I'm 55 and have applied to over 300 jobs. I never expected my 32 years of experience to work against me.

Leslie Sonnenklar says she has adjusted her expectations after applying to over 300 jobs since her layoff. Jesse Reiser for BI This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Leslie Sonnenklar, a 55-year-old communications and content professional from Phoenix, Arizona. It's been edited for length and clarity. I was laid off in March 2025, and honestly, the job search since then has been one of the most frustrating and defeating experiences of my life. As a professional in my mid-50s, ...