I am 49 years outdated and was laid off from my six-figure gross sales job. I now make $52,000 in an entry-level function the place I work alongside faculty grads.

• Damon Duncan, a 49-year-old former gross sales engineer, took a drastic pay lower after he was laid off.

• Duncan’s wage dropped from $148,000 to $52,000, impacting his household’s way of life.

• Regardless of making use of to a whole bunch of jobs, Duncan is struggling to re-enter the technical gross sales area.

This as-told-to essay is predicated on conversations with 49-year-old Damon Duncan, who is predicated in Atlanta. His identification and wage have been verified by Enterprise Insider. This dialog has been edited for size and readability.

I used to be laid off from my job as a gross sales engineer in April 2023. That was the final job I had in my profession area.

It is now been over two years since I labored within the technical gross sales area. I took a few associated roles after my firm went by means of a merger, however was laid off for a second time in August 2024 and was unemployed till I took a drastic step again — each in place and pay.

I went from being a gross sales engineer, an architect, and an account government to working at a consulting agency in an entry-level cold-calling job.

Nearly all of the folks I work with are contemporary out of faculty. Once I sit with them within the widespread room, they’re like, “That is my first massive boy job contemporary out of faculty,” and I am sitting right here, nearly 50 years outdated, with a toddler about to go to school.

It got here with a large pay lower

I’m now making about one-third of what I made at my gross sales engineering job. At my former job, my base wage was $148,000, however now it’s $52,000.

The layoff price us some huge cash, and due to it, we do not journey anymore. Our credit score additionally took a large hit throughout this time, and we weren’t in a position to cosign on a mortgage for our daughter to go to school. So she determined to take a niche 12 months and begin at a neighborhood tech faculty whereas she builds up financial savings and credit score to have the ability to take out loans and switch.

We have needed to cancel quite a lot of providers. Usually, we might rent any person to do among the greater issues, however now I’ve to do them on the weekend.

So now, as a substitute of spending my weekends with my household, I spend them fixing issues round the home, like rebuilding a staircase, engaged on vehicles, portray rooms, changing lighting fixtures, AC plugs, gentle switches, and different such tasks.

We could not afford to repair my daughter’s automotive, so we needed to eliminate it. Now we’re down to 2 vehicles as a substitute of three. We’ve to carpool rather a lot, which is not a giant deal, nevertheless it does inconvenience us once in a while. My firm additionally required us to be again within the workplace, so now I’ve to drive an hour to work and again. So, I am on the highway two hours a day.

It has affected my household immensely.

I not perceive the market

I’m attempting to get again into the sphere that supported me for the higher a part of 20 years, however no one is hiring or interviewing me.

Since being laid off in 2023, I’ve utilized to a whole bunch jobs. I did get one supply final 12 months, nevertheless it was rescinded due to firm modifications. Apart from that, I’ve had interviews, however I’ve by no means gotten to the acceptance spherical.

I nonetheless apply to anyplace between two and 5 jobs a day.

It doesn’t matter what I do to my résumé or how a lot outreach I do, it feels prefer it would not matter. I have been doing every little thing that they inform me to do, and I’d as properly be throwing darts at a chunk of paper, hoping they land and do not fall. I do not perceive the market anymore. It would not make any sense.

I am doing this job as a result of I’ve payments to pay and I’ve to supply for a household. So, I am type of caught the place I’m till I can hopefully discover one other job.

I’ve a sense that folks suppose I am too costly due to my expertise or that I will go away the minute I discover one thing higher. They do not understand that I am making use of to the job not solely as a result of it is a job in my area, but additionally as a result of I see it as a doable profession.

I do not want a job. I am not 20 years outdated anymore. I want a profession. I’ve acquired three youngsters, certainly one of whom is about to go to school and two extra on the best way. I acquired my daughters’ weddings to pay for sooner or later. I will be working till I am 80. I want a profession that is secure.

There may be some ageism at play right here. However the older folks have the knowledge and the expertise. They don’t seem to be sports activities bikes. They take time. And the older folks like me, the Gen Xers, they’re keen to be scrappy and do the work. I am working an entry-level job and I’ve acquired 24 years of expertise. If that does not show how scrappy we’re and the way keen we’re to get the job carried out and to work, I do not know what does.

Have you ever struggled to discover a job? We wish to hear from you. Attain out to the reporter by way of e mail at aaltchek@insider.com or by means of the secure-messaging app Sign at aalt.19.

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