I just turned 50, got hit by a layoff, and the reality of ageism is setting in fast. It’s wild how the laws meant to protect older workers look great on paper, but in practice, companies have a million workarounds. Has anyone actually managed to prove ageism during a job hunt, or do we just have to find a way to work around it?

The market is tough right now. There’s companies out there with lots of longevity and matured talent. Hang in there. You’ll get something soon.

Good luck.

I ran into this after getting laid off at 52. The second I shortened my resume and stopped listing jobs from the 90s, I started getting more callbacks. It shouldn’t matter, but it definitely felt like it did.

I just went through something similar. I spoke with a recruiter who works primarily in my field. He recommended that I omit the first 10 years off my resume. Sound advice. I thought all that experience would establish my skills and credibility but it was working against me.

I’m 50 6 months still looking living off of unemployment. It’s soo hard today. I’m about to start accepting applications for a sugar daddy. I can’t find work !! I am very experienced LOL 🤣

Thanks for posting this. 52 and have extensive expertise as PSW. Been applying for over a year. My unemployment ran out. So stressed. I like the idea of getting rid of earlier employment. Going to try it. Thanks 🙏

Let's just say I am over 60. It took me 2.5 years after getting laid off to find another job. I am well qualified for all the hundreds of jobs I applied for and they would even say so. But once they would see me in the teams interview then everything would change. I am certain after what I went through it was ageism that kwpt me from getting a job much sooner. My prayers are with you!

I think that the older Americans who are out of work, like myself, are going to have to come to grips with the probability that we very likely will never be hired again. Period. We need to face that reality and strategize from there. Enough anecdotal and actual evidence has started to trickle in that should wake us up. We're not dead, we don't need to feel sorry for ourselves, we need to be creative, resilient and innovative in finding new ways to earn money. I'm not done contributing, not done earning, not done working. It's my job to figure out how to make that happen instead of bemoaning how long I've been unemployed, how unfair the current hiring practices are and how bummed out I am because of it all. I'm tired of hearing myself complain. I'm not sad anymore, I'm pissed off and so should you be. Use that edge from the anger all of us should feel. Use it!

It's not just ageism. I got laid off after my previous company violated my disability rights. You are spot on about companies finding a loophole. I'm in my 50s now and like others have said, I have removed anything that will date me on my resume. During interviews, I do the same and focus on my skills, talent and what I bring to the table. I leave any negativity out.

i worked for a fortune 100 company for 28 years - my birthday was September 18 and on September 30 i got laid off Age 60 age related ? makes you think . . . within 2 months program managers i used to support started calling me on my cell telling me they need me back there because the people they had could not do the programming that i did without any issues. i told them they could keep the un-experienced people they have. i started digital marketing and am happier than i ever was working for them. - - - keep in the fight and you will find something. . .

it is hard to proof because it is hard to be sure that it is there
is it there?
there are plenty of people in their late 30 who straggle to land a job

Amazon is always hiring managers. They like seasoned people who have leadership experience AND are comfortable with lots of data. If you’re a little weird, even better. Total package is great. Have to be able to tell good stories that include the Leadership Principles.

I noticed that too. They don’t ask for age on paper when applying but when they meet you for interview they immediately have an excuse like the position is closed (then why drag me in for an interview!).

I'm in about the same spot now. Not quite 50, but have been job hunting for a couple of months now. It seems AI (or some other algorithm process) filters 'everything'... do hiring departments and hiring get ANY applications and resumes at all?!?! And I've been out of work far longer than I've been searching - that's another story altogether.

I have no doubt ageism is real and alive in this job market. I see a post at least once a week on here of people having these issues. I think it’s a smart idea to listen to the other comments and remove some of the dates and older jobs you have on your resume

I hear you. In 2024 I got sick. In 2026 I was still working at the company yet I had to come in late every Monday as I had Dr appointment. I got approved for intermittent fmla and told my supervisor. She was not to happy. That was in March. End of April somehow my name was in the group for layoffs. I worked harder than my other coworkers, knew more about the program than the developers. all the reps that needed help were only coming to me because I was nice I shared tips and trick with them. I cared if they were having a bad day I helped them because it could effect their work. Another coworker is known by the company to be talking people into staging walkout when he didnt approve of new policies. He still works there. Managers in other departments are shocked that I was let go. They said it was personal. I am of the age group that is protected, I was on fmla and they didn’t care. They would rather have someone overseas do the work. Congress needs to pass a law fining companies for hiring overseas workers. but Why keep someone who is the most knowledgeable of the product for someone who tells a fib and says xyz when it’s not going to work and could cause issues for offices down the line.

I’m late 40’s, currently working a very under appreciated and under paid job and have been searching for nearly 6 months, had 2 interviews within a couple weeks last month then one hired in house and the other was less pay than I currently make so it wasn’t going to work financially and then I did a walk in with my resume at a few businesses today and got an interview with my new revamped resume and they want to hire me but the down side, it’s part time, not guaranteed full, the hours will suck royally and they have a high turn over rate which tells me it might not be a good fit so I’m still looking. Potentially have another interview in the works soon but it has been very stressful and hard finding something I can physically do or mentally handle because if it’s not stress over money, it’s work drama that has me stressed and neither are fixable instantly right now. My kids tell me I still looking young bless their heart but on paper I think they don’t give it a thought because it appears as though I’m an old lady. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Just gotta keep trying until something sticks. 🙏