Friends tell me to dye my gray hair
- Name: Jill Cummings, 55
- Place: Tyler, Texas
After being a stay-at-home mom for years and then getting divorced, I went back to work in 2007 as a customer service representative at a paper company.
Two years later, I lost my job, along with my health insurance. Except for a few temp jobs here and there, I haven't been able to find a thing. I have sent out hundreds of resumes, literally.
I've been interviewed by people who are younger than my children, which is not a problem for me, but you can tell, they're just not interested in somebody 55 years old.
I do think age is a factor. I have long gray hair, and friends tell me to dye it because people will not hire you with that hair.
I've started telling people that I'm retired, and during my days, I babysit my newborn grandson for my son and daughter-in-law. Both work for a giant retail discount store. They can't afford daycare and don't make a living wage themselves.
I thank God for the help and love of good family and friends, because without their help I would probably be homeless.
