When Your Career Ends Early: Navigating Late-Career Layoffs with Insight and Resilience

Dr. CK Bray
Aug 7
2 min read

You never think it will happen to you….until it does. For many professionals in their 50s and 60s, an unexpected layoff or buyout can feel like a sudden detour at the edge of retirement. While career disruptions are always challenging, they are tough when they occur at the end of a long professional journey. The line between working years and retirement becomes blurred, and managing that transition requires more than just financial planning. It takes emotional clarity, mental agility, and resilience.

Economic Realities and the Job Market

It takes an average of 26 weeks for workers aged 55 to 64 to find a new job, compared to 19 weeks for workers under 55. Reemployment often comes with a financial setback; older workers take an average 11% pay cut. Ageism, outdated skills, and higher compensation expectations can make it harder to find the right fit.

Still, the career isn’t over. Many are transitioning into part-time consulting, coaching, or fractional leadership roles, like one executive who now works 25 hours a week in semi-retirement. These options offer flexibility and continued engagement without the pressure of a full-time climb.

But this isn’t always the case. When a layoff arrives before financial security is firmly in place, it can create a dual crisis, disrupting not only your income but also your sense of self. For many professionals, a career is deeply intertwined with identity, purpose, and daily routine. The sudden loss of that role can trigger intense emotional stress and uncertainty. Neuroscience reveals that the brain’s default mode network, the part involved in self-reflection and identity, can become overactive during transitions like this, making it more challenging to regulate emotions and plan effectively for the future. Recognizing this dual toll is crucial to regaining your footing.

A Resilient Brain Can Reinvent

Research shows that neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt, continues well into our later years. Older adults often outperform younger individuals in terms of emotional intelligence and decision-making. The key is to shift from a fixed mindset (“I’m too old to start over”) to a growth mindset (“This is an opportunity to redesign my life”).

Tools like journaling, coaching, or purpose-based reflection can help transform a crisis into an opportunity for reinvention. Reframing the moment as a transition rather than an ending keeps the brain open and adaptable.

What You Can Do Now

Reframe your narrative: Instead of focusing on the job loss, focus on the opportunity for redesign.
Explore flexible career models: Consulting, mentoring, or part-time work can offer fulfillment without full-time pressure.
Invest in learning: Short courses or micro-credentials can boost relevance and confidence.
Support your brain: Prioritize sleep, exercise, and connection to build cognitive resilience.