Oct 26, 2024
Sean Tetpon has had a long and distinguished career, earning six figures as a corporate communications manager for major companies including IBM, where he worked for more than 15 years. The job market has changed in recent years, though. In 2019, Tetpon was laid off. He then drove for Lyft until he was hired in 2021, and was laid off again in September of 2023.
Unfortunately, bouncing back from that September layoff has proved impossible so far, and not for a lack of effort.
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"Job seeking initially has become a full-time job again — seven, eight hours a day applying for roles," Tetpon told Business Insider. He's submitted more than 1,000 applications during those hours, taking the time to customize each one.
“I get nervous when there are 100 applicants for the same job," Tetpon said. "But I applied for them anyway because you never know. It's like playing the lottery."
Despite being invited to interview 30 times and making it to the final round three times, Tetpon hasn’t landed a new position in his field. He attributes this to three big problems, including age discrimination. But, is this really the issue, and what can people like Tetpon do in this situation? Here's what you need to know.
Are these three issues making it impossible to find work?
According to Tetpon, there are three reasons he hasn't been able to secure a new position.
The first is a lack of jobs in his industry. Tetpon described corporate communications as a very competitive field, with hundreds applying for open positions. He also claims concerns about the economy and upcoming elections have made companies more reluctant to hire in this climate — with ageism being a contributing factor.
"A lot of companies look at somebody like me with 25 years of experience in the six-figure range, and they have to weigh that against somebody much younger, maybe even recently out of college, who could come in at a much lower range," Tetpon told Business Insider.
He speculates job-search burnout is a third issue. Getting caught in a repetitive cycle of job applications can easily cloud his ability to think of more creative methods of finding job opportunities, like networking. Plus, it prevents him from considering roles slightly outside of his wheelhouse and spending more time on applications to set them apart from the rest.
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What should Tetpon — and others — do in this situation?
First, it's worth looking at whether Tetpon's three potential reasons really are the cause of his employment struggles.
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Of course, there's no way of knowing for sure why a particular company won't hire someone. But, it's worth noting that a study featured in the National Bureau of Economic Research found job candidates over 40 can be between 40% and 68% less likely to get a job offer. Since Tetpon is well past that milestone, he may very well be struggling due to a widespread preference for younger, cheaper employees — despite laws against age discrimination.
Tetpon also described the overall job market as tough, which isn't necessarily the case. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported unemployment was at 4.1% as of September 2024, and an "efficient" unemployment rate is typically between 3% and 5%. That means the job market could actually be more competitive.
Of course, opportunities do differ by industry and Tetpon said jobs in corporate communication are difficult to come by. However, while that may be his experience, Bureau of Labor Statistics data show the media and communications field is projected to grow around as fast as the average for all occupations, with an estimated 109,500 openings projected each year.
Now, media and communications is a broader field than just corporate communications alone, so it may be worth Tetpon exploring a wider variety of opportunities within this industry for which his skills might make him a good fit.
In fact, for anyone struggling with a job search, broadening your range of potential jobs may be one solution worth considering. The wider the net you cast, the more opportunities could come your way — and many career coaches recommend applying for positions even if you don't necessarily meet every listed requirement, as long as you have transferable skills.
How to find work when you're struggling
Outside of expanding your job search, other techniques for finding work include:
- Leveraging personal connections and building networks by becoming more active on LinkedIn or with local professional groups. This can also help you showcase your experience with technology, which can make companies less reluctant to hire an older worker.
- Optimizing your resume and removing information that reveals your age, like graduation years.
- Marketing yourself as a mentor and turning your age and experience into an advantage by highlighting ways in which you could help younger workers grow professionally. AARP research found 77% of younger workers value older colleagues as teachers, so emphasizing ways you've connected with younger staff in the past can be a huge plus.
While it can be frustrating to be turned down for hundreds or even thousands of jobs, taking these steps could potentially help you find that great new career later in life that helps you continue to enjoy a rewarding professional life while preparing for a financially secure retirement.
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Christy Bieber has 15 years of experience as a personal finance and legal writer. She has written for many publications including Forbes, Kilplinger, CNN, WSJ, Credit Karma, Insurify and more.
