This as‑told‑to essay is based on conversations with Thomas Heep, a job seeker in his 60s living in Denver. He was let go in April 2025 and is still searching for full‑time work. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I was terminated from my role as an operations manager on April 4, 2025. Since then I have been actively looking for a full‑time position.
I am now working part‑time delivering prescriptions across the Denver area, and I began drawing Social Security benefits before I reached the full retirement age of 67. The combination of part‑time wages and early Social Security does not cover all of my expenses. Earlier this year I filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
I am an only child and the last surviving member of my family. Not having relatives to rely on definitely heightens the pressure in a situation like mine.
I recently attended an in‑person interview for a $20‑per‑hour job. The conversation felt productive, and I was hopeful about the possibility of employment.
Yet there is always that lingering thought: after a lifetime of work, the best I can hope for is a $20‑an‑hour position. It feels as if I am starting from scratch.
The modern job‑search process feels broken. My hunt has been almost entirely online—LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and similar sites. While I had already used online platforms for my previous job, this round feels different. I think the system is flawed.
Many companies I apply to never respond. I began my career when you could walk into a business, see a “We’re hiring” sign, and speak with someone on the spot. That no longer happens. You must submit applications online, and the odds of hearing back are low. The process is now overly bureaucratic and, in my view, less effective than people assume.
Employers also get swamped by applications when they post openings. A well‑paid role in a stable field can attract hundreds of candidates. Remote‑work listings are even worse; I have seen postings draw two‑thousand or more applicants. It is hard to see how any single applicant can stand out.
I also sense that companies are looking for people who match every listed skill perfectly and require no training. That standard is unrealistic.
I think my age is a major obstacle. Age discrimination likely plays a big part in why my search has been so difficult.
Even if a company likes my résumé, skill set, and work history, they will look at my age and think: How long will he stay? He is nearing retirement. It’s too risky. I have tried shortening my work history or omitting my age from my résumé, but I suspect they could still figure it out.
During a recent face‑to‑face interview they asked for my driver’s license, which immediately revealed my age. They then asked if I was aware I would be on my feet all day and whether I could lift 50 pounds. It felt like they were testing my ability to handle the physical demands.
For me, lifting 50 pounds is trivial. If anything, my health has been a bright spot in my life. Still, I struggled to convey that confidence without sounding boastful during the interview.
Regardless, I was proud to have secured the interview at all. The firm told me it had received more than 200 applications for the position.
Financially I am in a tough spot. Because I started collecting Social Security before the full retirement age of 67, some benefits can be reduced if I earn above a certain threshold.
If I earn more than $24,480 this year from work, $1 in benefits is withheld for every $2 of income above that amount. I am caught in a bind. I need some income; I have no real alternative.
Earlier this year I filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy after exhausting what I saw as other options. Looking back, I think it was the right call. My credit score actually improved after the filing, and bankruptcy seemed preferable to some debt‑consolidation plans I explored.
With less money coming in, I have had to learn to budget. I once thought I was good at budgeting, but I was not. I have gotten better at it because there is no soft landing; either I work or I face serious trouble.
This job search may be the hardest challenge I have ever faced. I have never been in this position before.
Has it taken a mental toll? Absolutely. There are days when I do not want to get out of bed, and I have to force myself to take action.
It is especially painful when I look back at my career and see how I improved each workplace I joined. The thought that age or other factors now prevent me from finding work is devastating.
But I keep going. I keep pushing forward. In a situation like mine you must constantly remind yourself not to lose hope. If you lose that, you are in real trouble.
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