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Original poster

Do you worry you will get too old to do your job?

85 replies

sherbetpips · 19/01/2015 19:49

I have been on the same career path for the last 20 years and have progressed through to a good (although not senior exec) level. My worry is that it is a sales/marketing job and it doesn't seem an older persons career. Where do old account managers go? Everyone seems to be early 30's to late 40's at most at my level. I keep getting quite panicky at night about how I can diversify my career but I don't want to yet as I love what I do. Does anyone else feel there career has an age limit (models and football players need not comment)...

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 19/01/2015 21:01

My job is quite physical and yes, I do worry there'll come a time when I can't do it.

Orangeanddemons · 19/01/2015 21:01

I'm 51 and a teacher. I feel to old to do this job now. The pace, the speed, the rushing everywhere, the pressure.

I can't afford to take time out to retrain, and despite arduous searching can't find anything else.

I think the whole thing needs looking at. If we need to work longer, then workplace adjustments need to be made.

OhFrabjousDay · 19/01/2015 21:10

I'm retraining at the moment and it's something I'm worried about. I asked at my interview for my course where all the older people in the profession were, as the places I'd shadowed were all max 40. The interviewer scoffed and said it was fine for older people, but could only offer up one or two examples and they were in their 50s, not exactly reassuring. I'll be nearing 40 by the time I qualify, and I'd like to get more than 10 or so years out of this work before thinking about changing again, if it'll even be possible then.

Greywackejones · 20/01/2015 09:27

Is this a new worry? Or did people always worry?

Is it a worry men have to?

GraysAnalogy · 20/01/2015 09:30

There's a very high chance I won't be able to do my job for anywhere near retirement age.

Waitingonasunnyday · 20/01/2015 09:34

My job takes more of a physical toll on me now (late 30s, two DC) than it did when I started (early 20s, no DC). Mentally I don't worry about things as much because I have so much more experience. It is draining when the same crap initiatives get suggested time and time again though and you have to be realistic and say no without being 'that defeatist crabby old bitch that always says no'.

loiner45 · 20/01/2015 09:50

Re. Worrying about menopause - my mother had a horrible one, one of my friends had a horrible one, but I sailed through with only night sweats and the odd weeping at films that used to leave me cold. It definitely did not have a negative effect on my career - in fact I did a significant bit of up-stilling during it, qualifications wise. Post-menopause I reckon I'm at my most effective work-wise. Experienced, skilled and no distractions from small children Grin I know other women who feel much the same!

EachandEveryone · 20/01/2015 11:38

How is it financially possible to retrain? When you are paying a grand a month to keep a roof over your head? It's not that easy.

Chunderella · 20/01/2015 13:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 20/01/2015 13:56

Yes, I am feeling the physical strain already and I'm only 39!

I have a physical job (HCA) and am forever rushing about, kneeling, crawling about on the floor etc. etc. I already have a bad back and arthritis in my knees & left ankle. It is also both physically and mentally exhausting.

I fail to see how I will still be able to do it in 20 years time - let alone 30.

YesIDidMeanToBeSoRudeActually · 20/01/2015 13:58

I've "retired" in my 30s due to ill health and disability. So from my point of view, I think it's as important to make sure you have critical illness/life insurance/income replacement insurance NOW , as it is to worry about your pension and future plans. Particulary with benefits no longer being a safety net for this.

I was thinking about if I could ever go back to work and I think the industries will be in social care, medical and nursing home type sectors. We are all (well some of us) living longer after all so there will be needs to service and therefore employment opportunities.

Sorry if that makes no sense, tired today.

Lilybensmum1 · 20/01/2015 14:13

I have been thinking about this also, I'm a nurse on an emergency ward, I'm part time with 2 DC and don't see how on earth at 67 I can still do this work.

I did a 13 hour day Saturday and when I got home my legs were aching so much, apart from my lunch break I literally did not stop. I like to think I'm quite fit too, I run 3 times a week. I do worry about what I will do when I'm older. I don't want to retrain it took 3 years to train for this job and, on the whole I enjoy it.

