I quit my job at 53 and feel like I can breathe again. My advice to older job hunters: Know your value.

Nicole Cicero. Elianel Clinton for BI This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nicole Cicero, a 54-year-old sales representative in New Jersey. It's been edited for length and clarity. My 50s have made me realize what I really want out of life, and if I don't do something now, I might never do it. That's why I decided to quit my IT staffing sales job in February, after nearly 15 years at the company. It was scary as the breadwinner of my family and mom to two teenagers, but I kn...