I'm in my 60s and can't find full-time work. I took Social Security early and filed for bankruptcy to stay afloat.
A 60-year-old operations manager shares his struggle with long-term unemployment, age discrimination, and the financial strain of early Social Security and bankruptcy. He highlights the difficulties of navigating modern, automated job search platforms.
Why it matters
It sheds light on the systemic challenges faced by older workers in the current labor market and the limitations of digital-first recruitment.
Thomas Heep has struggled to land a full-time job for more than a year. Thomas Heep Thomas Heep was laid off last year and thinks age discrimination could be hindering his job search. He's working part time and collecting Social Security, but says he's just scraping by financially. Heep recently filed for bankruptcy and believes it was the right decision. This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with Thomas Heep, a job seeker in his 60s who lives in Denver. He was laid off in April 2025 and is still looking for full-time work. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I was laid off from my job as an operations manager on April 4, 2025. I've been looking for full-time work since then.
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