You’re Overqualified…and Other Ways to Say ‘You Scared Us, Grandpa

Getting a job these days—especially if you’re 60+—feels like trying to join a dodgeball team where everyone else is doing TikTok dances and you showed up with strategy, stamina, and orthopedic sneakers.

You’re not just experienced—you’re battle-tested.

You’ve led teams through recessions, rebrands, layoffs, hostile takeovers, surprise audits, budget cuts, and that one intern who accidentally deleted the company drive. You’ve been the calm in the chaos, the voice in the fire, and the only one who remembered to mute on Zoom.

But now?

You’re applying to roles like “Happiness Hero” and “Brand Vibes Specialist.” One job asked if you were “comfortable working in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving environment with minimal guidance.”

You’ve survived Y2K, dial-up internet, and bosses who communicated through grunts and 4 a.m. emails. Minimal guidance? That’s called Tuesday.

Then comes the interview.

It’s virtual, of course. You’re seated at your desk, framed by certificates and real-life achievements. Kaylee logs on from what looks like a beanbag throne, sipping something green and expensive. She squints at your résumé.

“Wow… you’ve been working for a long time.”

You nod. “Yes. Since voicemail came on cassette.”

She blinks twice. Then: “We’re just concerned this role might not be… challenging enough for someone with your background.”

Challenging?

You once ran a department with a broken copier, a frozen budget, and a team made entirely of people who called out on Mondays. You’ve juggled vendor negotiations, executive tantrums, and the annual holiday party meltdown without spilling your coffee.

You’re not just ready for challenges—you build strategy out of them.

Still, you get ghosted.

Not even a “Thanks but no thanks.” Just… silence. Like you applied through a wormhole that swallowed your résumé whole.

You stare at your inbox and wonder—do they want talent or trendiness? Results or ring lights?

But you keep going.

Because you’ve been through worse. You’ve rebuilt careers, departments, and your own confidence—more than once. You’ve led when no one else would, stayed when others bailed, and delivered under pressure that would make most of these recruiters cry in the breakroom.

You’re not old. You’re not done. You’re battle-tested, fiercely relevant, and tired of being underestimated.

Let them scroll past you.

Let them choose someone with “great energy” who needs two weeks of onboarding to figure out Outlook.

You’re not applying to prove yourself.

You’re applying because you already have.