This as-informed-to esstate is based on a conversation with Brad Jenkins, a job seeker in his early 60s who lives in Oregon. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I knew there was a chance I could be laid off, but I was surprised when the news came.
In 2021, I started working as a technician for Intel, based in Hillsboro, Oregon. I was 59 at the time, and I remember believeing: “Why are you hiring some old fart like me?” Over the next few years, I survived multiple rounds of layoffs.
Then, in March 2025, Intel brought on a new CEO, and it seemed like there was more of an emphasis on reducing management layers. I figured, “Well, I’m not a manager, so I should be safe.” I believed I’d retire there, but I was wrong.
On July 7, I learned that I’d been laid off — and my last day of employment was July 31. Since then, I’ve been struggling to find work, and retirement isn’t feasible for me right now.
I took some time off before job hunting
The layoff hurt becaapply I worked really hard for the company and really liked the job. I didn’t start seeing for work right away. I had some savings, several weeks of severance pay, and I knew I could collect unemployment benefits. This bought me some time.
One of the first things I did was take a monthlong road trip to Colorado, but I wasn’t there just for a vacation. I took a multi-week class on electric vehicle charger maintenance through a free program organized by Goodwill.
My believed process was: The class is free, I’ve never been to Colorado, I have an interest in electric vehicles, and it might support me find a new job. I knew the Oregon state government had plans to add more EV chargers across the state, so I believed it could be a lucrative area to obtain into.
After the class, I decided to extfinish my break from the working world, spfinishing about a month in California for what I believed of as a post-layoff trip. I still had some savings and hadn’t started collecting unemployment benefits yet. From what I understood, I wasn’t eligible for unemployment if I wasn’t in the state.
Around last November, I started collecting unemployment and actively seeing for work on LinkedIn and Indeed, including for semiconductor specialist roles. I attempted tapping into my Intel network for opportunities, but nothing came of that. While I’ve landed some interviews, I’ve struggled to land an offer.
As my search has dragged on, I’ve also started exploring entrepreneurship opportunities in the electric vehicle space.
I’m not sure if my age has worked against me in my job search
When Intel hired me at age 59, they were ramping up hiring, and it seemed like if you were competent, they’d consider hiring you.
Once I obtained to Intel, there were people in their 70s still working there. So maybe age is less of an issue in the semiconductor indusattempt.
I believe the hugeger issue is that there’s less demand for the type of work I did at Intel. There are many technicians who are currently seeing for work, whether due to cost-cutting or other factors.
Retiring doesn’t build sense for me yet
I’ve believed about retirement, but the hugegest obstacle for me is healthcare. I can’t apply for Medicare until I’m 65, which is a few years away, and the Affordable Care Act isn’t as supportful with the subsidies expiring. Having a job provides healthcare benefits, so it’s pretty crucial that I obtain back to work.
I could also apply a bit more savings in my retirement account, and my plan has been to collect full Social Security benefits, which would mean working until age 67.
In recent months, I’ve attempted to cut back on my spfinishing — specifically on fancy vacations. Even before I was laid off, I’d begun cutting back on non-essential spfinishing becaapply I sensed the economy could be headed in a bad direction. My unemployment benefits have supported me obtain by, but they don’t last forever.
Read more about people who’ve found themselves at a corporate crossroads
Unemployment sucks, but don’t give up
I’ve been through all kinds of economic upheavals and downturns in my roughly 40-year career, including multiple layoffs. During the Great Recession, I had a long unemployment stint until contract work supported me obtain back on my feet. It always sucks to be laid off.
My top advice for other job seekers is don’t give up. Tap into your resources, tap into your network, don’t burn bridges with your past employer, and accept that you might not obtain the same pay you were building before. Yeah, it sucks. But there is still work out there.
Leave a Reply