Man in his 40s lands dream job after two years of struggle. Shares lessons he learned

Time of India

13-07-2025

A professional in his 40s recently shared his hard-fought victory in securing a high-paying job after enduring two relentless years of disappointments, unanswered applications, and misleading recruitment practices. Narrating his experience on the Indian Workplace subreddit, he offered a deeply personal account of how he managed to turn his situation around, despite numerous setbacks that left him disheartened and frustrated.
He described his 40s as a bleak phase professionally, filled with rejection emails, deafening silences from recruiters, and missed opportunities. But eventually, after countless failed attempts, a promising job offer came through. He is now in the process of settling into this long-awaited role. Sharing what finally worked for him, he listed practical strategies that helped him stand out in a crowded job market.
Making His Presence Known
One of the most crucial changes he implemented was actively engaging with his professional community. He didn't just update his resume and wait—he immersed himself in the industry landscape. He became visible in online forums, took part in meaningful discussions in professional groups, and didn't shy away from public speaking. He appeared on industry panels, television segments, and podcasts, seizing every chance to make his presence known. His advice: visibility is invaluable.
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by Taboola
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Putting in the Extra Effort
He emphasized that he never considered himself exceptionally witty or brilliant but always believed in hard work. Even though his career trajectory had been steady—with consistent promotions and salary increases—he found himself stagnating in recent years. The obstacles weren't of his own making, but he took full responsibility for pushing forward, often working twice as hard to compensate for perceived shortcomings.
Reaching Out Directly
Instead of waiting for recruiters to notice him, he took the initiative to contact hiring managers or members of their teams directly. According to him, relying on third-party recruiters proved to be an ineffective strategy, so he chose to take ownership of his job hunt by creating one-on-one connections wherever possible.
Tailoring Applications Thoughtfully
He learned the importance of customizing his resume for each job opening. He ensured that relevant experiences were front and center and removed irrelevant information that didn't serve his current goals. Each job application was approached with the mindset of relevance and clarity.
Telling a Compelling Story
He advised job seekers to focus not just on skills and experience but also on storytelling. Instead of sounding like a checklist or a robotic narrator of facts, he tried to present his career journey as an engaging and coherent narrative. Whether it was work experience, certifications, or networks, everything was woven together in a way that made sense and left a lasting impression.
Avoiding Toxic Environments
He also learned to trust his instincts during interviews. In several instances, he walked away from offers that came from environments he considered toxic or conversations that felt unprofessional. He acknowledged that some mediocre individuals had risen to influential positions in his field, particularly in
Bengaluru
, where work culture had seen significant changes. But rather than settling, he chose to wait for a role that felt aligned with his values. Eventually, that patience paid off.
The Strategies That Failed Him
Despite his success, he didn't shy away from calling out the broken systems that added to his struggle. First on his list: recruiters. His experience with them was overwhelmingly negative. He recounted pouring his energy and honesty into conversations with dozens of recruitment agents. Each time, they accepted his resume, appeared interested, and then vanished. He said they simply used profiles like his to fill their internal databases while offering no real opportunities in return.
Job Portals: A Breeding Ground for Scams
Next, he warned against depending on online job platforms. According to him, these sites are riddled with deceptive listings and offer little help for those seeking leadership or mid-senior-level positions. He urged professionals to instead invest in real-world interactions and genuine human connections, pointing back to his earlier point about the power of visibility and storytelling.
Although his final successful application went through a major job portal, he credited the result to a personal referral rather than the platform itself. He expressed skepticism about people trying to gain visibility through constant posting on LinkedIn, calling it a platform filled with exaggerated claims and superficial content. He did, however, acknowledge that its job board function occasionally yielded something useful.
A Cautionary Tale About Fake Job Listings
In an earlier post, he revealed how recruiters had misused his professional details to create fake job alerts. Posing as a hiring manager at his current company, someone used his title—Senior Counsel at a fictional firm called Acme—to circulate misleading hiring alerts to others in the same field. As a result, he was bombarded with calls from confused professionals, some assuming he had left his position. The incident forced him to explain the situation to both his HR department and his wider network.
He highlighted that such fake listings were often created to keep recruiters employed and engaged, even when companies weren't actually hiring. These tactics not only mislead job seekers but also damage reputations. He added that companies sometimes post phantom job openings to enhance their brand image or engagement metrics, making it seem like they're growing even when they're not.
The Reality of Ghosting and Unrealistic Expectations
He concluded by pointing out that in many industries, job descriptions have become catch-all roles that are nearly impossible to fill. Responsibilities meant for multiple departments are often dumped into one job profile, making it difficult for any one individual to qualify. As a result, listings remain active indefinitely, and applicants are routinely ghosted, with only a slim chance—he estimates just 1%—of ever receiving a reply.
Final Words of Encouragement
Despite all the hurdles, he urged others not to give up. His story was meant to serve as a message of hope: even in your 40s, even after countless letdowns, your breakthrough might be just around the corner. Keep fighting, keep improving, and don't let rejection define your worth.