I’m 55 and have applied to over 300 jobs. I never expected my 32 years of experience to work against me.

This as-told article is based on a conversation with Leslie Sonnenklar, a 55-year-old communications and content specialist from Phoenix, Arizona. Edited for length and clarity.

I was laid off in March 2025 and frankly job search It has since been one of the most frustrating and defeating experiences of my life.

As a professional in my mid-50s, I have over 32 years of experience in the communications industry. I started my career as a marketing coordinator in 1994, owned my own business for 11 years, and most recently served as a content and communications director at a marketing agency.

I’ve applied to over 300 jobs in the last 14 months. I I adapted my resumeI wrote thoughtful cover letters, reached out to hiring managers, interviewed recruiters, and tried to keep an open mind about positions with titles similar to those I held much earlier in my career.

A lot of people are nice and say things like, “Oh, I went there twice,” or even three times. I have never encountered a situation where I could not find a job. This is very difficult and sometimes I feel ashamed. I still have to believe that I will find something – that everything is a moment in time – and pick up where I left off.

Inside I’m Still in the GameFrom overcoming age bias and navigating career transitions to rebuilding confidence, updating skills, and finding new opportunities in a competitive job market, Business Insider covers the realities of job hunting in your 50s. To read There are more stories here, and share yours experience here.

It’s hard to stay positive after only doing a handful of interviews

LinkedIn will say “more than 100 people” applied for a job, but it could also mean 101 or 1,001. It makes me feel like the odds are stacked against me before anyone even sees my resume.

I find it hard to believe that companies look at my resume and think I’m not qualified. I make a point of tailoring each resume with AI to align my experience with what they want in the job description. I know I add value. I bring common sense, perspective, maturity, creativity, and decades of experience to help organizations strengthen their brands.

I really want to learn and innovate, I even taught young people How to use artificial intelligence at my last agency. It’s been hard to stay optimistic but I know I have to because I still need to appear professional, competent and qualified.

I think experience becomes a liability once you reach a certain point in your career

The only conclusion I can come to is that they think I’m too qualified for most of these jobs, or that I’m too stuck in my ways because I’ve been doing this for 32 years. I believe ageism is at play today’s job market. In fact, recruiters told me: only include the last 10 years of your work history.

A company can hire someone in their 20s or 30s, pay them less, and mold them. Maybe companies are considering training younger employees during this time and paying them less than they would pay someone with my experience.

Companies say they’re looking for experienced people, but their job descriptions make it sound like they’re looking for a unicorn. I’ve seen roles that require a person to lead strategy, write copy, manage SEO, be an analyst, or even handle design. These are not the same skills, and senior communications professionals do not need to have all of them to prove their worth.

I lowered my expectations or at least adjusted them

Just me in 2025 apply for remote jobs Because ideally that’s what I want. But nine months and just a few interviews later, I started applying for jobs at companies in the Phoenix area.

I also stopped applying to job postings posted on LinkedIn and started focusing more on jobs where I could find inside connections or referrals. When you’re done and you’ve done everything you can, even a small entry can feel like a lifeline.

One of the most frustrating things was reaching out to people I knew, including people I’d known for years, and getting no response.

Sometimes someone would be kind enough to meet a hiring manager or recruiter, and I set up a few meetings that way, but it just wasn’t enough.

It may feel hopeless but I have to believe the right job will be found

This search was one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life. I never thought I would be in this situation. The constant questions from family and friends come from a good place, but every time I have to say, “No, I still haven’t found a job,” it makes the process feel even more draining.

I’m not worried about me future retirementfinancial plans or yet a sense of stability. I saved well; I was smart and financially planned if something like this happened.

But it bothers me that I don’t want to be prepared when I retire, and that I spent the last year not contributing to that retirement. I also know that the problem comes from not finding the right opportunity. I know in my heart that I will find something.

Do you have a story to share about how to navigate your career in your 50s? If so, please contact the reporter at tmartinelli@businessinsider.com.

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