[Help] Jobs for oldies

[empire]

I got laid off a week ago, after a company 'restructuring' and I'm realising what a nightmare it is trying to find work.

I'm 68, so I guessed it wasn't going to be easy but it's pretty depressing to realise that I'm considered as someone on my last legs. I went to the Job Centre, just to get the lie of the land, and the bloke there said "All our jobs are for people of working age". Mate, I was working a couple of days ago!

Surely, there must be some opportunity for people who want to work. I'm pretty fit - I'm a rugby ref and coach at weekends - and healthy (I've just had a regular check-up and all the indicators are good). I have a long work record, mainly as journalist but in PR too; won lots of awards, managed small teams and large ones and earned enough to pay off the mortgage. I'm not looking for a high-paying job, just something to keep me ticking over as I'm not ready to put my feet up. Yet, it seems like an impossible dream. Anyone got any ideas where I could find work?

Kitchen work,not best paid but doable,washing up,orders away etc

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Sorry to hear that news Max - but glad you've got yourself on a TEFL course, and something could possibly come from that. All the best.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Matchday steward at Sussex Cricket?

Far too young

 

[alanfp]

Experience tells me that jobs very often come along as a result of informal networking/friends/social contacts rather than applying for jobs through traditional vacancy / applications routes So tell everyone you know that you're looking for a job. Including posting on your socials. Good luck.

 

[junior]

Some right useless old duffers working in the Asda near me, so maybe give them a try?

 

[maffew]

Some right useless old duffers working in the Asda near me, so maybe give them a try?

 

[raymondo]

What about a sports shop selling everything for rugby, football, cricket, tennis etc? Such stores often have student staff(especially weekends) and they often have little experience of the sports or how to deal with customers.
It's probably below your pay grade but proper experience can be valued in that environment.
Good luck.

 

[Gwylan]

Multiquote doesn't seem to be working so, to answer some posts.

Someone else suggested exam invigilator, but you rarely see them advertised (for example, Indeed is currently showing two vacancies, one in Rustington and one in Herstmonceux). How do you find them?

I've been posting like mad on social media. I went to a conference in London yesterday to bump into some old contacts but it was sparsely attended - jobs in media are becoming ever more rare.

I will look into New Larchwood and sports shops - nothing is below my pay grade. I don't need to earn huge amounts of money

 

[Hiheidi]

Someone else suggested exam invigilator, but you rarely see them advertised (for example, Indeed is currently showing two vacancies, one in Rustington and one in Herstmonceux). How do you find them?

Sign up for TES jobs.

Teaching and education jobs in Brighton and Hove | Tes

Search and apply for teaching jobs in Brighton and Hove. Tes has a range of jobs in Brighton and Hove. Find your perfect role today.

www.tes.com

 

[seagurl]

Multiquote doesn't seem to be working so, to answer some posts.

Someone else suggested exam invigilator, but you rarely see them advertised (for example, Indeed is currently showing two vacancies, one in Rustington and one in Herstmonceux). How do you find them?

I've been posting like mad on social media. I went to a conference in London yesterday to bump into some old contacts but it was sparsely attended - jobs in media are becoming ever more rare.

I will look into New Larchwood and sports shops - nothing is below my pay grade. I don't need to earn huge amounts of money

Go on to the school's own websites. In Brighton there are invigilating jobs advertised there.

 

[Wozza]

Don't know if there are roles in software training these days?

Or if there's a opportunity specifically in AI training? "AI for journalists", "AI for small businesses" etc.

Hard to cut through the AI noise at the moment, because things are so fast moving, but that does feel like an opportunity...

 

[GJN1]

How fit are you? When I take my dogs out in the morning I always think that I'd like to be a dog walker when I'm retired. Not have six or seven of them like some dog walkers do but just three or four. Get a little van. Get exercise and fresh air. Easily earn a few hundred a week.

 

[Hovegull]

How fit are you? When I take my dogs out in the morning I always think that I'd like to be a dog walker when I'm retired. Not have six or seven of them like some dog walkers do but just three or four. Get a little van. Get exercise and fresh air. Easily earn a few hundred a week.

You have to have special insurance and most clients like you to be properly registered for this though. Also stuff like pet first aid qualifications etc. With the OP not being able to drive it would be limiting.

 

[GJN1]

You have to have special insurance and most clients like you to be properly registered for this though. Also stuff like pet first aid qualifications etc. With the OP not being able to drive it would be limiting.

Ah missed the bit about not driving, sorry.

 

[happypig]

I'm in a similar position, although I want a bit of extra so that I can afford a couple of holidays a year (nothing fancy, just a couple of weeks in the sun).
I applied to Wickes but got rejected.
We've decided we're going to give hosting students a go, maybe this summer, maybe next. This should bring in about £4k through the summer (we're here all the time during June/July/August working on the garden).
As a guide, we've been told EF pay £140 per student per week and you can host up to 4.
You can earn up to £7500 per year tax-free from hosting students.

 

[Hiheidi]

We've decided we're going to give hosting students a go, maybe this summer, maybe next. This should bring in about £4k through the summer (we're here all the time during June/July/August working on the garden).
As a guide, we've been told EF pay £140 per student per week and you can host up to 4.
You can earn up to £7500 per year tax-free from hosting students.

In a similar, but more long-term vein, you can also apply to provide a home away from home for Brighton academy kids.

 

[alanfp]

Some right useless old duffers working in the Asda near me, so maybe give them a try?

I'm not sure if you're dissing the 'old duffers at Asda' here... or the OP??

 

[alanfp]

We've decided we're going to give hosting students a go, maybe this summer, maybe next. This should bring in about £4k through the summer (we're here all the time during June/July/August working on the garden).
As a guide, we've been told EF pay £140 per student per week and you can host up to 4.

Good option if the two of you are living in an under-occupied large 5 bedroom house.

Or looking at it another way, having 4 students you've never met before in your house for 3 months when they've got no studying to do (and presumably no social life as all the other students have gone back to their home areas). - what could possibly go wrong!

 

[Gwylan]

Don't know if there are roles in software training these days?

Or if there's a opportunity specifically in AI training? "AI for journalists", "AI for small businesses" etc.

Hard to cut through the AI noise at the moment, because things are so fast moving, but that does feel like an opportunity...

Yeah, I've just applied for a couple of these

 

[Gwylan]

I'm not sure if you're dissing the 'old duffers at Asda' here... or the OP??

I'm proud to be an old duffer