To think job market for those 55 and over is dire

[Bettyfordtoday]

At 55, and recently made redundant from a highly paid corporate role I am struggling to get another role or even an interview.

I'm wondering what others do at this age point, too young to retire but seemingly too old to interview ?

Have a mortgage etc to pay and don't want to get in debt , redundancy pay will last if I am careful to the end of the year at most

I think age discrimination is about some managers' insecurities around employing someone more experienced and who they may feel uncomfortable managing, prefering instead a younger more arse-licky person they can feel superior to.

I've worked in both private and public sector but as I near my 50s I'm clinging on for dear life to my public sector job for as long as they'll have me, and if I'm forced to move I would aim to stay in public sector. I actually prefer private sector culture but its not as forgiving to the old.

I retired at 55 after a redundancy. It's not too young if you can afford it. I'm loving the freedom and time to myself.

You can say the years of experience without naming the dates though. Everything you say is pretty much what I did and it has given me the opportunity to change change to doing something I enjoy more.

I would also look at fractional leadership.

The key is to be very clear about what you can do, and what area you can make a material difference, and then examples of where you have done this. You can say whatever you like as long as you can back it up.

For example, something along the lines of:
Focused on driving profitable revenue, as evidenced at xxx company where I drove down cost by £y and drove incremental revenue of £z.

That sort of thing.

Way to many CVs I used to see were lists of job descriptions, but told me nothing of what the candidate believed they could do. They all went straight in the bin.

OT can I ask about your treatment protocol? I have chronic migraines nearly every day and it makes work hell. I had all the usual meds and now have scalp botox at the neuro hospital every four months. Still not controlled.

Husband made redundant last year at 55. He has found something but it is a step back career-wise and a pay cut. We are grateful though as we can survive. V stressful and depressing.

This is food for thought, and I had never considered that all the menopause awareness could work against us.

at every stage of life, the system rails against us. Too young, will go off and have babies, part time because of childcare, menopausal, too old.

That's one of the many reasons I am self employed. I don't want to be subject to other people's combined ageism and misogyny. I prefer to take my life and future into my own hands.

Technology is moving very fast at the moment. Candidates will have to be comfortable working with AI. Between a much older or younger no experience candidate who is an AI native, employers may prefer the latter. Not saying it is right but unless an older candidate has relevant senior experience which moves the dial, an employer would prefer to train up a younger rather than older candidate.

Much support to OP and others in this position. I know if I lose my job (late 50s), I will definitely take early retirement.

I’m not able to retire as I still need to work financially. Otherwise I would.

I get Botox at the hospital every 3 months and I use a tnVNS device. I also started HRT including testosterone which has been shown in some studies to help with migraines, you do have to be on estrogen for that and I use estrogen patches. I also take atogepant, it didn't do much on its own but with the other things it seems to help I also use all the usual supplements. I have two different triptans for acute attacks as well as anti-nausea meds and naproxen. Mine still aren't perfect but way better than they were.

MyPinkKoala
16:12
I wouldn't employ an older applicant because in my experience they think they know more than you, have no ambition, want an easy life and coast to retirement. Not fair on the rest of the team who have to pick up their slack.

Hmm that’s funny cos nobody posting on this thread seems to come across this way … if you read the posts people are desperate for meaningful work and still have a lot to give.

Glad you found a solution that has helped a bit.

Sadly that’s the case. I’m all for women working and having equal opportunities but I do think in some ways working women have shot themselves in the foot.

I'm 58 being made redundant this week. I have managed to get the first job I've applied for although it's only part time and low paid. I find out next week whether I got another one I interviewed for this week. It's put me in a real turmoil as I want the second one but have already accepted the first and by the time I find out regarding the second will be about ready to start the first. The anxiety is unreal. I wish I had just taken some time and not rushed.
I was actually surprised that two in my quite niche area of work came up together probably due to new funding coming up in the new tax year.
Good luck to all those struggling.

Wow, with an opinion like that, those experienced older people almost certainly do know more than you,

There are two of us in my department. At 61 I'm in at 8am, I don't come in with a hangover, I don't have caring responsibilities, I am happy to drive any vehicle in our fleet if necessary. My younger colleague has a 13 month old and a four year old. She gets in at 9.10am, is forever taking time off because she or her dcs are poorly or the babysitter is sick. She'll only drive an automatic, only during daylight hours and leaves on the dot. None of that is her fault, but it means I spend a lot of time covering for her. I am infinitely more reliable and I panic less. I am more resourceful, more competent. She fusses constantly.

I agree with this. Either you’re child bearing age, or you’ve got young children or demanding teens who will always need your time, then you’re menopausal and going off the rails. We can’t win!

I wouldn't employ an older applicant because in my experience they think they know more than you, have no ambition, want an easy life and coast to retirement. Not fair on the rest of the team who have to pick up their slack.

There's a lot of this type of prejudice in education.

Ironically, it's the older members of staff who work harder and are willing to go above and beyond because that's what we've always done. So, as the demands have risen, we've just given more.

Teaching also used to be an attractive career so it attracted intelligent, hard working people. Now, most people with a good degree choose to go elsewhere. We have seen a decline on the quality and work ethic of new teaching students.

But still the mostly male HTs are most likely to go for younger teachers but that's actually because they've been fast tracked through and aren't as skilled or experienced as older female.teachers and their egos don't really like that.

Thankfully for you we are not desperate and would rather work in tesco or a garden centre rather than under your poor management skills.
As for knowing more than you, I think your post says it all......

I have to say, I can relate to this. I’ve worked with a few over 50s in my team, and as lovely as they are, they are hopeless with tech, and very slow to pick up new things, despite getting the same training etc. The annoying thing is that these people are often more senior than me and get paid more, simply because they are 15 years plus years older and have ‘more experience’. However, that experience doesn’t count for much when it isn’t up to date, and I end up spending a lot of time helping them and showing them how to do things.

It isn’t lack of effort or willingness to learn, it seems to me that learning just slows down after a certain age, which is problematic given the pace at which the world is changing. From that perspective, I can see why employers want to pay them less, but equally, it’s shit given how high retirement age is now

I did a late degree and MA so only include work during and after them on any CV or application, which is from about 2010 when I was about 40ish. None of the rest is relevant as I had a complete career change.

I’m 58, recently made redundant, had 2 interviews last week and have one next week.

I am continually learning tho.