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.

Could you teach? Media studies for example. Maybe at college BTech etc.

Commercial video companies.

Most companies want professional video on their web sites now and having worked with some of the agencies out there, good project management is in short supply.

Might be worth a look.

How exciting @Piknik!

Another update for @Ilovemyshed, @Floppyearedlab and everyone else who has been so helpful and supportive.

I did my assessment day today at Hendon. It was nerve wracking but at the end of it, I was given a conditional job offer (pending vetting).

I was told I did really well scoring top scores of 5s across the board (no idea if that is especially impressive or not but it was nice to feel I'd done well in something!) and I was even advised to apply for a more senior supervisor role whilst I am waiting for the vetting to complete.

I do have a tiny concern about the vetting (a stupid thing I did when I was 18 - so 38 years ago) but I will declare it, and then it's out of my hands.

Regardless of the final outcome, it was a really good day for my confidence after months of feeling like I was too old to be of interest to anyone, so thank you to everyone who suggested the role.

Really good to hear your update. Hope you pass the checks, enjoy the role and thatyou progress in it. I work in TV too and at 52 I am in no doubt I will be made redundant in the next few years and will face the same problems. I am the main bread winner in my family so it is a big worry for me. I like the idea of working for the police too in some capacity. I would do any office job really if I can find one. Will definitely post on here for inspiration too when my time comes. Good luck and all the best.

It’s not just you or your age (although no doubt ageism is part of it). Every creative industry is going through a massive retrenchment. It is scary. I’m freelance in a similar industry and still keeping head above water but I’m only in my mid forties and very worried about the next two decades.

Congratulations on your job offer. I think you’re way, way over qualified for that job and you’re probably going to find the way it’s run in the control room restrictive. However, it’s a big organisation and they obviously have internal recruitment happening all the time. I don’t even know what they have which will suit you but there are obviously Comms teams and project management roles where your experience will be really useful. As soon as you get your feet under the table find out where they advertise the roles internally and keep an eye out. You’ve probably got a heap more hustle than a lot of people whose main career will be public sector. ( I was a Met officer for 26 years )

Well done, really pleased for you.

Hello

I am going to keep updating here just in case it's ever useful to anyone else.

I have the medical next week (luckily it's vision and hearing rather than throwing myself round an obstacle course) and following the suggestion of the panel interviewing me, I have also applied for the Supervisor role and just got an email to say I have made the shortlist.

Vetting happens after the medical, so that could still rule me out.

So still no ACTUAL job, but moving in a positive direction at the moment.

Have you looked into doing some lecturing/ guest lectures for media students? Working in a uni organising placements within the facilities or something along those lines ?

Updating again just because...

Passed the medical and am now mid-vetting. As I may have mentioned upthread, there is one thing I'm a bit worried about (stupid thing I was arrested for aged 18) but I've included it so we shall see...

In the meantime, i did also apply for the Supervisor role as suggested at my interview and have the assessment for that on Sunday - so the two applications are currently running in parallel.

And most tellingly of all - still no freelance work of any description. So things are pretty dire and if this doesn't work out, I'll be back to this thread DEMANDING more ideas :)

I'm enjoying your updates. I hope it works out for you.