How hard is it to find a job at 55??

[helluvatime]

Due to personal circumstances, I may be shortly moving back to the UK after over 30 years away. I have some savings but really need to find a job - any job within reason - asap. How hard is this likely to be? I have irrelevant qualifications but could possibly train to move into a new sector if it helped.

What work experience do you have? It's always easier to get a job in a field you have experience in than a new field.
What sort of wages are you aiming for? Minimum wage jobs are relatively easy to come by. Care workers are particularly in demand if that's something that would suit you?

Have a look on a jobs website like Indeed, it will give you a good flavour of jobs out there.

What are you qualified to do?
How many years' experience do you have?
Would you consider freelance/consulting work?
Do you have any connections or network to trawl in the UK?

Civil Service is a good bet

Thanks. To answer a few questions- I have been working as an English teacher (TEFL) but I don't want to do this anymore. I have a PhD but it's pretty useless outside of academia! I thought the Civil Service would be impossible without relevant experience 🤔.

How about if you think about the skills you gained as a teacher and studying for your PhD? They will be transferable, it’s just a case of matching them to the requirements of your target job. It may not be a substitute for experience, but may get you in the door.

What do you think about doing tutoring as plenty of children need extra help.?

Civil Service here - zero prior experience, but life experience taken into account. I'm 53 and was recruited age 49.

I was also going to say civil service. I was 48 when i started. Had to do an intense training programme for my role where half of us were in our 40s and 50s.

It’s a very structured recruitment process but if you can get in then great. I love what I do.

You may like to browse the Mature Study and Retraining board? If you look at a variety of threads there you may be alerted to both options and issues you’re not currently aware of:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

Is there any professional area you’d be particularly interested in moving into? (I think it would be a shame not to utilise your PhD in some way!)

Thanks!