I'm 46. Is that "too old" in employers' eyes?

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

Sorry for the negative tone of this post - Im feeling really depressed about my work situation!

I've been a writer for 20 years, self-employed. I've written books, magazine articles, blog posts, newspaper stuff... I'm currently rethinking my career (a pension would be nice!) and am very tempted to try to get a full-time job.

I've got the skills and experience to apply for Content Writing jobs at digital agencies... but I keep looking at the companies' Team Photos and realising they're all about 20 years younger than me. Would I just get laughed out of an interview?

I found it easy to get jobs before I became self-employed but I was in my 20s then. Am I a much less exciting candidate now I'm pushing 50?

Any thoughts very welcome!

[MikeUniformMike]

Apply for a few jobs to see how it goes.

[Therealslimshady1]

With writing, it should not matter?

Just go for it

[Hassled]

No, I don't think so at all. Retirement ages are getting older and older, and people realise this - it used to be that early 50s was "pushing retirement" but everyone knows that's just not the case anymore. And experience counts. As an example, my DH works in IT - it used to be very much a youngster's game, and we worried that as he got older jobs would be harder to come by. But actually the opposite has been true - his experience counts more in his favour than his age goes against him. So if you know you're capable, give it a go. Good luck.

[chipmonkey]

I have just moved at 48. If you're the right person looking for the right job at the right time, age won't come into it. And if it does, they're probably not the sort of person you want to work for anyway.

[SallyGinnamon]

I started a new career at 50. I'm starting at the bottom but promotion is possible soon.

[Acornantics]

I returned to work after 10+ years of freelance writing/comms work, aged early 40s, and haven't found age a barrier at all, in fact I think it's seen as an asset.

I'm just about to join a public sector-related organisation in a dream of a comms role, after a while working for a business in a similar capacity.

IME, age=experience, commitment, maturity and reliability...sell your strengths and good luck with the job hunt!

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

You're all so positive! THANK YOU. When I started this thread, I honestly felt like I should be putting down my ambitions and picking up knitting needles.

I feel a million times' better now.

I hadn't ever expected that age experience would be viewed as an asset, but I guess it makes sense. I've written every kind of piece you can write by now. I've definitely put in my 10,000 hours.

Thanks! And good luck all of you lot who are starting again in your 40s and 50s! You are fabulous!

[daisygirlmac]

I interviewed a 48 year old and a 32 year old today and employed the 48 year old, to join my team which consists of me (30), colleague (30), someone I took on new to our industry when she was 57, a 19 year old and now this new lady.

I really like having a mix of ages and experience it makes a good team and means we can cover a lot of bases when speaking to clients. Good luck!

[AnnaNimmity]

I employed a 49 year old who'd been out of the job market for years. She's done some volunteering and a course designed to help people return to work (in a different field to you) so I'd say you're not too old! Lots of advantages of older, more experienced people I think

[Jaguarana]

I changed careers completely at 47 and am loving my new job.

DH recently got a great new job at the age of 54, beating much younger candidates to get it.

Good luck!

[Acornantics]

whatsgoingoneh with your writing skills and experience I know you're eminently employable.

One way back to 'employed' (as opposed to swlf employed) work might be something like this...Every organisation has a website that needs content, and most have a social media presence...get yourself up to speed with web content creation and the latest social media skills and bingo!

Let us know how it goes!

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

I can't tell you how much you've all cheered me up. I'm a different person today - so totally positive. Thank you!

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

The suggestion to write about TenaPads almost made me piss myself laughing, aptly.

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

I am still receiving a lot of freelance commissions so I'm going to just start banging out job applications and see what happens. I've also contacted a woman who runs a boutique recruitment agency for creative types to ask her advice.

I'm on a p/t contract at the moment that I think will finish in 6 weeks' time and probably won't be renewed. So that'd give me the summer to learn more social-media/digital skills.

I've got money saved up from freelance commissions so I can live off that for a bit.

I feel SO fired up now. Thanks a million times again.

[user1495915742]

Like the others say, don't let it hold you back.

I have just started a new career and I am getting on for 48.

[ParadiseCity]

Ignore the website photos. Mine is at least 10 years old

[CountryLovingGirl]

I'm 45 and, although I have had a career in the NHS since I was 22, I am contemplating re-training for a new career with better hours. Pension age for me is 68 so that's another 23 years!

You are not too old!

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

Thanks, CLG! Good luck in your training.

[elkiedee]

Thanks for the reassurance, as I want to return to work aged 48, after 5 years off. Good luck WhatsGoingOnEh. Bit puzzled by the list of older people's subjects and brands, as I don't relate to them at all, not sure I will at 60 or 70 either.

[VisitorFromAlphaStation]

You might want to put more effort into your search process, and think about what jobs and openings might be available, perhaps call the manager of the companies you want to work for. Not simply fill in an application form on a web site at some recruitment agency, and hope for the best. (I honestly don't think these sites work well if you're over 30 or 35.)

[Nasreen]

Hi
Another 46 year old here, having a real career crisis.
My last job was a TA role, but have decided I don't want to do that long term. Currently working voluntarily for the local CAB, but feel really stuck as to know what to do long term.

Originally I trained as a secondary school teacher, but left that 10 years ago now.

Just feel in limbo really, not knowing which direction to turn. Also trying to sell our house and move north to south (another nightmare!).

Any ideas? I am tempted to just apply for anything and everything and see where that gets me? Also thought of re training but I can't secure funding as I have had two lots for degree and PGCE.

[furrymuff]

I'm 43, worked for NHS for 23 years - retrained as a counsellor over the last few years and now about to set up on my own as a qualified counsellor/coach with hopefully a part time NHS job as a counsellor to give me a buffer while I build up clients.

In the job I'm currently doing I've just employed two 40+ people who were by far the best people for the jobs!