I got pushed out at 61. Then I found out who actually took my role.
I gave a company nearly 18 years of my life. I tried to be the employee they could rely on. I moved my family three times for promotions and new positions, took on projects nobody else wanted, mentored younger engineers, and stayed late more times than I can count. A few months after I turned 61, they let me go. No real explanation, no mention of anything I had done for the company over those 18 years, nothing. They told me it wasn't related to my performance, which somehow made it worse. I felt insulted. Insulted that I had actually believed there was loyalty or appreciation for what I'd given them.
For the last 6 months I've had almost no luck finding another job. I've applied for roles paying far less than what I was making and gotten no interest. I've started focusing mostly on remote positions, because in remote interviews people seem to judge your experience and communication first, rather than fixating on your age the moment you walk into the room. I also removed my birthdate from my CV. I'd rather be evaluated on skills and background than on a number hiring managers have apparently decided is disqualifying.
Last week I had coffee with someone who still works at my old company. He mentioned, half as a joke, that the role I used to own is now being handled by a 24-year-old kid who started there as an intern last summer. Apparently the kid is shipping work in volumes that surprised everyone, getting praise from leadership, going into meetings with senior people and holding his own. I asked him how a junior is doing the work I spent 18 years building expertise in, and he laughed and said he saw the kid use an AI overlay called Cluely during meetings and client calls. He used it during his interview to get hired, and he's been using it on the job ever since to close the experience gap. Also management hasn't noticed since he's been sneaky about it.
I didn't even know what it was then I look it up on reddit and here I am.