Temping in your 50s

[JumpingBackOn]

For a number of reasons I'm now going back to work in my mid-50s, ideally part time but will consider full time; probably for no more than a year or two while we sort some finances out.

My DH's business was doing well enough for me to scale back my freelance work in 2017, as my deadlines and targets were becoming increasingly unreasonable and I wanted to spend more time with our teens, one of whom was going through some difficulties (but is now thriving).

I really don't want to try and resume my old career - a friend is still doing it and is so stressed. Also the role requirements now seem to be a lot more technical.

Before I entered this career, which I did for 17 years, I temped with Office Angels for almost a year and really enjoyed it. In fact I entered my career through them, as I liked the company so much I asked them directly, and was lucky enough to be offered my dream job there (I was also temp of the month at one point!).

I really thought temping didn't exist anymore so I was pleasantly surprised to Google OA and find they're still going strong with loads of great reviews on Trustpilot. So I'm going to contact them tomorrow for a chat.

Before I did so though I wondered if anyone on here has temped or is temping at a similar age and how they're finding it.

I’ll be honest, actual temping as it was a few years ago where they rang you on Monday and you went in isn’t the case now.

I’m 52 and have been doing it for past 5 years.

It’s mostly short and long term contracts either with NHS, government and some private companies deriding on location.

If it’s gov you’ll need to be DBS cleared and pass their compliance which can take a month to do.

I was made redundant at the age of 61 a couple of years ago. I’m lucky enough to have a great pension so didn’t want to find another full time job in the same industry. I joined the NHS Admin bank which offers various short term assignments across different departments, it’s all very low stress. I’ve just finished a 6 month, 3 days a week assignment and am taking a month off to sort out some jobs in the house, I’ll look to get another assignment after Easter. Money’s not great but it works for me.

I love it but I have found that the companies want to interview you for the temp job, which I don’t understand if you’ve been vetted by the agency.

Positive stuff so far - thank you!

@HannahinHampshire can I join the NHS Admin Bank without healthcare experience?

@Overtheatlantic are you in the UK and have you always got the role?

Following

@JumpingBackOn - absolutely you can join the NHS Admin bank without healthcare/medical experience. I didn’t have any, my long term career was in Telecoms.

Ooh - that's encouraging, thanks!

I've a couple of friends that do this.
Combination of having had enough at the FT, permanent jobs / wanting time to take parents for appointments / wanting to go off on some holidays whilst they were still fit enough.
They both love it. Works for everyone - the employer gets someone experienced in the world or work who is calm, drama free and just there to get on with things. Temp gets to work when they want and turn down work when they don't want to work. Win win.

@JumpingBackOn look at NHSP for NHS clerical roles. NHS Professionals.

That’s been standard for a few years now! No more sending you on spec and trusting you’d be ok!

The one thing I would advise. Keep 2-3 months salary as a buffer for when you don’t have work. And if you want to as I said before look at private companies, I’ve worked for Deloitte (hated them), Arup (very cliquey and treat their temps appallingly) Alan Turing institute (ok but exec team a bit cliquey) and KPMG, very pleasant offered me a perm job in their legal team but I find accountancy really boring). A friend of mine temped for NHS and loves it, I wasn’t keen because I had a micromanager there (apparently that’s an NHS thing) but the other dept I worked for was lovely, really nice and interesting work.

Following

I temped from 2004-2017 and I think there were at most two or three assignments where the agency said 'they need someone NOW, here's the address, FD will tell you what the job is when you get there.'

I’m in London area and most assignments you’re interviewed if not by teams/zoom then on the phone. In my 20s many years ago when I temped it was very much get yourself there on the morning. You waited for a call at 8am then rushed to the tube/train station straight to the job.

Great advice, thank you.

Which agencies did you go through?

Following this thread for tips and advice

Other than NHS Bank, are there any temp agencies that are particularly good for public sector jobs (London)?

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain are the interviews pretty casual and friendly, ie just seeing what you're like, or are they more specific and tougher like a standard interview?

Would anyone be willing to share a typical hourly rate or salary please? I have what I think you could describe as good all-round admin skills including proofreading. Thank you.

i always recommend nhs bank, although ime it takes 3 months to join

IME they aren't as tough as a perm interview, but you have to remember that the agency is probably sending more than one candidate and the employer might well be using other agencies. I always treated them as I would an interview for a permanent job. They want someone who's the answer to the problem they have, so it makes sense to show yourself at your best and be that person.

Some really interesting info here - very helpful!

What about freelance driving jobs eg courier food delivery? Does anyone do this? I’m 50 and I don’t think I could work in an office environment again.

@Touty i should imagine it is hard to make a living thinking of costs of petrol

A lot of really helpful responses in here - thank you.

I wondered if anyone temping has experienced any ageism?

I did notice that the (very positive) Trustpilot reviews for Office Angels seem to be from young recent graduates looking for their first job, but I guess they're always going to make up a large proportion of temporary staff.

They also wouldn't have as much experience as older temps.

IME the NHS admin bank positively welcomes older applicants. There’s a feeling that we’re there to ‘get the job done’, no dramas. Don’t know about more traditional agencies though.