7 months ago
HR Veteran Struggles to Land Job at 40
Swapnil Shinde, a 40-year-old HR professional with 15 years of experience, is struggling to find a job.
He has been searching for seven months, updating his resume, and networking, but hasn't had any success.
He shared his story on LinkedIn, which went viral, highlighting the challenges professionals in their 40s face in the job market.
Many people over 40 are finding it harder to switch jobs or get hired due to ageism and biases in recruitment processes.
This is a growing concern, especially in India, where age discrimination is a top priority in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
Swapnil's experience shows how difficult it can be to find a job at this age, even with extensive experience and a strong background in the field.
Swapnil Shinde, a 40-year-old HR professional with 15 years of experience, is struggling to find a job after seven months of searching.
His LinkedIn post about his job search challenges went viral, highlighting the difficulties professionals in their 40s face in the job market.
Glassdoor data from Q1 2025 showed a 133% increase in mentions of ageism in job-seeker reviews.
In India, preventing age discrimination is ranked the top DEI priority, with age being the largest share of discrimination cases.
Automation in recruitment can reinforce biases, making it harder for professionals over 40 to secure job opportunities.
- Who
- Swapnil Shinde, a 40-year-old HR professional with 15 years of experience
- What
- Struggles to find a job despite extensive experience and efforts
- Where
- India, with a growing concern about age discrimination in the job market
- When
- After turning 40 and spending seven months job searching
- Why
- Ageism and biases in recruitment processes, making it harder for professionals over 40 to secure jobs
Key facts
- Professional
- Swapnil Shinde
- Experience
- 15 years in HR leadership
- Job Search Duration
- 7 months
- Age
- 40
- Glassdoor Data
- 133% increase in ageism mentions (Q1 2025)
- Top DEI Priority in India
- Preventing age discrimination
- Report
- Michael Page India’s 2025 Talent Trends Report
Quotes
Swapnil Shinde
Veteran HR professional with over 15 years of experience in HR leadership roles
“I am 40 and I am unemployed”
financialexpress.com



