Desperate for work at 59

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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.

I don’t know what most of those jobs even are!

Ugh I can’t stand this. I’m so full of anxiety. I can’t sleep, I really don’t like my life or what it’s become.

I think you should get your CV out in the retail sphere. Schools might be interested in you as support staff but the reality is at 59, they will be worried you'll only work a couple of years. Start small and build up. Once you're in employment you can look for other opportunities.

Sorry you are struggling with anxiety with OP. Your husband sounds like an overbearing bully tbh. From what you describe, when you did have a job, he griped and sabotaged it. Someone who really just wanted you to have a job wouldn't behave like that.

In terms of advice re:job hunting - it sounds like you have teaching experience outside the school environment and really enjoy it. Not sure how best you could turn that that into more regular paid work though. As teacher training and early years as a teacher are pretty difficulty - most of my friends who did that after uni dropped out v quickly indeed.

thanks mycat.
so nice to hear a friendly voice! You’re right, I need retail to get confidence. I’ve been aiming way too high, and lack confidence. I’m just so so anxious. I can’t see a future. Or maybe one of dreary ness rattling around this house with Dh and the kids gone. It seems a bit pointless and too exhausting.
how did I get to 59 and still be lost?

Thanks diamanté, I haven’t really got teacher experience, I teach a group of adults for 2 hours a week.
does he sound like a bully? Something is going on. He thinks I’m scared and hiding from work. That I should have got a job by now. I think he used to scare me about getting a job, used to yell and stomp, now it’s the ‘what are you going to do?’ I’m so anxious about that. Want to work to avoid it!

If you like children and have experience with your own - then why not be a childminder?

You get your be your own boss and as it’s at home, it won’t be such a shock to the system.

Agh! Scary
not at all sure Dh would approve

Oh crap, got to face the day. Can’t do this

Go on to jobs indeed and type in your postcode and see what’s around and what you think you might enjoy.

Stop letting DH dictate so much of your life, you are a grown adult and you can choose what you do and when you do it and how you feel about things.

Aftef you’ve got a job, I’d seriously consider moving out too so you can be your own person again.

I know you've said there isn't much going in your area atm but I've just been offered a job with the civil service . I'm 44 , haven't worked for about 13 years and have no relevant qualifications or experience!

I know what you mean re confidence. I wanted to cancel the interview even in the seconds before logging in to the teem meeting interview . Don't think I slept for days leading up to it

Sorry you're feeling like this OP. There are some good suggestions above regarding work options.

However, I think there is clearly a massive issue with your mental health and also a question about whether your husband is being abusive...he sounds very unkind. You need to visit your g.p. again and perhaps request some counselling to talk through in detail what you are experiencing.

Also, is English your first language? Your posts are written in a slightly confusing way. It might just be that you are rushing, but if not I suggest that you have a trusted and kind friend check through your applications to make sure they read as well as they can do. Good luck!

Thanks both. I’ll stop being so frightened it’s ridiculous.
everyflight can I ask what the job is? I don’t even understand the titles for most of them.
sorry to be so needy and useless.
Thanks

Thanks. I’d love some counselling to make sense if all this!
yes, I’m English, just tired and not functioning. I didn’t realise my mental health sounds quite so bad. Will call gp. Thank you.

ASDA & B&Q both seem to employ lots of older staff.

Time to wake the teens! Thank you everybody for getting me through the night. Hopefully today will be more positive

Thanks not daddy

Ministry of justice, case worker for the legal aid department. Responsible for assessment and payment of litigator fees , so on a computer all day going through paper work.

They are really flexible though and I can do most of it from home which helps as I have a child with a disability so childcare can be an issue.

i think you should keep your adult teaching as you enjoy that

try and join a bank, nhs or other to work the other days.
or any other place that you can find but keep the adult teaching

Everyflight wow that’s a heavy title ! How on Earth did you get the courage for that?! Well done.
yes, thanks mrs large. It’s the one thing I do that I’m getting a bit more confident in.

you need to work for you
not for anyone else

How about doing a TEFEL course. My friend was a SAHM and started doing this. She does teaching with refugees, but she branched out and now also helps people who need to improve their English and maths and get quals.

Work in a a local school boarding house? My Mum did this for many years in her early retirement and it was probably her favourite ever job. Helping the children with their homework and things. Also schools need exam invigilators, that is something else I know older people do and they are often crying out for people.

These thing could start to build up your skills for your CV.

Have you tried temping with an agency? I have done shop work and various other part time jobs over the years while raising my family but recently started a full time job on a short term contract.
I was totally honest on my CV but there are so many jobs that can’t be filled they were happy to give me a chance. When this contract ends my CV will look much more up to date and I will have the option to continue temping or look for a permanent position.

One of my sons works for the civil service, he's been on at me to apply for something for ages as he thinks I'll enjoy it. So there was some pushing from him 🤣

I'm really glad he did now though , I'm looking forward to starting. My lack of confidence really was standing in my way though

Also try and look past the title as they’re so over complicated.

When I was a cleaner my job title was a regional hygiene technician - I was a cleaner.

And I saw a lollypop job the other day and the title was schools crossing patrol officer.

They sound really daunting.