Restarting work at 54?

[IchBinPapst]

I’m 54 years old, live in a rural area and have been out of the workforce for 23 years. I’m not going to go into the reasons for that as they are in the past and can’t now be changed. When I used to work I did unskilled shop/visitor centre type jobs with a short stint in the civil service. Education wise I just scraped my way to A level and went to art college to study textile design in my early 20’s but failed my degree.

My DH is the same age, in a successful career and has just had his final promotion before retirement in about ten years. He has provided for our family very well but now that my unpaid responsibilities have lessened I want to do something for myself again (and earn my own money) - don’t have the first idea where to begin though at my age and as things stand nobody would employ me.

I live in a very rural area and have been at home for so, so long I thought I might like to try something different like learning bookkeeping/admin skills and doing it part time somehow. With more time on my hands now I’ve taken to knitting and sewing prolifically but nobody wants to buy what I make so I’ve given up on trying to make even a hobby job of that. I have no computer skills atm beyond being able to shop online and use forums and would be unsuited to teaching the skills I do have.

I see many posts here just saying ‘get back to work’ which I think are usually unhelpful - I’m not going to react to posts berating me for not working now or in the past, it was right for my family and my future is secure with or without DH.

Is starting paid work possible at this point, and if so, bearing in mind its been 23 years, is there anything out there I don’t know to look for?

I would draw up a list of things that will affect what you will or won't consider, e.g. no care/health work.

I'd also have a list of things I want from a job, e.g. social contact, to use technical skills, gain customer experience.

Limiting factors, such as within 50 miles/within 1 hr of travel, if you want regular hours or would fo shifts.

This should all give you a bit more focus on the sort of jobs you might want. Then you can see if you will need training and where you can get that.

I suspect location will be the biggest issue - I would assume most of the farming is hill farming, and while doing agricultural paperwork may well be needed, that doesn't mean farmers can afford it.

It depends on what you want. Any job which has good and fair pay is worthy, this can be anything. Even a cleaner job is an okay job these days.

I was in a similar position a few years ago. Being honest I found it virtually impossible to access many employed or volunteer positions because most of them insist on having recent references and fully documented work history (in some cases to prove you haven't been in prison for the past 20 years). Apparently claiming benefits would have proven that but as I hadn't claimed anything, there was nothing to vouch for what I'd been up to (except from DH which was unacceptable). Big employers like NHS and civil service are the worst for this. I think if you know someone through your social network that would be easier.

In the end I've managed to carve out a nice side gig for myself dabbling with investments, which has done better than any job I could have found, but it's all done at home so no social aspect.

That’s a great suggestion. No care work is definitely the first point.

Yes, current location is the biggest sticking point. Actually most of the farming around here is large scale industrial farming, either crops or sheep, pigs or poultry (yes, battery hens, sadly). There are a lot of family farms but they’re not ‘hill farmers’ and most do earn a decent living from it.

I was discussing it with DH tonight and due to his new job being fully remote (he worked locally until a couple of months ago) and home life changing as we get older we’re now considering moving back to a town/city, which will change this question entirely, for the better, I think.

You’re not wrong, any job is worthy, but getting someone to give you a job can be impossible with no work history, even cleaning.

Yes, having no work history/references and no way of wangling any such thing is what ultimately makes it impossible to be given a chance at anything. Most people don’t understand (and there’s no reason they should) that voluntary positions are no different in their requirements to ‘real jobs’.

I think learning a useful skill and getting professional advice will be a first step and it may all end there, as I have the luxury of not needing to make an immediate living. I’m just excited to have possibilities at last.

“Just volunteer, just temp, just do this or that…I really don’t mean to sound defeatist or negative but these are all impossible because other people have to accept you into their business, which realistically they won’t at 54, with no work experience, no demonstrable skills and no references.

I hadn’t thought that they might think I’d done 23 years inside!

Dabbling in investments sounds very clever. You must have to really know what you’re doing to have made a go of that.

It’s great that you have an appointment booked with a careers advisor.

And the prospect of moving to somewhere less remote must be hugely exciting. It would make such a difference to your life.

I’d return to the knitting and sewing. I think there is a market for this, I think it’s finding it, making what people want. It’s got the skills of being able to create, marketing, business administration. You’ve got the first, the final one is being touted around anyway which then leaves marketing.

How do you connect with people like me. You see I’m your husband - well obviously I’m not - but you’ve more more less described me. I’d rather have less fleece and more wool. British knitted British wool. Would you go to the wool marketing board or better craft Scotland and ask them.

Id also recommend the bookkeeping (I’m a chartered accountant) but to be credible and a safe pair of hands you need a qualification and the gold standard for bookkeeping is the AAT. Bookkeeping sounds like old ledgers and quills - it’s not, it’s right at the edge of how businesses can work and what they need to do in 2025. I’d really push that as they are a professional body that approaches what they do earnestly and with rigour. If you earn those letters through what is rigorous but highly structured training you will always get work with them after your name. It’s intellectually rewarding and important these skills are available to business in cities or rural settings.

Location is where you are struggling. I see in one of your updates that you and DH would consider moving - this would really benefit your job search.
If you stay where you are you need a fully remote job, but with no work experience for 20 years that’s going to be impossible to get.
If you’d move to a town/city then you have way more options.
Would a return to the civil service interest you? There are civil service jobs in Glasgow and Edinburgh, a small few in Aberdeen. Even going in at entry level, you likely do half office/half remote, reliable salary, and you could build up a decade of decent pension contributions. Look on the civil service jobs website for some ideas of what you could aim for.
People always suggest volunteering but it’s just not that easy. Volunteer work isn’t easy to come by, as you’ve discovered. I would start by going to a library if you have one, otherwise searching online, for free “back to work” courses. Things such as basic use of computers and programmes such as Outlook, Teams, Word.
I would also consider (if you move) contacting local bigger employers, explaining your situation, and asking whether they can offer a few days/week of work experience.
Don’t overlook apprenticeships either. I am currently the manager of a 50 year old apprentice! She has a previous career but is starting again in a new direction. That could be a good option for you.
All options I can think of require you to be nearer populated areas though…

Could you move house? Sounds like you're severely limited on options and if you're at home far more than your DH who has a career and wfh, it wouldn't really disrupt his work but could increase options for you. Seems a really difficult and limiting situation for you to have to work around.

Do you drive? There are loads of driving jobs.

I volunteer at a local primary school every now and then and I've loved it. I'm into art and craft and so far have helped in art classes, helped with one to one reading, helped run some art after school clubs and designed and made costumes and stage decorations for shows.

Is that something that would be feasible?

My full time job isn't very creative so this gives me an art fix and I love the energy and liveliness of the kids!

ETA I had to have a dbs check but other than that I was straight in as most schools are crying out for help where I live.

Exam invigilator at the school?

Regarding volunteering. While I hear your frustration with existing volunteer roles, there are lots of ways to volunteer that don't require someone having to accept you into an organisation. You can do things off your own back - form a local campaign - even if it's something very small like getting a speed limit sign or turning a verge into a pollinator pathway - you get to work with the council, write letters / petition or set up a social media account. If you get to know your local councillor, they can become a referee and it opens up other opportunities. There are always things that need doing locally and often they are orphan projects - they are on a list somewhere but no-one owns them or advertises for volunteers for them.

Also as well as listing what you will and don't do, list what you do know and what you are good at. You sound like you've had some challenges in life and presumably this has given you insight and experience.