Found my ideal job in London, but at nearly 57 years old is it worth trying

[Stressedout65]

I have just found a vacancy in London that would be ideal for me. I could easily do the role and I've previously had a similar role in the same industry. It's remote working with one day a month in the office required. I'm Midlands based but love London so it would be ideal. My issues are:

1. I used to be AAT qualified,(passed in 1986!) but i let the qualification lapse a few years ago as I changed industries and roles. I've still got my membership certificate to prove I was once qualified. The advert states a degree is required, which I do not have.
2. I've let myself go over the years, weight wise and am now obese at 19 stone. I'm working on it as I do not want to spend retirement being ill & immobile.

I therefore do not have the confidence to try & get a London based job, even though I know I can do it. I feel I would perhaps be looked down on by the younger/same age even, city slicker types for being obese. Where I work now I don't feel looked down upon for being obese, but I have felt this in a previous role quite a lot and it's dented my confidence quite a lot work wise. At the moment I'm employed in a basic accounts/admin role paying only £20k. I was semi retired & temping until covid struck and my husband was furloughed. The remote London job is about £30k and I know I can do it. I love London too, so the occasional trip would suit me down to the ground. I have considered just staying as I am as we're OK for money, house paid etc. However, I think it's an unfair burden on my husband to keep being the main breadwinner, doing 10 hour shifts again as he's so busy. He's worked hard all his life so I could be a sahm until the children were teenagers, its my turn to help out now. I also would like to help them & their families out if this current cost of living crisis gets too much for them. I just don't know if I can take another 10 years until I reach retirement age of the relentless slog into an office doing the same basic routine job. Wfh, with the occasional day in an London would be so much better for me. Just after I started my current job my dad died from covid & then I was very ill in hospital with it too. I still get depressed over my dad 15 months on. I feel like I need a fresh start away from a workplace I associate with death, depression and covid.

1. So as it's a candidate's market at the moment do I take a risk and try to better myself job wise, risking the fact I could well be looked down upon again?
2. Is it worth going for a job where it states you need a degree when you don't have one.
3. Is it worth trying to get my AAt qualification again at almost 57 years old.
4. Should I wait until I've got a qualification again & have lost weight, by which time the candidates market might have died down

5 Or just drift into retirement, feeling totally bored, unmotivated & unexcited for the next 10 years. Accept the inevitable that it's too late for me work wise now. Sorry for the long post, I just needed to get all my thoughts down & thank you if you read it until the end

What have you got to lose by applying??would past experience outweigh the need for a degree(?

You can always apply for any job- no harm there. However, you don't have the basic qualifications that the job has asked for so you're unlikely to get an interview in this case.

One bit really stood out to me, you obviously don’t want to drift into retirement.

Apply for the job but don’t be disappointed if nothing comes of it, it’s not you it’s the job market.

But get qualified, look for jobs you want, contact people, explain your skills.

A friend of mine changed career completely at 60, moved countries and is thriving.

Try, the absolute worst that can happen is they say no.

I understand your weight is making you self conscious but you absolutely can’t hold everything off “until you lose weight”. You can try to improve your life no matter how much you weigh!

It sounds like you may not be shortlisted due to not meeting essential criteria but why not give it a try. Considering there's the requirement to work a day in London that's not a massive pay scale so you could be in with a chance.

Just about the weight thing - I love London so I'm biased but I've found people much more accepting here of people looking different. I'd like to think they won't notice your weight or give it any thought. I'm not sure about the qualifications bit because it's not my area but please don't let something like your weight put you off applying for a new job!

Just apply, see what happy. There is a skills shortage at the moment, so you may be doing them a favour!

The pay is pretty low considering they want someone with a degree. Why are you so certain you can do the job? Do you have years of experience in exactly that job? There's no point finishing the AAT qualifications unless you plan to use them in your work.

There are plenty of threads on here with women wanting to lose weight. Why not join one of them and give it a go?

@HollowTalk

The pay is pretty low considering they want someone with a degree. Why are you so certain you can do the job? Do you have years of experience in exactly that job? There's no point finishing the AAT qualifications unless you plan to use them in your work.

There are plenty of threads on here with women wanting to lose weight. Why not join one of them and give it a go?

Are you always this unsupportive????

What a negative reply.

@Stressedout65

You have nothing to lose from trying, the worst that will happen is you get no response.

