Over 50 and trying to find work....................again !

[Bozza]

I did this in 2014, first time in 30 years. Best thing I ever did and should have done it years ago. A few months off allowed me to clear my head and work out what I wanted to do, and completely changed my perspective. I'm very lucky in that I had a few options appear quickly as what passes for the 'specialist knowledge' I have is in demand but I was prepared to take longer if I had to.

I go through two alternating emotions...

1. Massive excitement at the endless possibilities I will have.
2. Absolute dread and fear that I'm giving up a very well paying (and pensioned etc) job with absolutely nothing to move into, and there are others relying on me.

What doesn't help is the 'rainy day' fund I have, which is in the form of shares in my (soon to be ex-)employer, have fallen by around 25% between when I resigned and now. It's a classic "all (well, most) eggs in one basket" situation. I could have cashed in many of them before now but kept them in place in order that I didn't fritter the resultant funds away. In this regard, my timing couldn't have been much worse.

Our car also got written off recently meaning we had to replace it. Ours was old and crappy having covered 160,000 miles, most of which were on the motorways between Somerset and Sussex, but it was still very reliable, so we'd decided to keep it as long as it kept going. The accident meant that happened sooner than we would have liked!

Oh well, onward and upward!

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

I go through two alternating emotions...

1. Massive excitement at the endless possibilities I will have.
2. Absolute dread and fear that I'm giving up a very well paying (and pensioned etc) job with absolutely nothing to move into, and there are others relying on me.

What doesn't help is the 'rainy day' fund I have, which is in the form of shares in my (soon to be ex-)employer, have fallen by around 25% between when I resigned and now. It's a classic "all (well, most) eggs in one basket" situation. I could have cashed in many of them before now but kept them in place in order that I didn't fritter the resultant funds away. In this regard, my timing couldn't have been much worse.

Our car also got written off recently meaning we had to replace it. Ours was old and crappy having covered 160,000 miles, most of which were on the motorways between Somerset and Sussex, but it was still very reliable, so we'd decided to keep it as long as it kept going. The accident meant that happened sooner than we would have liked!

Oh well, onward and upward!

So long as one have passion and desire a bit of good fortune and most of all health the rest (however hard) will fall into place....eventually....

 

[OzMike]

I found work !
A bit quicker than I thought I might.
Next week I am working as a contractor for a kitchen maker, based about 30mins drive from here.
I will be an onsite installer/cabinet maker, average money till I carry out a couple of installs and then, if all good, up to a livable amount.
Still $390 a week less than I got before, that's around 195 quid.
It is quite a drop, but better than living on fresh air.
I am still waiting for the results of interviews I attended for more professional roles.
I will keep applying for these and attend interviews on Saturdays if required.
We got a big open air gig tomorrow evening so at least I can concentrate on practicing now without the worry.

 

[spence]

I found work !
A bit quicker than I thought I might.
Next week I am working as a contractor for a kitchen maker, based about 30mins drive from here.
I will be an onsite installer/cabinet maker, average money till I carry out a couple of installs and then, if all good, up to a livable amount.
Still $390 a week less than I got before, that's around 195 quid.
It is quite a drop, but better than living on fresh air.
I am still waiting for the results of interviews I attended for more professional roles.
I will keep applying for these and attend interviews on Saturdays if required.
We got a big open air gig tomorrow evening so at least I can concentrate on practicing now without the worry.

Well done. Not sure i would want to hump kitchen units around all day at your age

 

[OzMike]

Well done. Not sure i would want to hump kitchen units around all day at your age

Beggars and all that, I am still in very good shape for my age.
I have installed more kitchens than I can remember and a lot of the time it is about the technique not the strength.

 

[Rugrat]

I found work !
A bit quicker than I thought I might.
Next week I am working as a contractor for a kitchen maker, based about 30mins drive from here.
I will be an onsite installer/cabinet maker, average money till I carry out a couple of installs and then, if all good, up to a livable amount.
Still $390 a week less than I got before, that's around 195 quid.
It is quite a drop, but better than living on fresh air.
I am still waiting for the results of interviews I attended for more professional roles.
I will keep applying for these and attend interviews on Saturdays if required.
We got a big open air gig tomorrow evening so at least I can concentrate on practicing now without the worry.

Well done, hope it works out for you

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Have you considered contacting the local schools to see if they will promote your clarinet and sax lessons? They may even be prepared to let kids have lessons on the school premises.

Reminds me of a [joke?] job advert from a violinist offering to provide lessons for children = "kiddie fiddlers ...."

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

I found work !
A bit quicker than I thought I might.
Next week I am working as a contractor for a kitchen maker, based about 30mins drive from here.
I will be an onsite installer/cabinet maker, average money till I carry out a couple of installs and then, if all good, up to a livable amount.
Still $390 a week less than I got before, that's around 195 quid.
It is quite a drop, but better than living on fresh air.
I am still waiting for the results of interviews I attended for more professional roles.
I will keep applying for these and attend interviews on Saturdays if required.
We got a big open air gig tomorrow evening so at least I can concentrate on practicing now without the worry.

Splendid - pleased for you.

I took voluntary severance [I'm an IT project / programme manager] when I was 48 and have been contracting for the last 8 years.
Great money when working but the gaps between [and I'm in one now] are always a concern - I'm not great at marketing myself [that's not my skill]

Anyway, have learned that as a contractor you must sever your employer loyalty and always think and look after number one.

|good luck my friend ....

 

[Westdene Wonder]

Ticket offices they may be but they will always need train dispatch staff and last time I looked at the vacancy sheet there were a fair few jobs going. I was on the Gatwick Express side and we were always having to pinch Southern staff to cover platform duties due to staff shortages.

