Too old to change jobs?

[Valerie65]

Posting here for traffic. I'm 58 this year & on countdown for retirement at 67. I used to be AAT qualified but let it lapse some years ago. I'd have to resit everything again. Is it worth it at my age? I'm just so bored though. I'm stuck in a purchase ledger admin job doing mostly stuff that an apprentice should be doing. The hours suit, 8 til 4, the commute is short & I like my colleagues. I don't even do all aspects of accounts payable. My dream job is to work remotely at home for a job based in London, with the occasional trip there. I love London but don't want to live there so this would be ideal. But am I too old to change now? Is there lots of age discrimination out there? We don't have that in our company.
Even so, I don't want to progress in our company because the wages aren't amazing, neither is the holiday allowance. 20 days statutory, plus bank hols, & you have to save 3 days for Xmas break which is annoying. I know there is a lot better out there! But I fear my lack of current qualifications & up to date experience will hold me back.

why dont you just start applying? Maybe you will get something, maybe not, but there is no reason your age should be a factor

I could start applying, but with my lack of up to date qualification & being in a dead end job for the last few years I fear I will be wasting my time. I need some motivation & some hope that I have a chance despite the above

Hi Op
Nothing ventured ,
Nothing gained ,

Go for it,

You have wealth of experiences up your sleeve,
Transferable skills of various kinds

You only live once,

Sorry I am not sure what AAT qualified means?

Look on youtubes websites Internet

And Ted Talks Internet
(inspirational people talks eexperiences ideas ect.
eventbrite website is a good website too
Also look up online refresher courses
Look up in your main libarey to see what courses /workshops maybe available

useful 📚 books to purchase online

Best of Luck

You still have over a decade before, if you wish to retire

Also there is night school classes in college too,
Daytime courses in communities centres maybe too?
Not sure

Just ask around

Look up notice boards in libarey , out and about in shops /cafe windows and indoor markets ect too

I changed careers at 58, OP. Completely different careers to yours, but just wanted to let you know that it is possible. I love my new job & am now looking forward to working till retirement at 67. I know I wouldn't have managed that in my previous career.

Do you have a jobs club local to you? I met brilliant careers advisors at mine, who looked at personal skills and drew out transferable skills. They were really knowledgeable about how to structure a modern day CV, which is very different to how I was taught way back when. You don't have to mention your age, date of birth, when you got your qualifications or anything to guard against age discrimination.

I would say go for it! Good luck!

OP you are DEFINITELY not too old to change!

To fit your brief, have you thought about looking for charity based roles? Lots of them are WFH but have office days, charities need all sorts of staff from events, to ops, to admin, marketing and more. They generally tend to be much more age friendly environments and even better if you can find one which really means something to you. Can you think of a life experience that has impacted you or someone you know, that prompts you to want to help others? The pay isn’t great which is why it can be easier to get roles but it sounds like you’re not on much at the moment? In return charities often go to great lengths to offer their staff extra incentives eg flexible wfh arrangements, well-being days etc.

have a look on charityjob.co.uk - these are paid roles in the charity sector, not volunteering. They also have lots of advice for candidates in there.

Remember there are SO many types of charities, not just the big ones. As well as lots of the famous health and aid based charities, there are animal charities, children’s and youth based charities, faith based charities, educational charities and many more. Local, regional, national, international … you name it. Many of the educational charities carry out some amazing research, a bit like think tanks. They can be quite exciting… have a look at smartthinking.org for those sorts of jobs.

Rhe smaller charities tend to be quite personal with a handful of really dedicated and passionate staff. Big ones make a big impact and offer more career opportunities but can feel more like a company job if you’re not careful.

My advice would be to build a good narrative around why you want to move to the new job / organisation. You’ll find theyre much more focused on why you’re motivated to work for them than what you’ve done in the past compared to roles you might find elsewhere. It’s important that their staff care about what they do and you never know what doors it could open.

good luck!!

I just had a quick look, look at all the different possibilities! Lots say they are remote, with “generous leave” etc etc

You can do this! Please keep us posted along the way whatever you choose, I’m excited for you

Dont restrict yourself to just what you already do, but there are lots that come up even with key word “purchase”. I just found one that says:

“We are looking for confidence and maturity, a positive outlook and a charitable mindset.”

… which I think sums up my experience working with charitable organisations

I’m in my late 60s and in a new, albeit part time, job that I’m not “formally” qualified to do, but which I enjoy and do well. It’s not a waste of time applying if you think it might benefit you in the long run.

There was a phone in on radio 4 a while ago & restless.co.uk was mentioned a few times. The employers on there are actively looking for employees who are over 55, so might be worth a look.

Why do you think you are too old?

you have another nine years to work.

go for it!

Hi, I am a hiring manager in finance and yes, there is all sorts of discrimination out there but also all sorts of fantastic employers and teams. You just have to write that CV and go out there and hunt!

The biggest prejudice about older employees you are likely to face are that you will lack energy, be slow, and learning/agility or adaptability, and that you may not cope with new systems, or be more likely to suffer from ill health. You can counter this in your cv. Include a short personal statement at the beginning which describes in one sentence what you aware like and in the second sentence what kind of role you want next.

Your cv experience will speak for itself hopefully. Focus on skills and outcomes rather than just listing what you’ve done like a series of job descriptions. Make sure you list accounting systems you have used recently and thoroughly - if you used Quickbooks 30 years ago don’t mention it! And state your level in Excel eg “Iintermediate Excel (pivots, Xlookups etc)”. For your qualifications I would list AAT Qualification (don’t put the date), A levels, degree (if any) and stop there.

