How to best deal with bias against experienced engineers looking for work?

It might not be so much an 'age bias' as the way you're presenting yourself.

Just have a friend look-over your resume/projects for silly mistakes like that.

I've certainly run into ageism, particularly past 45, particularly from certain types of companies, but in my experience 'afraid I won't stay' & 'afraid I'll take their job' & other silly excuses in those 'online threads' are usually from people looking for any reason they didn't get the job that doesn't include 'I wasn't the right person for the job'.

To be sure, I expect the general economic slowdown might dent interest, but successful companies run by adults need what we offer.

I'm not sure what c19 is but I expect my answer doesn't change.

Here's the reality of how looking for employment works.

You apply to a job, they will give you an interview or not. Doesn't matter if they don't.

At the first interview all the biases of the interviewers will apply. These don't matter.

Your biases will apply, and it's your job to minimize these as much as possible while also maintaining the importance of certain biases. PErsonally I will NEVER work with a micromanager ever again. That's my bias and I'm sticking with that one to the end.

Your job in the interview is to convince them you are capable and ready to help them solve whatever their problems are. This is your job.

Their job in the interview is to convince you to want to work for them. If their biases get in the way, then no big deal at all. Better now than having to deal with it later.

In short --- start your own company.

The excuses you've been given are all BS. What they are really looking for is someone who will work twice as many hours as you for half your pay.

Sorry to be so blunt but you should have started preparing for this day a long time ago --- like the day you walked into your job, looked around and noticed that those over 40 were a small minority.

Where did all the old techies go? HINT: They didn't all die.