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The September 2026 jobs report showed just 29,000 jobs added. Economists call it a low-hire, low-fire market. Nobody's leaving, so nobody's hiring, and seasoned professionals take the hardest hit. With no churn there are fewer openings at the senior level, and companies aren't taking chances. When they do hire, they want proof the investment will pay off.

Join JT live on this week’s podcast where she’ll discuss how to position your brand so employers see you as a smart investment instead of a risk.

Join us Wednesday, October 7th at 2 pm ET

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If you've been laid off and you're over 40, you probably have a lot of questions about what’s next. And if your company offered you a severance package, you might have some questions about what it is and how it works.

What's in That Severance Package?

When a company has to lay someone off, HR puts together all the paperwork and details for your separation agreement. Sometimes there's money. Sometimes there's outplacement, which is a fancy way of saying job search coaching. And sometimes there's neither.

As hard as it might be to believe, HR is trying to make this as smooth as possible for you. They know they're letting you down. You weren't fired for performance; the company simply couldn't keep you. They want you to leave feeling like an alumnus, not an enemy.

But there's one thing they leave out. No one informs you how hard this job search is about to be.

The Pyramid, Not the Ladder

Before we talk about how you’re going to tackle this job search as an over-40 job seeker, let's talk about your career. When you started out, you were at the bottom of the pyramid. Lots of entry-level jobs, lower pay, and plenty of opportunity.

Then you started to stand out. You built your skills, got the raises, got the promotions, got the jobs you wanted. You moved into the middle of the pyramid, and you probably felt like you were climbing a ladder.

I don’t like to use the ladder analogy; I prefer to think of it like a pyramid.

And when a 40-plus employee gets laid off, they land at the top of that pyramid. Look at how small that space is. There are far fewer jobs out there where you're an exact fit.

This Is the Wisdom Tax

I call it the wisdom tax, and there aren’t too many people discussing it. The more experience you have, the fewer jobs there are for you. It's the price you pay for being good at what you do for a long time.

If you've ever been told you're "overqualified," you know exactly what I mean.

And I know what you're thinking. "But JT, I can do all those jobs lower down the pyramid. I used to do them!" I believe you, but it doesn't matter. Companies want an exact fit, and new people are always coming into the pyramid and pushing everyone else up. Employers worry that someone overqualified will get bored or leave for better pay. You can swear up and down that you're not that person. They still see the risk.

So you're now in the most competitive spot of your entire career, in a tough job market. That's the truth.

Where Is the Coaching?

Here's what really burns me. Think about the people HR has laid off. How many of them got real job search coaching? Not many.

Either they got nothing, or they got old-school outplacement from the big names. I can't tell you how many people come to me after that experience, and the advice they were given is awful. It's outdated, and the people giving it don't understand today's job market.

Think about pro athletes. They all have coaches, and it's because they're performing at the highest level. You're now playing at the highest level of your career, and you have no coach.

That's the travesty. And it's why I'm telling you this.

Are the Right Recruiters Finding You?

When you're competing at this level, you have to be found. Recruiters are searching LinkedIn for people exactly like you. If your profile isn't set up the right way, you're invisible to them. And most people have no idea that's happening.

That's why I created the PRO VOICE Score. It's a free tool that evaluates your LinkedIn profile and shows you how visible you really are to the recruiters who need to find you. It also shows you what's making you invisible, so you know exactly what to fix.

[Take the PRO VOICE Score here]

The wisdom tax is real, but it doesn't have to run your job search. Once you understand what you're up against, you can start playing the game the right way. Start with your LinkedIn profile, and let's get you found.

Go get ‘em!

J.T. O’Donnell

If you're a professional who's tired of feeling invisible or undervalued, J.T. O’Donnell’s new book PRO VOICE: Turn What You Know Into What You Earn is for you!

It’s time to stop relying on resumes and start building real visibility, credibility, and income.

Inside, J.T. shares her G.L.O.W. Method™ for showcasing your expertise online, building a trusted personal brand, and monetizing your knowledge through content, coaching, speaking, and more.

This isn’t about going viral—it’s about getting visible to the people who matter most. If you're ready to future-proof your career and finally earn what you’re worth, this book is your roadmap.