Stacey Duguid, a former fashion editor for Elle magazine and editorial director at Harrods, found herself in a desperate job search after her marriage collapsed in 2021. At 47, with a six-figure salary and a glittering career that included work with brands like Prada, Armani, and Net-a-Porter, Duguid took time off to regroup, securing a book deal and writing freelance pieces. However, when she attempted to re-enter the full-time workforce a few months before her 51st birthday, her experience proved to be a significant hurdle.
Duguid described meticulously applying for jobs, sending out at least ten applications weekly and alerting her network that she was open to opportunities. Despite her extensive background, she received no responses, not even automated rejections. This silence, she realized, coincided with fashion brands increasingly using AI like ChatGPT for tasks she previously specialized in. As AI became a tool in recruitment, she began to suspect her CV was being filtered out by applicant tracking systems (ATS), which scan for keywords and can inadvertently screen out older candidates.
Financial and Personal Challenges
Compounding her professional difficulties, Duguid faced personal financial strain. After her divorce, she sold a Georgian house in Margate, Kent, which she had been using as a part-time Airbnb, to cover rent in London. However, soaring rental prices made finding a new home impossible, forcing her to move to a less affluent area of North West London. Her financial struggles became acute, culminating in a moment of public embarrassment when her card was declined at a supermarket checkout.
She detailed the emotional toll of her situation, including selling jewelry to afford food and feeling unable to buy presents for her children at Christmas. Duguid's extensive wardrobe, filled with designer clothing from her career, became a burden, with items stored in plastic bags under her son's bed. She eventually had to sell much of it to cover basic expenses.
Systemic Issues and a New Initiative
Her job search extended beyond the fashion industry, with applications sent to airlines, drinks companies, and various startups, all without success. Duguid's frustration grew as she learned from a friend that her CV was considered "old lady" and not ATS-friendly, requiring her to remove dates and use younger keywords. She posits that AI systems, trained on historical human biases, are perpetuating ageism, screening out experienced midlife women before their applications are even seen by human recruiters. Feedback she and others have gathered suggests a perception of older women as "overqualified," "bossy," "expensive," or unable to adapt to new technology.
Duguid's experience led her to post her frustrations on Instagram, where she received an overwhelming response from other women in similar predicaments. This collective experience of being deemed unhireable after decades of work prompted her to establish an online community called Encore. This initiative aims to address the talent drain and advocate for greater accountability in the use of AI recruitment tools to eliminate age bias. Despite not anticipating this new role at 52, Duguid, like many midlife women, has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.