Ageism
Ageism is against the law and employers who practice this are open to legal cases which could cost them £1000's.
36 is by no means too old, there are APP students going through OAT in their early 40's.
Most older pilots tend to stay with an employer, whilst younger persons with less comittments have itchy feet, i know i was one.
There is a pilot shortage already out there, and its getting worse for the airlines.
Already companies are finding it difficult to get the right quality of person into the right seat, and to retain them.
Those who sit arround waiting for a job to come to them are living in cloud cuckoo land, those who are proactive in their job seeking get employed.
Once you get that first job, getting another is usually somewhat easier.
A training captain once told me that staying as an instructor, air taxi pilot for too long would not help in a persons chances to break into the airline industry.
Of course in the past that was the only course available to many, but in the current climate things have changed.