Malaysian In His 40s Says Job Hunting Is Difficult Because He’s “Overqualified”

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A Malaysian in his mid-40s says he's struggled to find work, with employers repeatedly rejecting him for being "overqualified"

Speaking to SAYS, Amin Ali, 46, said he has applied to more than 20 companies in the past year and was shortlisted for several interviews.

However, the outcome of the interviews has been largely the same: rejected for being "overqualified" and "too old".

"A HR personnel told me, 'Your education and experience are impressive, but our company doesn't want to take the risk because of your age and the fact that you're overqualified,'" wrote Amin in a Threads post.

He added that some employers indirectly cited potential health issues commonly associated with older employees as a reason for not hiring mid-career applicants.

"By 'age', they mean they don't want to take the risk because people at this stage in life usually start having some health issues," he said.

Amin last held a position as a trade marketing senior executive and has experience across several fields, including sales, education, and writing

Despite his broad background, strong resume, and a Master's degree in Communications, age discrimination seems to be a recurring barrier.

Frustrated, he questioned whether Malaysians are simply expected to stop working once they reach their 40s, or if they're left with no choice but to turn to gig jobs or part-time work just to get by.

Amin's Threads post has struck a chord with many Malaysians, garnering over 44,000 views on the platform at the time of writing

Amin appreciated the support and feedback he received, adding that he currently takes on freelance work to stay afloat.

When asked what changes he hopes to see in the Malaysian job market, Amin called for a more inclusive and holistic approach to hiring, one that acknowledges job seekers from all age groups and backgrounds.

"The government should take a more proactive approach in setting clear guidelines for hiring practices in both the public and private sectors.

"Some companies only want to hire people under 30, require foreign language fluency, and — more troubling — don't allow employees to fulfil their religious obligations.

"Authorities need to monitor and evaluate job postings. Malaysians come from diverse age groups, ethnicities, and needs. Everyone deserves fair and equal job opportunities without prejudice related to age, health, or experience," he said when contacted.

Amin warned that dismissing older, experienced candidates can lead to a loss of local talent and a brain drain, as many may seek work opportunities abroad.