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‘I feel invisible’: over-50s reveal harsh realities of trying to get a job
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2026
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Work Reform
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At 50 you're bound to have more connections than 30 though. That's way more people to ask for a job.
Wildly optimistic
I'm in my 30s and already have a network of ex-coworkers in a number of companies who could get me in the door where they're at currently if I needed. If a 50 year old hasn't maintained contacts for this it's kind of on them.
How privileged you are.
I've put a great deal of effort into building and keeping up relationships with these people and demonstrating my value as a coworker to them. It didn't fall into my lap. I'm also quite socially anxious by nature so I had to overcome that.
Yes privilege often comes through effort. Although never effort alone. Surely you can see that had things gone differently in your life, had a few unlucky brakes happened, that you would not enjoy this privilege you brag about. That judging someone for not having what you've obtained is foolhardy. And assuming everyone has the same resources is beyond ignorant.
I fail to see how someone who's been working for 30+ years can have absolutely no connections in their field. You have have made 0 effort for that to happen. It's not just "unlucky breaks".
Woof buddy. Giving off real Boomer 'fuck you I've got mine' energy here.
First of all, I don't "have mine", but at least I can keep myself employed. The boomers are the ones who rigged the system that's currently fucking them over. It's not my fault I play the game better than they did.
You know some people would have evaluated their language and realized they were coming off as a bit of a dick. But not you, you just kept digging. Wow.
How unfortunate for you.