High-flying marketing boss, 46, reveals she’s now an UberEats rider after being rejected from ‘hundreds’ of jobs ‘because of her age’

DAILYMAIL.COM • 2h ago

By JESSICA GREEN, ASSISTANT LIFESTYLE EDITOR Updated: 11:34 11 Oct 2026

A mother who used to be a high-flying marketing boss working with celebrities and big television shows has revealed how she’s now delivering food to stay afloat after being rejected from ‘hundreds’ of jobs.

Camila Valim used to be rushed off her feet daily thanks to her high-powered career. The 46-year-old worked as the Head of Marketing across a range of major brands, often dealing with stars, such as Jerry Seinfeld, and on popular shows, including Big Brother.

But that all came crashing down when the mother-of-two suffered from burnout. After taking a break, she got stuck into creating her own personal brand on social media; though following a divorce, Camila needed a steady income right away.

And, no matter how hard she tried to secure a career, it was no use. She’s now been left taking a job delivering food to help make ends meet – and says the biggest issue she’s got when it comes to applying for roles is her age.

‘I’ve applied for hundreds of roles over the past ten months,’ Camila said. ‘My experience is strong and I often get great feedback on my profile. But that hasn’t turned into offers.

‘The biggest barrier I’m facing is simply the reality of being a senior candidate in this market. One recruiter, who has no reason not to be honest with me, has told me that the market is the toughest he’s seen in his career.’

Camila, who is from Brazil but currently lives in The Netherlands, went straight from university to the company she would stay with for 16 years.

Her role saw her work across 30 countries; and on many exciting projects. But after her burnout – of which 91 per cent of adults reported experiencing high levels of in the UK according to the Mental Health UK Burnout Report 2026 – she left in 2018.

In search of something rewarding, and with a flexible schedule, she trained with notable professional organiser and consultant, Marie Kondo.

Camila created her own brand on social media, titled Joy in Organizing, aimed to help people looking to sort out their homes and lives.

Sadly, in 2021, she and her ex-husband decided to part ways – and so she had to give up her business in search for a job that could keep things afloat.

She said: ‘I needed an income I could rely on straight away. So I went back into the corporate world. The company I was working for went bankrupt two years later and I moved into brand and marketing consultancy roles.

‘But my most recent contract came to an end last year – and so I began looking for the next.’

Another issue Camila is facing when applying for jobs is the emergence of AI in the workplace.

She said: ‘It’s changing what companies think they need and I think my age could be working against me in that.

‘It’s difficult to know what’s happening behind the scenes when you’re rejected, because employers don’t seem to explain their decision anymore.

‘There’s something emotionally wearing about putting yourself forward again and again and never really knowing the truth about why you weren’t chosen. Because I’m the only income in my household, though, I need to earn.’

Camila, who is currently questioning what she wants this next chapter in her life to look like, has decided, after seven months of job hunting, to earn some cash via UberEats.

She’s also selling her home to reduce financial pressure and cutting every cost she can. Now, she works up to four days-a-week, delivering food around her local area on her bike.

Camila said: ‘The high point is that the work turns into money pretty quickly. I also like the movement, being outside and on the bike after years sitting behind a desk.

‘But the low points are that it doesn’t come anywhere near to replacing the income I need. So it helps – but it’s not a solution.

‘The bag is big and even empty is heavy. And then there’s the rain. Even then, I try to find the joy in it. In any case, I’m not ashamed of it anymore. It matters to me to be willing to do honest work while life is in this uncertain space.’

Camila, not giving up on her dreams, has begun posting on her social media brand once again – sharing candid videos about her life.

While she hopes to find her way back into a senior corporate role again, especially for her two kids, aged nine and 12, her passion lies within helping others to transform their lives when unexpected cards are dealt.

She added: ‘I’ve had support from single mothers who know, first-hand, what it’s like to hold everything together with no one else to tag in.

‘What I didn’t expect was how many men reached out who had been in senior roles and lost their jobs.

‘Several said it was the first time they’d admitted it to anyone. That’s what shame does – it makes you hide. You’ll tell yourself that you’ll share life once things are better, but really it’s just fear.

‘When I posted about delivering for UberEats, I was in a scary place, stressed and under a lot of pressure. But what came afterwards was a sense of courage.

‘We’re shown plenty of comeback stories; but always after the person has made it. The messy in-between part always gets edited out. I’m interested in showing this middle while I’m still in it.

‘Sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan and that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re in the middle of something you haven’t figured out yet.

‘If being open about my life helps one person stop hiding, then the bike rides delivering people’s food in the rain were worth it.’

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