No work and running out of ideas. Help!

[Piknik]

Posted on the Work board, but re-posting here for traffic.

I am 55 and never thought I'd be in this position, but I realise now that years of doing a bit of a 'made up' job has put me here and I don't know what to do.
I am under-qualified (didn't go to University as I was offered a full-time job at the BBC aged 17 and took it). I have worked my whole life in TV, Film, Video, Live Events and Content Producing and have suddenly found myself without work since January.

I have worked for broadcasters, film production companies, individuals, event companies, agencies and private clients across so many areas of the industry including: writing/producing/scripting/casting/directing/creative development and have spent the past 10 years freelance with enough work to bring me in an average of around £60K a year.

And then suddenly, nothing.

Everything seems to be working against me:

• Age - pretty sure this is a factor.
• Contacts - I have always relied on people who know me and understand my experience and skillset giving me work, and they have. But now - despite following up with everyone I can think of (even the ones that are a bit embarrassing to chase), there is nothing.
• Lack of clarity - Because I am not a 'thing' - more a flexible/multi skilled and experienced person that can adapt - it's really REALLY hard to apply for jobs online (although I am trying really hard and doing really careful bespoke CV and covering letters almost daily - one or two a day at most).

I am also trying to apply for things outside of my field - I've tried Civil Service jobs/NGO and charity storytelling jobs/visitor experience jobs - things that have some correlation - but I don't seem to make it past first sift on anything.

Apart from the financial strain and burden on DH who is now starting to buckle under the pressure of being sole earner, I hate not working. Hate it.

I have no idea what to do. I feel sick and a bit desperate and have no idea how to find work, or pivot at my age. I don't feel old and still have so much to offer but I'm not sure anyone wants it!

Any advice welcome. I'm really struggling - financially and emotionally.

https://talentedpeople.tv/

Have you registered with industry specific agencies like this one ^

I'm so sorry OP, this industry continues through such a long downturn. I've seen some colleagues posting on Linked In with very detailed descriptions of where their talents lie and their availability which seems to sometimes spark a relevant response (if yu've not already done so). You don't say where you're based, but have you tried other hubs/London? Other colleagues have literally been taking pub shifts to plug gaps, or retraining altogether.

It's awful, I'm so sorry, so much skilled talent that will end up leaving the industry, replaced with AI slop.

@EmmaStone It's really hard to compete the AI slop and crap production values. I'm not 25 with my own kit ready to go anywhere in the world, shoot, edit, graphic design and deliver in 10 different formats for £150, but it does feel like that's what I am up against.

I am so angry with myself for believing that I'd always have work and for not retraining or pivoting sooner, but there's no point being pissed off, I need to crack on.

I am based in London and do check Mandy / TalentedPeople and other industry sites, but even those are generally looking for something very specific and I am just a really good all rounder which I thought was a good thing but now realise is a terrible thing

I have never felt so low or worthless in my life. It's just the worst feeling.

Thank you both though. I will keep looking for a local filler job and checking the industry sites.

My LinkedIn is terrible - that's something I could improve.

On your LinkedIn put information about projects you’ve been involved with, and always answer the” so what” question. What did it achieve? How did you make a difference?
use ai give you some ideas but make it yours- not ai slop.
and connect with all the organisations you can.

Have you tried Police Control?

So sorry to hear this. I was sacked last year. (Finance, similar age) working again now. Less money but less stress.

Resent years spent going above beyond etc.

OP I would look at communications, PR and marketing jobs or even events organisation jobs with charities because your media experience would transfer well.

I think the job market is crap at the moment for so many people but don't lose hope.

No. Is that answering 999 calls and deploying support? Or something else? Am I not too old?

You're absolutely not too old
My friend was a TA for years and was hating it. She retrained as a police call handler in her 50s (perhaps very late 40s) and is now a supervisor. Loves her job. It's hard, sometimes harrowing but loves it.

It would be nice to do something that felt meaningful after a lifetime of 'fluff'. I am going to at least look into this idea, thank you!

Definitely not too old. Very interesting and often a springboard into the control room training team.

@Floppyearedlab and @ilovemyshed I've applied!

🤞

Oh brilliant! Let us know how you get on! You sounds really well suited to the job.