Many experienced professionals over 50 face unique challenges when trying to shift careers or re-enter the workforce. From transitioning into new fields like AI, to dealing with employment gaps, to overcoming hidden age-related biases in hiring - these issues are real and pressing.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these topics. Please take a moment to vote in the polls below and share your perspective on how realistic these career moves are, and how hiring practices affect older candidates.
Note: Don’t worry, your votes are completely anonymous.
What are the chances for a 54-year-old engineer to transition from RF optimization to AI, given that work opportunities in RF optimization are no longer available?
Almost none.
Possible with hard work.
Almost certain to succeed.
0voters
With a 2-year unemployment gap on his CV, what are this engineer’s chances of landing a job?
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
0voters
Did you know that in many companies, HR departments (though unofficially) are instructed not to hire permanent employees over the age of 55? This often means that CVs from candidates older than 55 are discarded for permanent positions.
I would say that if someone has skills in areas like data engineering, data analysis, or data science, it’s very likely they can find a job - even for those over 55.
Many of these positions are remote, so age is often less of a factor. Additionally, the demand in this sector is massive, as virtually every company needs these roles.
He’s skilled in SQL, Python, Tableau, Power BI, scripting, UNIX, as well as RF optimization Core and Open RAN.
However, even if he completes all courses in data engineering, data analysis, or data science, I think it will still be difficult for him to get hired.
Companies rarely hire junior engineers for these roles - it’s a classic chicken-and-egg situation.
Most employers want experienced candidates, not juniors.
There is demand for every level - junior, entry, senior, and lead - in all sectors, and the surge in data-related positions is massive.
Being “good” at something isn’t enough; you need to prove it. If you have experience, that’s great, but if not, you’ll need to build a portfolio, work as a freelancer, or take on practical projects.
Saying you know SQL and Python from courses or small personal projects is very different from performing data analytics on large datasets using tools like Redshift, Databricks, BigQuery, or Snowflake.
You need strong Python and SQL skills, plus proficiency in at least one cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP). With that skill set, finding a job in this field becomes much more achievable.
Let’s be honest: a large percentage of hires - and especially internal promotions - often depend more on favoritism and connections than on actual merit. Unfortunately, this is the reality in many cases.
From my perspective, for someone who is 54 and looking for a job, opportunities will largely depend on the network of contacts they’ve built throughout their career, rather than solely on their current skills or experience.
Even so, it’s frustrating to see how favoritism works, because people who truly work hard and deserve a promotion are often overlooked, while someone with little experience - or who’s simply good at “selling smoke” - ends up getting the promotion.
This is generally true; however, at the moment, the massive number of positions available in data allows people to join companies even without referrals.
The telecom sector is not what it was 10 years ago, and referrals have become more important than ever in this field. Even so, they no longer guarantee the high salaries we used to hear about during the 2G/3G era.
If someone is struggling to find a job in telecom - which I suspect is a global issue, since the industry is no longer as profitable for operators as it once was - and they have skills in data, I would strongly recommend focusing their job search on data roles instead of continuing to look in telecom. For those just starting in the telecom sector, it’s wise to enhance your technical skills in data, cybersecurity, and cloud positions. These will give you a competitive edge and open up more opportunities in the future.