I think this is good advice,particularly if you are prepared to accept shift working

 

[kevo]

I go through two alternating emotions...

1. Massive excitement at the endless possibilities I will have.
2. Absolute dread and fear that I'm giving up a very well paying (and pensioned etc) job with absolutely nothing to move into, and there are others relying on me.

What doesn't help is the 'rainy day' fund I have, which is in the form of shares in my (soon to be ex-)employer, have fallen by around 25% between when I resigned and now. It's a classic "all (well, most) eggs in one basket" situation. I could have cashed in many of them before now but kept them in place in order that I didn't fritter the resultant funds away. In this regard, my timing couldn't have been much worse.

Our car also got written off recently meaning we had to replace it. Ours was old and crappy having covered 160,000 miles, most of which were on the motorways between Somerset and Sussex, but it was still very reliable, so we'd decided to keep it as long as it kept going. The accident meant that happened sooner than we would have liked!

Oh well, onward and upward!

I am of a similar age to the OP. Took voluntary redundancy five years ago. Big risk, as I had nothing to move on to, and had a well-paid and interesting job. But I fancied a change, liked the idea of finding something to do that I really loved, and the money was simply too good to turn down. It's fair to say that it's been a fairly rocky road since then. The redundancy money has all gone (it disappears much faster than you think when you have no income!) and I didn't really use the time after I left wisely. But I'm in work again, albeit in a lower paid job, and there's a decent prospect of promotion. So it's all worked out OK in the end, I guess - but I'm not sure I'd take the same course of action again! (although in truth, I would almost certainly have been made compulsarily redundant anyway...)

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

a lot of the time it is about the technique not the strength.

i often use this line as well

Seriously though, pleased for you. Hope it works out.

 

[ThePompousPaladin]

lie.

 

[shoreham seagull 1973]

Made redundant after 21 years at age 50. Did not lie about my age and got a job for 34 hr week which is quite physically demanding. Money not so good, probably a third of previous job, but not looking back. Well worth taking the cut as better to be working than not. Do not give up and also do not set sights to high, I am sure that something will come up.

 

[Steve Foster]

I found work !
A bit quicker than I thought I might.
Next week I am working as a contractor for a kitchen maker, based about 30mins drive from here.
I will be an onsite installer/cabinet maker, average money till I carry out a couple of installs and then, if all good, up to a livable amount.
Still $390 a week less than I got before, that's around 195 quid.
It is quite a drop, but better than living on fresh air.
I am still waiting for the results of interviews I attended for more professional roles.
I will keep applying for these and attend interviews on Saturdays if required.
We got a big open air gig tomorrow evening so at least I can concentrate on practicing now without the worry.

Delighted to hear your good news. Hearty congrats & hope it all works out well !

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

I found work !
A bit quicker than I thought I might.
Next week I am working as a contractor for a kitchen maker, based about 30mins drive from here.
I will be an onsite installer/cabinet maker, average money till I carry out a couple of installs and then, if all good, up to a livable amount.
Still $390 a week less than I got before, that's around 195 quid.
It is quite a drop, but better than living on fresh air.
I am still waiting for the results of interviews I attended for more professional roles.
I will keep applying for these and attend interviews on Saturdays if required.
We got a big open air gig tomorrow evening so at least I can concentrate on practicing now without the worry.

I did similar,lost a job (my fault) not an age thing,anyway less money and better than not working,within 6 months i doubled my money and got another job, your in the shop window,its good for your mind body and soul,thing is the job i did for 6 months i hated,but it got my fitness up and i will always be thank full,they even offered me £5000 a year more to stay...

 

[Notters]

Wont be long before robots take all our jobs anyway. Still, look on the bright side - at least you've got your health

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35737104

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35737104

Wow,interesting piece,but why significantly reduce the current 50 mph stopping distance to 10 metres.....it will (will take a long time) never work......vehicles especially lorries are suspect to all kinds of failures mechanically,including tyre blow outs.....will a computer detect and react to a 35 ton lorry having a problem such as losing its air brakes with a burst airline?

Stick with cars now i say..

 

[OzMike]

First day was 9 and1/2 hours long.
Non stop, with 1/2 hour for lunch.
Back a bit stiff but otherwise good.
Early night I think, will try and check scores when I get up.

 

[sydney]

First day was 9 and1/2 hours long.
Non stop, with 1/2 hour for lunch.
Back a bit stiff but otherwise good.
Early night I think, will try and check scores when I get up.

welcome to the real world michael.....xx

 

[Arkwright]

I'm 53 and having sold my business a Village Shop, Post Office and B&B in Hampshire, I moved back to Caterham.

At the time it made sense to work for the Post Office, however despite promises of Full TIme work I ended up on a twenty hour contract which included Saturday's (no good for the Albion) so I started looking for Monday to Friday 9 to 5.30. I got a job in Croydon in insurance which I had never done before sadly I was just a glorified filing clerk and hated it so air left a week ago without a job to go to (not advisable).

I really want to get back into Credit Control / Customer Service and have applied online and direct to over 100 jobs in the last week. The thing I find hard is getting through to the Employment Agents, they rarely return calls, reply to emails and I am starting to question whether the roles advertised are really on the books.

That said last week I had two interviews and waiting for second interviews and have today been offered a temp job in nearby Godstone. Maybe I'm fortune that I'm not chasing big money anymore but there are jobs in the market and try to be realistic and take within reason what is on offer.

My wife was in the same boat and took on a Data Entry job for a private pension company and they have seen her potential and ask her to do some exams.

I know that the market isn't great and the hours on offer are often rubbish but stay patient something will come along and don't take "no" for an answer from the agents, they need you just as much as you need them.

Good luck all.