I graduated from TCU in 1978. I have had a great career for more than 40 years as a landman in the oil and gas business. I was laid off during the pandemic. I have applied for dozens of positions with no replies. I am in excellent health and passionate about what I do and have so much to offer, but I feel ageism is hurting me. What do you recommend a person in their 50s, 60s or older than retirement age do to fight ageism and get hired?

Lindsey Pollak is a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of multigenerational workplaces and author of Recalculating: Navigate Your Career Through the Changing World of Work (Harper Business, 2021). Here’s her advice:

“I am so sorry to hear about your experience, and unfortunately it is all too common. Although illegal, ageism is real and insidious. So, what can you do? First, seek out jobs at organizations that are specifically committed to hiring older workers. Check out websites with job listings like jobs.AARP.org, RetirementJobs.com, SeniorJobBank.org and Workforce50.com

“Although illegal, ageism is real and insidious. So, what can you do?”
Lindsey Pollak

“Next, set up an appointment with TCU’s career center to make sure there are no other issues holding you back from landing a great job — make sure your résumé, LinkedIn profile, cover letters and interview skills are all the best they can be.

“Finally, most jobs are found through networking, especially for more experienced workers, so set up calls and Zoom chats with everyone you know to tell them about your job search and ask if they know anyone hiring for the kinds of positions you’re seeking. I know that 40 applications feels like a lot, but in today’s time of high unemployment, I know many highly qualified and hardworking job seekers who spoke to more than 100 people to land a job. Persistence is key! Best of luck to you.”

Mike Caldwell is the executive director of TCU’s Center for Career & Professional Development.

As Lindsey mentioned, the TCU Center for Career & Professional Development is available and accessible to all alumni, whether you graduated in the last month or last millennium. Our goal is to support all of our students and alumni, no matter where they may be in their career journey.

We would be glad to meet you to learn more about your background and help you take the next steps to discover your next role.

For all job seekers, change is one constant attribute of the ever-evolving job market. For many years, a common refrain has been that “the student of today will work in jobs that don’t yet exist.” This concept is often as true for seasoned employees as it is for new students. Employers, job functions, industries and roles adapt rapidly. Job options for “Data Scientist at Slack” or “Gigafactory Leader at Tesla” may not have been possible just a few short months ago. New and emerging markets are also unfolding in existing fields.

When setting up the calls and Zoom meetings that Lindsey mentioned, consider researching a variety of roles and employers. Message your fellow alumni and colleagues in a variety of fields and industries that you would like to learn more about or that may have need for your skills and experiences. As TCU alumni, you have access to an outstanding network and community invested in the success of our colleagues, classmates and connections. We are all here to help!

For more information about careers, visit careers.tcu.edu

Comment below with your career questions.