240 Days of Insight Over 50: Navigating Change with Resilience, Hope, and a New Perspective on Work

Over the last eight months, navigating the job market across varied sectors like Unmanned, Public Safety, IT, SaaS, and Retail, domestic and abroad among others, has granted me not just lessons in adaptability and resilience, but also a profound appreciation for the nuances of employment in today's world.

Here's a reflection on my journey, illuminated by the numbers:

• 165 Applications Submitted: A testament to my willingness to explore diverse opportunities and industries, from Oil & Gas to Aviation and Public Safety.
• 93% No Response: The silence that greeted most of my applications taught me patience and the importance of perseverance amidst uncertainty.
• 4% Not Qualified: The occasional feedback that I was overqualified for roles in sectors like Fast Food and Retail offered unexpected insights into the unpredictability of job search criteria.
• 2% Engagement: The rare but valuable interviews that resulted from my applications underscored the importance of every interaction and the potential for growth and connection.
• <1% Success: My journey culminated in accepting an entry level position with a major grocery retailer, marking a significant shift not only in the type of work but in how I relate to work itself.

This transition back to an hourly role after more than 35 years has been an eye-opening experience. For the first time in decades, I've rediscovered the clarity that comes with a defined work schedule. There is no more 80-hour work week for 40 hours of pay. “Money doesn’t buy Happiness” I clock in, fully engage in my duties for 40 hours, and then clock out, leaving work at work. This shift has allowed me to appreciate the boundaries between professional and personal life anew. If there's overtime, it's acknowledged and compensated accordingly. This clear delineation of work time has been a refreshing change, emphasizing the importance of balance and the value of my time and effort.

Throughout this journey, alongside the formal nature of AI automated resume screenings and the sporadic yet significant personal interactions during the hiring process, I've navigated the complexities of the modern employment landscape. Adjusting my resume to fit ever-changing algorithms, mastering the complexities of digital applications, and confronting the subtle biases associated with age in the job market have been integral parts of my experience. Equally agonizing has been the realization that the professional support network I relied on, including friends for whom I've gone to bat in the past, sometimes dwindled when I reached out for assistance. This shift in dynamics, particularly after years of mutual support, underscored the often-solitary nature of navigating career transitions post-50, adding another layer of challenge but also of growth and self-reliance.

Yet, the most critical lessons have been about never giving up hope, the importance of perseverance, and now, the value of work-life balance. Never give up hope. Keep pushing forward. Every step, every interview, every day brings us closer to where we're meant to be, with our experiences and resilience serving as our greatest strengths.

To those navigating similar paths, remember: our worth is enhanced by our experiences, our knowledge, and our resilience. Let’s continue to push forward, with hope as our compass and now, with a renewed appreciation for the balance and respect that come with well-defined work hours. The right opportunity is out there, and with persistence, we will find it.

#NeverGiveUp #Resilience #Hope #WorkLifeBalance #JobSearchJourney #ProfessionalGrowth