Starting a business, finding work through contacts: 3 seekers over 50 share how they navigated ageism, AI, rejection and kept giving hope

Networks Opened New Doors

Cicero applied to fewer than 10 companies while still working in sales. She relied on her network and a professional recruiter she had known for decades. She said she chose a company where she already knew someone. The familiarity made the move feel comfortable, she told Business Insider.

Experience Became An Asset

Michael Shmarak, 56, built relationships through retail work, teaching, and sharing ideas on Substack. Those connections have not yet led to a full-time position, but they have brought interviews and consulting opportunities.

After being ghosted repeatedly, Shmarak worked to view his age and experience as strengths. He said workers over 50 can consider what they can teach younger people and contribute, rather than focusing only on years in an industry.

A Career Change And New Business

Jennifer Mannix, 56, is moving from risk management into women's professional sports. Though she pursued entry-level jobs, she said 30 years of work had given her transferable skills that could be an advantage.

Mannix also began building a business that curates events around women's sports. She said she decided to create something for herself when hiring proved difficult.

Staying In The Search

Shmarak described using a “bob-and-weave” approach to keep going when new challenges arise. He compared it to avoiding being tagged out in dodgeball. The three job seekers' approaches varied, but each involved taking action: leaning on connections, reframing experience, or creating a new opportunity.