’t get anything done.
Fuck that, we had a higher standard of living, and we need to fight for that, instead of changing an entire culture to suit the economy. Other cultures in other countries may think it's fine, but to me it amounts to acquiescing to a backslide.
Now there's some ethnocentricism.
My husband is job hunting at 49 and just took a job at 1/4 pay 😩
It’s a shame, because many people can’t afford to retire either. On one hand, elites say “nobody wants to work,” but then on the other hand, your age is a mark against you like this. Major SMH…
As someone who’s been laid off twice before 28, it seems like the struggle never ends.
Depends on if male or female the extent of this, and some careers are safer (like accounting, bookkeeping for example) per my 76 yo dad. However, yes, ageism is very real.
There's unfair discrimination - where you project unlikely negative stereotypes onto somebody because of their age, like assuming that 47 is too old to learn how to use new software.
And then there's the realities of hiring a 65-year old.
This is where the agism discussion just sort of goes off the rails - we're no longer just assuming unfounded stereotypes, and are entering a bracket where people truly are very commonly tired, sick, and winding down.
There's a reason why 65/67 are common retirement ages - sometimes even a mandatory retirement age for certain officer and board positions.
It's not an unfair stereotype to recognize that we all age and reach that place.
What realities might those be?
That they'll only stick around for a few more years at best.
So will the young people that want to improve their salary
Exactly. People who are working past traditional retirement age are either doing it because they love their work (making them less of a flight risk than younger people still trying to climb the ladder), or because they can't afford to retire (and since ageism is a very real thing, they're probably not going anywhere either).
A lot of truth to this statement. They also tend to have a better work ethic. They’ll show up when needed, if they’re skilled in the job, they’ll work circles around some of the younger ones (the old ‘work smarter, not harder’ idea), and they bring a ton of experience.
Add to that the chances are they’ll stick around longer than two years chafing the next promotion.
Stereotypes suck. I'm 64. I've been working on a team with people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. I'm one of the most energetic, and I also am the one least stuck in a rut. For every negative about my age (e.g., "people truly are very commonly tired"), I defy that and bring something positive, such as decades of experience (e.g., every situation we encounter, I've encountered it before). Likewise, I also avoid stereotyping the younger people. Everyone is an individual.
The do suck, immensely. Add color and sexism to the mix. I’m all three. And 65. Been at this rodeo most of my life.
I was taught at an early age to be aware and continue to seek whatever it was I was trying to achieve. It’s definitely been a struggle.
> It's not an unfair stereotype to recognize that we all age and reach that place.
It's more than unfair, it's ignorant, prejudiced, bigoted and illegal to say what you're saying that people only younger than a specific age can do useful work.
Baby boomers, generally speaking, are useless. Everyone who has worked with one knows this to be true. We should require them to work in Amazon warehouses or on the frontlines of Ukraine in order to receive Medicare and Social Security.
Amen
Truth