A few weeks ago, Indeed shared a graphic on LinkedIn categorizing typical career stages by age, and it served as a reminder that outdated ageism is still embedded in our workplace culture. The graphic’s career stages flowed as follows:
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Exploration: 20-25
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Establishment: 25-35
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Mid-career: 35-45
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Late career: 45-55
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Decline: 55-65
The post (since deleted) sparked criticism, with many people pointing out that these narrow definitions are out of touch with modern career paths. Today, people are starting careers later, pivoting into new fields, and often redefining what success looks like at every stage of life. Labeling workers over 55 as being in 'career decline' is not only insulting and dismissive but also ignores the diverse personal, social, and economic factors that shape career paths.
There is no one-size-fits-all career timeline. People embrace second acts in their 50s, and others choose nonlinear paths that defy traditional career arcs entirely. Career stages can look vastly different depending on individual goals, life experiences, and priorities. So why do we continue to view age as a measuring stick for career progress?
We wanted to hear from our audience, so we asked: “How much do societal pressures or age-related expectations influence your career journey?” One-third of women (34 percent) feel pressured to reach specific career milestones by a certain age, and nearly a quarter (23 percent) feel restricted by career expectations linked to their age.
These numbers only scratch the surface of the complex ways age-related expectations impact career paths. To better understand how this plays out in real life, we gathered the personal stories from our audience that reveal the challenges, surprises, and insights that come with navigating career milestones under the weight of societal pressures.
Read more: These 5 Women Changed Careers After 30. You Can Too.
How have age-related expectations shaped your career path?
Society’s expectations often dictate the milestones we believe we should achieve at certain stages, but everyone’s journey is unique. Here are all the various ways age-related pressures and ageism have influenced our audience’s careers.
Employers are surprised to find out I’m older because I just got a degree
“Having recently acquired a degree, employers assume I am younger than my years, and are surprised to find I am older. Therefore, it's no surprise that what begins as great interest in me as a candidate—based on my combination of credentials, skills, and experience—quickly becomes a rejection when searching for jobs, no matter how well I think the interview went. The employers' desire to hire young people over older workers is just a sad fact of job searching these days. They seem to want the experience, skills, and credentials that realistically belong to older workers in a much younger person who just hasn't had the years needed to gain all of those things. They haven't figured out that cheddar tastes better when it's been aged properly.”
The older I get, the harder it feels to secure an interview
“I find that the older I get, the harder it is to even get an interview, so I find myself being creative with my resume. I’m in my early fifties and have never truly been happy with my career and still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, so I’m constantly looking for new opportunities, but now, I’m looking for jobs that align with my personal interests that will truly spark joy, even if they don’t pay as well.”
I’ve experienced discrimination in the promotion cycle
“I've been told by managers that I need more experience for a promotion, and then in the same month, a male coworker with less experience and fewer skills gets the promotion. I've had managers pass me over for leadership training opportunities while others get those opportunities because they've threatened to quit. I have had conversations with my manager about career goals and then have them re-write my goals to meet their business needs.”
I learned to be gentle with myself after a career change
“I didn't get my MBA until my early thirties, and I felt like I was so behind because it was also a career change for me. I was super hard on myself for starting over and was very scared about it. I had to learn to be gentle with myself, eat a slice of humble pie, and start where I could. Eventually, I knew I would prove my worth at the right place, and I just had to wait for that place to find me.”
Read more: Ask an Employer: How Should Career Changers Frame Their Job Search?
Supporting my future family is a top priority in my career
“There is a societal pressure, but it is mixed with a biological one. I'm 33, and I want to have a child one day. I don't have a partner, and I never really anticipated having one play a co-parent role. As I foresee myself being a single mother, there's a certain job level, salary, benefits package that I am trying to obtain before I reach a certain age.”
Despite societal pressures, I’m not ready to retire
“I am 64 years old, so the pressure now is for retirement, but I feel that I still have much to accomplish, and I have the life experiences to really focus on making a difference in a forward-thinking organization.”
I’ve been brave enough to forge my own path
“I feel very behind because I was raised Mormon so never had the intention of getting a master’s degree and working. I left the church at 24, started grad school at 28, so didn’t start my career until 29. I’m doing well…but not as well as women my age. At almost 40, I feel as though I should be (and am capable of) being at the director level but am behind my peers. It’s frustrating, to say the least. Especially because I feel as though my life experience (the courage it took to research my way out of the church and take a stand with my entire network and family) should show that I can do anything.”
I worry I won’t be able to get another job
“I am still working part time at age 73. I work as a nurse taking care of a 103-year-old woman who lives with family. I have great concern when this job eventually comes to an end if I will be able to find other employment.”
I want people to let go of stereotypes
“I review products, and I find that brands do look for a younger demographic mostly or women with children. I’m over 50 and am not a mother. I think there needs to be more inclusion for women who aren’t mothers, whether by choice or not.”
I feel like I’ll never catch up to my peers
“I delayed the beginning of my career due to mental health issues…I feel that I won't ever catch up, so certain careers are not available to me.”
More resources on ageism and discrimination:
