Desperate for work at 59

[Pinkypong]

Please help.
im 59 and desperate for work. I’ve had the odd shop job. I don’t have any skills, years ago I did design, well I can do design but my photoshop and illustrator skills let me down.
im supposed to retire and I can’t, ever I don’t think.
is it ridiculous to apply to be a teacher? By the time I get in the course I’ll be 60.so that’s stupid, I’d have to do maths o level too.
what can I do? Is there some sort of help out there? Are there courses? Not degree but just something to get me into a job. I’m so stuck and lost and anxious. It’s causing massive riffs between me and Dh. I don’t know how I got to this age without a job, I get the odd bit of freelance but it doesn’t last. I’m too anxious to think straight.

Think about the skills you have now, for example are you good with people, good organiser, relaible etc. This will then help you when looking at what employers are looking for.

WOW well done!!! What an amazing result. You worked hard and overcame a lot of criticism, both internally (low self confidence) and externally (dh and his bleeding Proper Job fetish) and now you've only gone and done it :) Amazing. Now you can ride this high for months, rediscover a part of you, make some friends (maybe an office frenemy or two lol)
Very easy for you to find more jobs and upskill now you have a base and practice. Spend some dark nights working on your hobbies, reading, relaxing etc.

What an amazing role model for your teens. x

Aww so happy to hop back onto this thread to find this update. Well done!!! And good luck with your starting!

Thank you both! What lovely supportive generous comments, really appreciated.
I hope it’s inspiring for teens!

Have just re read this tread again(!) and am buoyed up by everyone’s willingness to chip in and help a total stranger.
thank you!
kerropi, thank you for that, it’s exactly my plan! Dh looks a lot happier too, as it’s full time . It’s very basic wages, and will be challenging, but they seem a nice bunch. Frenemys, lol! Forgotten all about office politics!
I also got a lovely chat from citizens advice , a pp suggested applying as a volunteer there, and she was so complimentary when I cancelled. So thank you pp!

Yay!

Well done!

My job finally starts next week, I'm both nervous and excited!

Oooh everyflight well done! It’s the civil service job isn’t it? Please pop back and let me know how it goes! Super well done — you mentioned your son encouraged you . May I say well done for being brave? It’s very hard to put yourself out there.

Oneself, not you specifically! Either way, good luck! And enjoy!💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

Yes that's the one! I'll let you know how I get on 😬

And yes it is, I'm really glad I decided to go for it now though!

Oooh, so am I! I’d love to know what happens, and of course, any tips! Good luck.( I’m sure you don’t need it, they’ll adore you!)

I am looking for some home working either audio typing, proof reading or transcribing. At 62 I feel there is nothing out there for me, even though I have the experience! I just want a job to see me through until I retire. Hopefully at 67 years!

Hi saxin thanks for posting, it’s such a mental challenge as much as anything.i was in the creative industry so can think of ideas, but nothing useful.
when I finally got I got a job and was immediately pushed out by the younger colleague - they were all 27 ish and I felt sooo out of place.
i finally found a job is helping out at a charity for adults with learning difficulties. It’s not well paid, it’s not something I thought id ever do, but I’m so glad I have! It’s amazingly rewarding, a lovely team, and they are always looking for staff.
i would have thought you’d have no problem with your skills!
I believe a freelance VA is a good rpjob? Maybe?

I think you can also freelance as a proof reader?
land there are lots of back to work training things off government for free. I found mine through one of the women in there that had spotted the advert. I’d have totally missed it, and was being very down - every ad I read needed your skills!

Brilliant update - well done OP!!

I hope this has helped with, erm, domestic politics too. From this little snippet you sound so much happier.

Oh gosh thank you maslinka yes!
I think earning, getting out of a bubble and feeling capable have helped a lot - I now feel I can not put up with quite so much nonsense!

Hello again. Just re read this thread, and I’d like to really thank everyone for being amazing when I needed it.
also interesting to see DH through distance.
the update is..I finally got a job as above. Then DH decided I needed to give up my job to deal with stuff that had happened, this was February. So I worked for 4 months!. I didn’t want to, but he nagged so much.
crumbs. I didn’t realize really, but he’s sabotaged it hasn’t he.

I now do a bit more at the very part time job- that I had to argue to take. A friend suggested I do some on my own, so am trying it out, and it seems to be going ok! I’m hoping to increase that next year.
His focus is now on this other stuff. It’s like he needs something to rant about. I’ve realised it’s exhausting me and taking up my energy.

this will sound awful, and I’m not sure how I feel about it - he wanted all my wages to go into the joint account. Fair enough, but I wanted a bit for me- I don’t like buying out of the joint account for clothes, lipsticks etc. I feel v beholden and ‘poor’.
i know if I was a man it would be different
anyway, apart from the money thing, I’m much more confident and take no notice. But I am questioning. 🤨
im focusing on my side hustle because it makes me happy. But not rich! ( yet)

@Pinkypong I'm so glad you have made all this progress, and especially that you have even got your side hustle going. Fabulous you hey! He continues to sound awful, a weight round your neck dragging you down and sabotaging you.

I'm just going to leave this link here. https://nnedv.org/content/about-financial-abuse/

Omg I was reading this and got all the way to your penultimate post thinking what an inspiration you were and how far you'd come.

Then I read your last post about your DH sabotaging your happiness and independence.

No other advice but leave him.

Pinky I know you don't want to see it but this is so obviously an abusive relationship!

It's not normal to bully your wife into a job & then 4 months later bully her out of it!

It's all documented here in black and white from your first desperate post to your update!

I know, I actually didn’t really realize until I wrote this post.
on the upside, he is seeing a counselor! I don’t know what she is saying to him, but he’s so much calmer. Before he would get super stressed and bombard me, now he’s ‘at peace’ with stuff. I’m also aware that he does drudge into an office in town every day, and is the main earner.
give me time..!

Oh Pinky I’m disappointed for you that you felt you had to leave your job! It was so hard for you emotionally to get to the point of having a job and really, your husband and his demands and negativity must just be making your anxiety worse.
You obviously are a caring person so that should be reflected in any job you do in future. Don’t worry about the nonsense your husband peddles about “proper jobs”. If you are looking again in the future, I would really consider working as a Teaching Assistant. I did that for years and my colleagues were a lovely, supportive group of people, mainly women. Schools are crying out for them at the moment because it isn’t a well paid job. But it is perfect for people who lack confidence because helping vulnerable pupils makes you forget your own anxieties.

And with your creative side @Pinkypong you would be an absolutely brilliant support to the pupils in Art & other creative lessons

twiglets thank you, what a wonderful message, what a good idea. and thank you maslinka for the link, hard to read!
do you know what, I bravely treated myself to some business coaching regarding the side hustle, and I am so much more sorted now! He’s helped me see how it can be a business, and I tentatively think I finally have a direction. DH even suggested I need a better table! I LOVE his counselor 😀
Thank you all!

Ah OP what an inspiration you are. Wishing you every strength.

Please do not go to joint counselling or therapy with your husband. Any counselling you get yourself (which could be helpful) needs to be independent and private, for your safety. Good luck.