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.

Whereabouts are you? You could try emailing your cv directly to the showrooms department, they did have a bit of an embargo on employing newbies the last few months, but I think they’ve opened up again now.
the email address should be ‘[email protected]. Or go in and ask for the showrooms manager.

good luck!

@Pinkypong I often interview people and still just getting the basics right will stand you in good stead. The amount of people who don’t turn up, are late with no apology, don’t follow simple instructions. Lots of supermarket work about, or look for simple clerical or reception, retail parks or the post office are now looking for help in the run up to Christmas

If you did some volunteering in a charity shop, you could see how cashing up works and stock control and then maybe apply for a paid job in this sector. It would be fun to design displays and present stock. Charity shops are a service which are growing in popularity and look to be here to stay - fitting the sustainability vibe, as well as the economising vibe.

There is care work, but this might be a bit tiring - depending on the sector. That's why I think shop work, in a bit too fast-paced sector, would be fun. Older people have a lot of personable skills.

You don't have to rule out teaching if you're keen, there are more ways to teach than just having a class of 30 kids and a shit load of admin.

But assuming you just want a job a recruitment consultant I know says he suggests Civil Service to anyone he's having trouble placing where he believes it's age discrimination. Apparently they genuinely do not discriminate on age and are happy to train you so long as you meet their minimum requirements.

Thankskatie I applied ages ago and got nowhere, and was warned off by my teacher friends too! It’s a thought, I don’t think I could cope with the reality.
calandor yes, I thought I’d like to tutor. I even thought after school maybe, it could mount up reasonably. Again Dh not encouraging, so maybe I’m giving up on things before I even start now. Not worth the hassle.
aplanet I think he’s always wanted me to work, and it’s a,ways been difficult, I totally lost confidence and would look at indeed etc, be convinced I couldn’t do anything, get depressed give up, get yelled at, do it all again. Not very healthy.
I need to work for my own sanity, and pension! It’s just, what.

I was going to suggest volunteering in a charity shop too. Then move onto a retail job. Also don't ask your husband's permission or approval. It's your life.

Another route in is through people you know. Chat with all your friends, contacts, neighbours, people who know you are reliable. Tell them you're looking for work. It is surprising how effective that can be. I got two jobs that way.

You are all so helpful, thank you. I am feeling a bit better, the arms have stopped tingling! Dh ate in the other room and went straight to bed. I know he’s tired but I read that as I am the worst person in the world. Tomorrow I’m sure he will make a fuss because I go to a part time job. I’m not looking forward to the weekend.
puffylovett thanks for that! They say it’s who you know!
blowthemandown oh I’d love to work in the post office! I think that would be good skills. I will look tomorrow.
diverseopinions I agree re care work. I did apply but was a bit of a wimp when I got there. It reminded me of mum. Too sad. I’ll put charity shop on the list.
Doodlepug* another pp mentioned civil service. I’d love to, I think I’m not very admin skilled. I couldn’t see anything I could do near us anyway. I’ll keep looking. A job that’s got structure and training would be great.

Thanks cherrysocks
I really really appreciate that you have all taken time to write encouragement and suggestions. Thank you. I’ll start applying and swatting up tomorrow x

Op, your H has constantly sabotaged your career over the years and now is demanding you need a 'proper' job?

Am I right in thinking that you work part time now anyway and he makes that difficult for you?

Take a breathe. Step back. What would you like to do as a job? Are you happy doing what you are doing? Is this a reaction to his demands or something for you?

Gently, it sounds as if you are in an abusive relationship. It's no wonder your head is in a muddle.

I absolutely agree you should find a job;settle in and save some money;then leave the abusive bellend you're married to.

Your only 59;there's a world of work and other decent men out there;your husband is a gas lighting pig who wanted you to look after your children and not have a career because he couldn't be arsed to help with the responsibilities of a family,you've then fought cancer,supporting him through Ill health and now he wants you to financially support him so he can start his own business?

It's time to start living your life for you and only you.

Well, ..that’s woken me up! I need to consider.

Good luck PinkyPong! I used to have a husband like yours, always ready with the jug of cold water! I left him though and he is always amazed when we meet up that I’ve done alright for myself. Keep going though, your grass will grow greener when you keep watering it.

No advice - I just wanted to say thank you, OP, for starting this lovely helpful thread. I'm 51 and looking to get a "proper" job again after years of freelancing (and mothering!) - and I, too, have completely lost all confidence. So this is very timely.

Good luck!!

Your husband sounds incredibly selfish. He either doesn't or does want you to have a job / career for HIM and only him. When it made life harder for him, he made it impossible to work. Now that he wants to start a business and you need the income, hr's demanding you not only get a job, but develop a full blown career.

Whatever you do, do it for your own sake and not that selfish git's sake.

For myself, I had to try to start again in my early 50s. I was self employed doing audio typing for awhile, the pay is not great though. I then got work as admin for a plumbing company, moved to another one, and then used this "customer facing experience" (which you could get from doing volunteer work) to get a job in an insurance call centre. I've since been promoted and have confidence that I will get further promotions, I have quite accidentally found my career, later in life.

Look at CV building opportunities. Small charities such as children's nurseries are desperate for capable volunteers to do a raft of jobs that in the employed sector would be tricky to get into, and can give you the required experience.

Look at
Young Carers groups (looking for organisers, supervisors, drivers to collect and return children);
community children's nurseries (assisting with employment procedures such as interviews, organising and running fundraising events, tidy ups);
open heritage days (a lot of venues open that don't normally open and so need as hoc volunteers);
electoral staff for voting;
schools/colleges/universities needing exam invigilators;
infant/ primary schools needing volunteers to read with children;
mental health support groups (in my old area had a garden specifically run to enable those with MH problems to spend time there helping out as part of therapy / and another was a small cafe run in the same ideas) , etc

There are so many different things out there if you want to get experience through volunteering, don't just look at the obvious choices, dog a little deeper and find the small but worthwhile community charities. You might even find something you're passionate about in the process!

But surely that only works if you are suitably qualified?

A few years back at my local Waitrose there was a new woman at the bakery. She couldn’t look you in the eye, was red faced and stammering. I really felt for her. A year on she’d got her confidence and was climbing the ranks.

I hear that Waitrose is good for this.

Thanks everyone. I’ve just woken up with a jolt of panic.
hate this feeling! And I’ve had it for years.
Dh has always wanted me to work. I’ve always wanted to balance things a bit. I’ve just never found anything, well, it was wrong somehow. I got less confidence and more anxious.

Well done flowres I never quite know if I should have left mine. Would not know how!
doingjustfine that’s one of the fab things about mn, is your probs help other. Good luck!
clairy thank you for such a long thorough post. Dh wasn’t keen on me volunteering maybe he will be now.
o the rinkof good point! I’m going to swat up on admin skills
howrude thank you, that’s inspiring.

OP I think you need to get help for your mental health before you get a job, to be honest, or you're just setting yourself up to fail.

Hi, I think it’s the situation that’s causing the mental health!
I’ve just started sertraline, after years of not giving into depression

mollicious I guess it’s silly to ask, do you mean the arms tingling? It’s anxiety. I’m finding it hard to relax and of course I can’t sleep.

Suitably qualified how? Not really. I work on reception for an NHS trust with a lady in her 70s who had no previous experience but trained on the job.

This, screamingly

Have not read all threads so apologies if already mentioned but have you thought of civil service www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service/about/recruitment

Hi tifted I just want to work, to change the dynamic. I can’t do this for ever, especially when the kids leave.

Thanks jewel, there doesn’t seem to be much round our way but will keep looking.