64 yr old re-entering job market after many years?

[wavingfuriously]

Trying to get some career / work advice from some clever HR mumsnet people or anyone really ?!
Highly educated person looking for some part time admin work, very good organiser, dependable, team player etc,.

Where would she get careers advice this late in her life ?
Thank you 🌹

Hi! I fall under the 'anyone really' ;)

Are you wanting to continue in a familiar field? Or start a fresh? Speak to a university to see if there are any short courses or anything online to give yourself a boost? Even being a student again could be a great place to start and a good experience/adventure again.

I would put together a CV, add what you have been doing in retirement (any voluntary work, caring, travelling, even general enjoying retirement via hobbies/socialising etc) then add that you have so much more to give, your motivated, reliable and love to learn.

I'm sure others will be along shortly with much better advice! :)

I would suggest you approach a local recruitment agency for advice about local opportunities

Disclaimer: I fall in the 'anybody' category and have no specific HR/recruitment knowledge

Suggest you get used to working by volunteering for 3 months or so , plus it's good to add to your cv.
Lots of places such as charities welcome admin people to work in their offices / hq.
You say you are wanting to remain in admin which is fine , but have you thought / have an interest in library work ?

Thanks so much😊 any more input please, greatly appreciated

It's a good time to be looking - I'm in HR and it's a difficult market to recruit into. Advise having a clear narrative about what your friend has been doing and what they can offer.

Then apply for vacant roles but also apply to organisations that might be places they want to work directly. It may take some time, but someone with a positive attitude will be able to demonstrate what they can do.

Try local hospitals, look up NHS professionals. Good way to get some experience and dip your toe back in.

Also, look at schools
Good luck!😁

Speak to business gateway as they have career advisors who can help with this. Often find careers services are located at local libraries too, worth asking.
Good luck in the return to work.

National careers service

County council

one of my children works in the council and someone in their 60’s has just started after a period of retirement

I would apply for civil service jobs / local authorities / public bodies as they are always scrupulously fair about comparisons and would be less likely discriminate on the basis of age.

I was an HR person for 30 years and have now retrained and have another career in a field that has been a hobby/passion all my life. Between the two and whilst studying I did a few years of temporary work and loved that. I had the opportunity to sample all sorts of industries and environments from timber importers to social services to the environment agency in many different roles.

The variety and insight it gave me was fantastic. Also, I have to say, that almost all the organisations I temped in expected me to be useless and when I showed them I could actually do things I was often given very interesting work and offered permanent work or longer contracts.

I'd really recommend it as a way to get lots of career guidance whilst being paid for it.

I just stuck ‘older people’s employment agency’ into Google, and 4 or 5 organisations came up, including Age UK who offer help with CVS, so I’d contact all of them for a start.

The school I’m at would bite your hand off. The more mature members of staff we have are brilliant and so valued because of their experience. You could always try casual invigoration invigilation to see what a school and the staff relationships are like.

I’d join a temp agency, try and get some reception jobs with a bit of admin and gradually build up experience. If they like you they may even keep you! I started as a temp, one of my placements offered me a full-time role. Then moved up to PA, then an officer, then got a job in a university - 3 jobs later I’m a manager.

😋

Thanks for all your great suggestions ...going to come back 😀

Public sector; NHS, council's, schools are definitely your best bet. They're crying out for admin staff.

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I walked passed a job centre recently & there were job vacancies in the window

Also look on NHS, council, police, school websites

I work in tourism and tour guiding in a visitor attraction is a lovely role especially if you have life experience and like being customer-facing. Are there any near you? Summer is a good time to try for the season, and see if it suits you.

Do you have a drivers licence, any digital skills, any qualifications you can tell us about?

Loads of good posts in response to this, and there will be opportunities for someone with your experience. The only question I would probably ask is the "why" as if it is for the money it sends you down one route, if it is for the different experiences and to be valued it sends you down another. My daughter has just done exam invigilation paid, and she was the youngest by 35 years, most charities would bite your hand off volunteer, some companies seem better than other for employing older staff (B&Q springs to mind, although I have never worked there so not sure it is good advice). If you have particular skills, then covering maternity leaves and the likes is a good bet too. I wish you lots of success. xx

I'd keep writing those books.

Etsy.

I am your age OP and I am at the happiest and most productive stage of my working life. I had to change roles very quickly about eight years ago, due to caring responsibility, but found some fantastic opportunities online. Added to that, in periods when I have had more opportunity to leave the home, I have done part time agency work (admin) as well, which gives me a little extra money, gets me out of the house, but means I don't have to get involved in the office politics that come with permanent roles.

I used to think that gaining paid employment would be difficult post-sixty, but one of my colleagues has just retired at the age of 84 (adult education rather than admin).

There are lots of agency positions and you may find a demand for your skills in areas outside admin as well.