Three career veterans on outsmarting ageism in the modern job market

Nicole Cicero, 54, bypassed the digital black hole of online job portals entirely. By leveraging a professional recruiter and deep-rooted personal connections, she secured a new sales role without submitting a single standard application. Her strategy highlights a shift away from cold-pitching toward high-trust environments where her history is already vetted, allowing her to transition into a role that felt like a natural fit rather than a desperate gamble.

For others, the challenge lies in shifting the narrative. Michael Shmarak, 56, stopped presenting his 25-year career as a static timeline and began framing it as a mentorship asset. While he continues to hunt for a full-time position, he maintains his momentum through fractional consulting and retail work, treating his career as a dynamic portfolio rather than a single pursuit. Jennifer Mannix, 56, took this agency a step further; when the risk management sector proved unresponsive to her pivot into professional sports, she began curating her own events. Instead of waiting for an invitation to join an organization, they are creating their own professional gravity.