I have a decade of experience in retail management, specifically in wireless sales, but I'm currently facing a tough job search at 40 years old. After managing multiple locations, coaching teams, and handling P&L responsibilities, I left my last job for what I thought was a great opportunity in B2B outside sales. Unfortunately, that offer fell through during the pre-employment stage, and since then, I've been applying to various roles including B2B sales, account executive positions, and even some leadership roles in manufacturing. Despite receiving some interview invitations, I keep getting rejected, which is incredibly frustrating. I feel like my extensive experience should count for something, but it seems that potential employers see 'retail' on my resume and dismiss my qualifications. I'm reaching out for advice on how to better position my experience for a successful transition out of retail management. I'm curious to know how others have successfully made this leap, what industries were open to them, and whether I should focus on individual contributor roles instead of management positions. I genuinely want to understand what might be holding me back and how I can improve my chances in this challenging job market.