I’m applying to entry-level jobs at 56 and can’t even get an interview. My confidence has taken a hit — so I’m pivoting.0

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• September 7, 2026

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Mannix, a 56-year-old based in Tacoma, Washington. It’s been edited for length and clarity. In 2022, after 30 years working for the city of Juneau, Alaska, I was eligible for a full retirement, which included health benefits and a pension for the rest of my