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.
A 56-year-old former risk management professional shares her struggle to find entry-level work in the sports industry after retiring from a long-term government career. She discusses the challenges of age bias and the difficulty of pivoting to a new field.
Why it matters
The story highlights the systemic challenges faced by older workers attempting to transition into new industries, particularly in competitive sectors like sports.
Jennifer Mannix is pivoting from 30 years in risk management to women's sports. Chona Kasinger for BI 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 life. My wife and I moved to Tacoma, Washington, and it's been lovely to have a career break after several stressful years in risk management. However, I'm in a unique position where I can afford not to work for a while, but I'm only in my early 50s. I feel like I've earned the opportunity to put my efforts into something that really gets me excited: women's professional sports.
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