Don’t mention O levels in your cv as it ages you - if you have AAT and a strong track record at work, it’s implicit that you can cope with enough math and English to do your job. There are SO many foreign candidates with meaningless qualifications that when I’m hiring I barely glance at school qualifications nowadays.

Also do NOT feel the need to list every job you ever had. As an employer Im interested in what you can do for ME not where you’ve been for 38 years and I don’t want 10 pages to read. Give me 10 years of detailed, high quality job experience, and prior to that simplify and skip. If you spent the first 15 years pottering in around in junior clerking roles just leave the first 15 years off your cv altogether!

What was your experience during Covid - can you talk positively about what you did to handle the sudden switch to remote-working and ensured stability and continuity in your function?

If your current job looks simple then make sure the earlier jobs on your cv make it very clear what other skills you may have eg writing standard operating procedures, bank reconciliation, supervising juniors, month-end close, reporting and reconciliation, accruals and prepayments, systems change. Your reason for leaving is “looking for a more stimulating role as my skills are currently under-utilised” so it is fine if your current job looks stale - just supports why you’re leaving it! Be prepared to answer in interview why you haven’t sought internal progression.

i just did a search on Indeed website for “Accounts Payable” /Greater London and filtered on remote jobs and a great role at Kroo in Holborn came up - it would be perfect for you.

You have AAT qualification under your belt don’t make a big deal about it lapsing on your CV. Put AAT qualification on your CV, it’s fine. Meanwhile you could apply to rejoin AAT - it’s not difficult to do so. If you need CPD hours then a lot of that can be done online if you haven’t had relevant training at work.

I hope this helps OP as I truly believe it is VERY possible to have a fabulous “second career” in London! My dad this (engineering) age 55 and commuted 3 days a week until he was 70 as he LOVED it. Wishing you luck.

You don't need to resit AAT to put AAT qualifications on your CV. You still got them at a point in time, you've still got the certificates to say you passed them.

My dad trained as a teacher in mid 50s after spending his whole life working at sea and no degree to start with. We had a race to see who could finish uni first!!! After he trained he quickly decided he hated the educational system and went back to working on boats! He enjoyed the degree though and in his mid 70s he's still spouting international development tidbits in our regular debates on the state of the world. Honestly, you got one life just go for it.

You're never to old to try something.

But the reality is that you are likely to be judged based on your age, and from what I understand AAT training takes years. Sadly, I think that ship has sailed for you.

Why don't you find a purchase ledger job in London?

How are you feeling today @Valerie65 ? Anymore motivated?

"The biggest prejudice about older employees you are likely to face are that you will lack energy, be slow, and learning/agility or adaptability, and that you may not cope with new systems, or be more likely to suffer from ill health. You can counter this in your cv."

Wow! Thank goodness my current employer doesn't have these prejudices. Interestingly, they are a charity. I am currently the oldest in my workplace. I don't usually compare myself to my colleagues, but I haven't had a day's sickness in the 3years 4 months I've worked in my new profession. I've worked right through Covid cheek by jowl with others, in the workplace, rather than wfh. That is one of the easier comparisons to make as you're aware when colleagues are off sick because their shifts need picking up. I think it would be difficult to state how quick & energetic you are on a CV. I think the fact that I pick things up quickly came over at interview. Then there was 6 months probation in which I proved my energy levels. I do not have the IT skills of my younger colleagues, but once shown how to use the programmes needed regularly at work, I can manage. My touch typing skills, learned in the 1970s & 80s, have always stood me in good stead.

I'm relieved to hear that some companies actively recruit over 55s. Those who don't, for the reasons given above, are guilty of negative stereotyping.

You say you're in a dead-end job, and that applying for a better job might be a waste of time.

Surely you're already wasting your time now?

Start researching the job specs of the specific roles you'd want to apply for, and go about filling the gaps. Then start applying.

You only get one life, OP. Don't be a passive observer.

I hate it when the OP disappears.

@PeeblesQueebles I have since been admitted to hospital & been too ill to really take in the advice yet, but thank you & everyone else if you have offered it

I would brush up your AAT , lots of home based roles and in demand

No idea what AAT is, but no, you are not too old. Don't be defeatist - at least give it a shot! Plenty of people have accomplished great things over the age of 58. But you won't get there without making the effort.

Finance professionals are much needed, we really struggle to recruit. You have current and considerable experience plus you were qualified.

You're making a lot of excuses for not trying to move on/up - you don't have to, but if you want there are opportunities out there.

Fuck that for a bucket full of mad frogs. I'm mid 50s. My employer is in big fin. difficulties, pay freeze on, I'm looking around for sure. I know I can learn to do do another job well. That's all I need to know to keep looking at other opportunities.

@Valerie65 wishing you a speedy recovery.

I work as a finance manager for a very small company. I don’t think re-training in AAT is necessary, and I think pursuing ACCA or CIMA might take too long for the payback if you’ve less than 10 years to work.

I have had no problems recruiting older employees. In the last role I recruited for both candidates were in their 60s! I think it’s more important to be up to date in technology, ie Xero, or easily able to get up to speed in accounting software. Many will have demo sites so you can learn without a subscription. A lot of my job is preparing CSVs to upload, so good Excel knowledge will help.

Are you willing to work part time? On the whole, younger workers seem to want full time positions so if you’re willing to do consider 3 or 4 days roles then that might open up jobs for smaller companies with more variety.