I'm trying to get hired at 52. As I job hunt, I've been hiding my grays and doing everything I can to appear younger.

I'm worried about job hunting in my 50s and competing with applicants much younger than me. So, I've gone all in on my beauty routine and started hiding my grays to feel more confident.

Suzie Jimenez

When the email hit my inbox, my heart raced.The company's cofounders announced they'd made the difficult decision to lay off about 20% of its workforce and restructure the organization. Those impacted would know in the next hour or so.For a moment, I assured myself that my role would be just fine.This was one of the most innovative, AI-forward tech companies in Silicon Valley — I'd been here for several years and had recently been promoted after spending the past 12 months learning everything I could about AI. I'd incorporated it into my everyday workflow, leveled up my skills, and even created an AI playbook for my team.But by the time I received my parting email and the screen on my company computer went black, panic had set in. Who would want to hire a 52-year-old like me when they could just pair up a well-built AI agent with a young intern?Before even starting the job hunt, I worried my age could hold me back

I know it can be challenging to find a new job when you're over 50.

Suzie Jimenez