LAST UPDATE | 22 Jul

NO ONE ENJOYS job hunting – but some people have reported finding it more and more difficult to gain employment as they age.

A British woman called Stacey Duguid struck a chord on Instagram in recent days when she posted about how difficult she has found it to get a job. 

The 52-year-old described how she has been unemployed for 16 months, despite having worked for some of the biggest fashion brands in the world. 

Since then, she says she has been “inundated” with messages from people in their 40s, 50s and 60s who have also struggled to find jobs. 

In an article about what Duguid and others have encountered, the Financial Times noted that some middle-aged job applicants fear that AI-driven screening of CVs is cutting out their applications.

It has been suggested that companies are electing not to interview candidates in their 40s, 50s and 60s as their increased experience may require higher pay. There can also be assumptions around candidates’ level of technological literacy. 

Have you experienced this? 

We’re looking to hear from readers who have found it tough to get hired over the age of 40. 

Have you been searching for employment and not had any luck? How many CVs did you send out and how many interviews did you have? How long did you have to search for before landing a job? Do you think your struggles with being hired are related to your age, or your experience levels? Is your job sector more likely to favour younger candidates (for example, it includes manual labour, long hours, extensive travel)?

Get in touch by emailing answers@thejournal.ie and telling us about your situation. Keep your response to a paragraph or two. Submissions will be used in an article later this week, and may be edited for length or clarity. 

Please include your name, county, and job sector, and let us know if you would like to remain anonymous.