Older workers are finding it harder to land jobs today

Many readers have shared their experiences and opinions on the challenges older workers face in today's job market following the woman's story.

Reader Tung Xeng commented on his own struggles: "I spent a year looking for a new job at 37, submitting 100 applications, interviewing at 10 companies, and ultimately accepting a job with a lower salary than my previous one.

Before this, I rarely failed an interview. Most of the time, I chose where I worked, not the other way around. Switching jobs was easy and quick. Sometimes, I didn't even get a breather before starting a new role.

Now, as I approach 45, I hardly see any job listings that fit me. So, I've prepared alternative options like teaching, consulting, or gardening in case I become unemployed."

A woman looks for job listings on her computer. Illustration photo by Pexels

Reader Smile added: "It's normal for older workers to struggle to find jobs. Younger workers, fresh out of school, have it even harder. These days, even workers over 30 are considered too old in the job market. Over 40? That's ancient. The only options are either accepting a lower salary or becoming a freelancer."

Reader honglamvnn noted: "In the past, 40 was considered the peak of one's career. Now, it's the opposite. Those people should have taken lower-paying jobs, or made some investments."

Reader N.A.Phi offered some advice on 40-year-old people with qualifications: "They can find a satisfying job if they focus on management roles, at least at the department head level, target companies where foreign languages are used daily, set their salary expectations at a minimum of VND80 million (US$3,132) monthly, and most importantly, prioritize securing a job over seeking work-life balance, especially in this tough economy and with limited working experience in a Vietnamese environment."