Laid Off at 52: Too Young to Retire, Too Old for the Job Market?
It was a pretty good run. 25 years between layoffs is almost unheard of, especially when you work in tech. But my luck had to catch up with me eventually, and here I am looking for a new job at age 52. It’s only been about five years since my last job search, but considering everything that’s changed since then it feels a lot longer. So, what’s different?
Read: 1-in-8 Retirees Returning to Workforce; experts give tips to find your new job
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AI is the obvious change, and it’s been written about ad nauseum on LinkedIn and other platforms, so I’ll spare you the details. The TLDR (as they like to constantly say at tech companies) is that your resume will be screened by bots and you’ll get tons of rejections for jobs you feel fully qualified for.
But there’s another shift, perhaps fueled by AI as well as the overwhelming number of candidates out there. Companies appear to be looking for people who have done the exact job or worked in the specific subject area the position focuses on. It makes sense; in this environment, why shouldn’t employers be picky and find super-qualified candidates who can jump right into the role? But it takes away growth opportunities, not just for people to advance into more senior roles, but for people to pivot and try new things. And companies are missing out on strong candidates who might not be an exact match on paper.
My second job at Microsoft was as a site manager for Xbox.com customer support. I had never worked as a site manager, never worked in customer support, and knew next to nothing about video games. In today’s market, there’s no way I get past the original screening. Why did I get that role? At the time I asked myself the same question, especially in the first few weeks as I struggled with a steep learning curve. But eventually I figured out that they were looking for someone who understood content, and my previous experience at the company showed that I knew how to apply my skills in different contexts. And OK, maybe I lied about my gamer score. But I did succeed in that role, and it helped me shift into new areas.
The current market leaves no such room to fake it ‘til you make it. Today, that job description would say “5+ years in gaming.” Companies are also looking for years of experience in technology that’s barely existed that long.
What else is different? I’m over 50. Am I being discriminated against? Probably, but that’s not even the point. At this age, friends and family ask a lot of questions. Do I want to go back to the grind of a big company? Do I want to try something new? Can I consider part-time work or, gasp, retirement? Everyone in my position will have their own answers to these questions. But regardless, it’s easy to feel stuck in the middle. I’m still years away from access to my 401k, social security or Medicare. And I know I have plenty to offer. I mean, I must have gained some wisdom over the years.
There is one advantage to being this age. I know a lot of people in a lot of places. And that’s really the only way around the bots and the hyper-specific job requirements. In the first few weeks after I was laid off, I was hesitant to reach out to contacts. Maybe it was embarrassment, maybe it was wanting to prove that I could do things the old-fashioned way. But reaching out to former colleagues has been helpful and made the process feel less lonely.
Age also brings perspective. I’ve been here before, and I remember how bleak it seemed until I found a freelance gig, and then a contract role, and then a full-time position. It will happen; it just takes time and playing the numbers game. The last time I was out of work, someone said to me, “there aren’t a lot of jobs out there.” My reply: “Good thing I only need one.” At 52, I’ll take that bit of positivity from my younger self and keep refreshing until the right one pops up in my feed.