Jossysgiants · 20/01/2015 16:29

Interesting thread. Am in a similar role to you OP and have the same concerns. I was looking at trying to somehow transition into vendor oversight /outsourcing roles in my industry so on the client side instead of service side but it is not easy. That or retrain for another career which can carry me through and more importantly do on a reduced basis in my late 60s so I can bolster up my pitiful pension provision. The thought of ringing round and traipsing all over the place visiting customers when I am 50 fills me with horror quite frankly.

VivaLeBeaver · 20/01/2015 19:24

chundrella. Do you know I'd never thought about community. Mainly because I don't think the community manager likes me. But she's older than me and won't be there forever so I guess it's an option down the line. Not sure it's my ideal job but could do it for a while. Thanks, feel a bit less worried now.

YesIDidMeanToBeSoRudeActually · 20/01/2015 19:36

People who are in nursing or other professions, would it be an option to go into a teaching role in your specialism? I know this would still be extremely hard work but it would be further education so none of the physical demands of teaching smaller people, and if the pay is good, the hours might be more manageable?

Chunderella · 20/01/2015 19:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JustAnotherControlFreak · 20/01/2015 19:45

I'm in the armed forces, generally that career path closes at 40 for most. I will need to completely re-train and won't be the young woman I am now. It terrifies me, I'd like to start gaining useful qualifications now to assist me in the transition but have no clue as to what I'd like to do or which courses would likely be most useful. Scary.

Only1scoop · 20/01/2015 19:47

They used to stop recruiting for my job at 30 Shock

Not allowed to state any of that rubbish anymore .... but I do feel like the Ancient of Moo Moo occasionally.

Physically couldn't do full time any longer though.

TwoLittleTerrors · 20/01/2015 19:53

I'm really worried about it too. I have never seen a software developer in his late 50s or older. I don't know where they all go. Ageism is rife and I have no idea what else I can do.

Stealthpolarbear · 20/01/2015 20:32

Surely sw development is ideal in this respect
Suspect they all go into management or self employed

TwoLittleTerrors · 20/01/2015 20:50

stealth I'm not sure what management is in software engineering. The management structure is usually very flat. For example, in my current place, there's a head for over 50 developers. The developers are then organised into teams according to the products they are working on. Therefore some aren't in any team but answer directly to the head of development. I was the team lead for a team of 4 before maternity leave, but my title is senior developer. (In my previous place, you could also be team lead for a project, for say a duration of 6 months). I'm not expecting to return to a team lead position.

I think self employed is probably the only way to go.

TwoLittleTerrors · 20/01/2015 20:51

Oh and all the team leads are in their 30s and 40s. They are also developers. The only one who aren't actually writing code is our head of development.

WeAllHaveWings · 20/01/2015 22:13

Don't think I could continue my job until I retire and as the main breadwinner it does worry me. Have actively worked to reduce mortgage (gave up luxuries like holiday abroad, bought well within what we were allowed so we could pay off quicker etc) as I expect to earn less as I get older. Mortgage should be paid off before I'm 50, but then we will have a 16 yr old to possibly start funding through higher ed.

Cretaceous · 20/01/2015 22:41

TLT "I think self employed is probably the only way to go."
Do you think contractors find it hard to get contracting jobs once they are over 50? That has been the experience of friends of my DP. There are so many younger contractors, and so much is subcontracted to Eastern Europe etc.

I work freelance - not in software - and recently applied for a 9-5 job with a government funded body. I had all the requirements, but didn't even get an interview... I rang them up to find out why. (In fact, I had to call them twice, as they didn't get back to me at first. I think they hoped I'd go away.) They finally said it was because I didn't have any recent experience. But actually, I clearly did have plenty of recent experience. I think it was subtext for also having a lot of old experience... in other words, it was my age.

ANewMein2015 · 20/01/2015 22:48

This worries us. Im happy to retrain into something more longterm viable, even if less well paid.... but what?!?!