A 57-year-old technology professional who has spent 25 years at a single company recently shared on Reddit the shock of receiving a 30-day layoff notice. He wrote, “It came as an unexpected shock, the worst part is I’m 57 years old and a few years away from my planned retirement. It feels like I’m being treated as a 2-3 year employee being fired, which I don’t like, it’s just strange.”
Navigating a New Job Market at 57
“I have applied for a few jobs but I’m still wrapping up my current job in Technology. I have my resume ready and customized to the roles I have applied for but I’m not too hopeful of finding a role until after the first of the year,” he wrote. The employee added that he is prepared to rely on his severance package and unemployment benefits during the transition.
Since COVID, he has been working remotely, which he says has made navigating the local job market in the Southwest region “a bit different.” He has been the hiring manager for many years and is confident in his ability to adapt, but admits that long-term employment with a single company presents new challenges in job hunting.
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He has updated his LinkedIn profile and is actively tracking job postings. His financial situation is stable, with minimal living expenses, and his wife managing household finances. He is not aiming for high-paying positions, targeting roles closer to 100k or even 80k to widen his options in the current market.
Several Reddit users responded with sympathy and advice. One wrote, “Sorry to hear, unfortunately, this is the norm. I know several folks who got laid off after working 20+ years and are close to retirement. Now that they are aged 55+, many are going into early retirement due to lack of job opportunities. Wishing you all the best on your job hunt.”
Another commented, “Sorry to hear, this is a shock. My suggestion is to get mentally and financially prepared for a long layoff. It could be a lot longer than ‘after the first of the year’ – I know people in their late 50’s who have been looking for 12-18 months now. Also, there are a ton of ghost jobs, fake jobs, scam jobs out there. You’ll quickly learn what is real and what isn’t.”