The job market is tough. It's even tougher if you've been at the same job for decades.

"When Michael Ferry last looked for a job, the iPhone had yet to be released, and "uber" was just a German word. The tech worker, who was recently laid off, is wading into a job market that's far different from what it was in 2005, when he landed a role at a software company by applying on Monster.com. Ferry, who's in his mid-40s and lives near Philadelphia, said he had opportunities to leave over the years, but stayed because he loved what he did."

"For workers like Ferry, who have spent many years tied to one company, reentering the job market can be jarring. There are video interviews, résumés parsed by algorithms, and a market crowded with younger competitors. Then there are the fears that longevity at an employer might signal parochial skillsets or a lack of gumption. Terry Armstrong, a graphic designer who lives near Sacramento, California, is looking for a job for the first time in nearly 20 years."

Workers who remain with a single employer for many years face a job market transformed by video interviews, résumé-screeners, and algorithmic parsing. At the start of 2024, US workers' average tenure was 3.9 years, the lowest since 2002. Long-serving workers can encounter younger competitors and employer concerns about parochial skillsets or lack of initiative. Michael Ferry, a mid-40s tech worker recently laid off, last searched in 2005 and now navigates modern hiring methods. Terry Armstrong, a graphic designer nearing 65, reports fewer callbacks and suspects age factors. Career coach Colleen Paulson advises emphasizing loyalty and deep expertise.

Read at Business Insider