I think yes, refresh your AAT, it is a good qualification to have.

I’ve just recruited someone for a new role where I was looking for someone AAT qualified. She’s 59. Age not an issue. Good luck 🤞

@boomshakalacka

You can always apply for any job- no harm there. However, you don't have the basic qualifications that the job has asked for so you're unlikely to get an interview in this case.

Not so. Always try. A degree has no bearing on many jobs.

Of course go for it. No question.

You know the answer really, you just need a little confidence boost. Here it is - you can do it!!

Apply, see what happens.

I'm 55, hugely overweight, all the dress sense of a goldfish. Midlands based.

In January I started my smart London job. Loving it. I'm ancient compared to my colleagues but it doesn't matter, I bring decades of experience.

It was a purely financial decision. A 40% pay increase, much better pension contributions. I will be retiring in just under 10 years and want to maximise my pension pot.

Go for it. The worst they can do is say no.

Gosh!
This is a no brainer!

Of course you can do it and of course you should apply,
It is a candidate market at the moment.

GO FOR IT!!!
Good luck

@HollowTalk yes the pay is low for saying you need a degree. I've seen a few vacancies online asking for a degree, even for the most basic job.
As I said in my original post I do have the experience, and it's in the same industry so I'm pretty certain as I can be, that I can do the job. The thing I don't have is the degree & I let my full AAT membership go a few years ago. I don't think it would take long for me to become qualified again, but at 57 years old I wondered if it was worth the expense

Just apply, the worst that can happen is that they say no. Good luck!

I’d also say go for it, but if it states you need a degree then it’s likely they are going to want a candidate with a degree, but as others have said your experience might tip the balance in your favour. Start preparing now for any other jobs you see like this, I’m applying for promotions at the moment and trying to get personal statements etc perfected so I’m ready to tweak them if I see a last minute job. You are worthy, and someone who might be young and slick doesn’t have a lifetime of experience.

Apply, I am London based - we advertised for a role for someone junior and a women applied who would be in her mid 50s minimum judging by her cv.
She was such a delight to interview compared to the applicants in their 20s that we revised the role and upped the salary to ensure we got her. It's a pleasure to have someone with that work experience and also someone who knows exactly what they want from role. I don't know the qualifications you are looking at but it can't hurt you to apply.

If you were AAT qualified they'll be a large volume of jobs you can do in London, not just this one. Are you registered with agencies and do you have a profile on LinkedIn?

If a job in London is what you want, you'll definitely get one. There are always accounts vacancies and I'm happy to PM you a list of agencies if it would help.

So, definitely apply for the job and see what happens. If you don't get an interview, other jobs will come up. Like a PP said, London is an accepting city of all shapes and sizes .

You have another 10 years until retirement. Do you want to have retired doing a job you enjoyed, or having plodded on for 10 years?

I know age discrimination unfortunately exists, but in a lot of places it doesn't. It's anecdotal I know, but I've just employed a 50 year old as a manager and a 68 year old as a senior in my team. A friend of mine is a similar age to you and has just got a new job and promotion.

I always think that if you have an idea of what you want the future to look like, you should go for it.

I don't have AAT but got a lovely p/t assistant accountant role at the age of 56 in 2019,. Im overweight and don't wear makeup.
I call it my posh job as previously worked in a garage in Essex. I get to go to some nice events as well

If a degree is listed as essential then you’d automatically be rejected for interview unless no other applicants with a degree met the other required criteria. Same is true of your AAT registration. It doesn’t mean it’s not worth applying, but if you don’t get to interview these will likely be the reasons.

This is a complete no-brainer. You should apply and position your skills / experience in the optimal way and without apology. Be prepared to talk about how you believe your professional qualifications (that you have not recently required but are currently in the process of renewing) negate the need for a degree, which was less the currency of your industry when you were starting out. I am riffing here but you get the idea.

Then it is out of your hands. Your focus should be on what else you are doing to get make the next ten years appealing to you, whether it be starting a proactive search for a new role in earnest, polishing up your CV, renewing qualifications and/or losing weight.

Good luck OP

Oh and totally off topic, but I have now seen so many issues with Gen Z in the workplace that I am positively biased towards older candidates! Obviously a bit tongue in cheek but I am seriously on the lookout for maturity and work ethic as it seems to be alarmingly lacking in some of today's grads.

Go for it.
Life is too short.