Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

57 and trying to find a new job again!

59 replies

Toooldforanything · 16/06/2025 10:10

Hi - I would really value some advice please. I left a job of 16 years due to a toxic senior management team for what I thought would be the job of my dreams! However - it hasn't worked that way, people are nice but there is very little for me to do. Without outing, on paper it should be non-stop, but it isn't. I have tried to ask for more work, discussed my concerns, attended training and even started an online course to keep me busy. The problem is that it is a very small organization.
Its still too quiet. I have done my work in an hour and spend the rest of my 5 hours a day anxious and thinking "what the hell have I done". I know that after 6 months of trying to make it work I need to move on, but here's the problem......I'm 57. I have had 4 interviews, felt they all went well and didn't get any of them. I'm hardworking, never had much sickness and so want to be busy. I think I look younger than my age. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out my age when they ask for your work history and dates. Should I just resign first and then start looking??

My other problem is taking time off to attend interviews. I work within the education sector and therefore cannot take annual leave outside of school holidays. I know education settings should be busy but this one just isnt! I have just turned down an interview because it was 11.30am! I have already pulled the dentist/sickness card much to my shame.

OP posts:
Toooldforanything · 16/06/2025 10:49

Anyone???

OP posts:
BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 16/06/2025 11:09

Sorry it isn't going well and good luck with the job hunt. I would suggest two things: 1. definitely don't resign before you have something else lined up, and 2. definitely don't cancel interviews (reschedule them, or make an excuse to pop out for something)

BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 16/06/2025 11:10

Hospital outpatients appointment is quite a good excuse as they take ages and could be for all kinds of relatively minor reasons.....

BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 16/06/2025 11:11

Or even just "private appointment" which would technically be no word of a lie.

atotalshambles · 16/06/2025 11:14

I have a couple of friends job hunting at the moment and it is really tough. Unfortunately I think as an older women there is still a lot of ageism and sexism around. I would say to keep going and apply for lots of different roles. Wishing you lots of luck

MeganM3 · 16/06/2025 11:17

What sort of work would you be looking for?

If you’re looking to leave because it’s boring, I would be hesitant. It seems risky to leave stable employment. Some people will discriminate due to your age. For various reasons. If I were recruiting I’d worry you’d retire in the next few years, or be slowing down a bit.

Toooldforanything · 16/06/2025 11:25

@MeganM3 I am looking for secretarial/administrator roles. Unfortunately the role will never improve. I can handle boring work but I have no work to do at times which is unbearable!

OP posts:
Toooldforanything · 16/06/2025 11:29

@BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation Bugger. I just had to cancel an interview because they could not change the time of day!

OP posts:
spoonbillstretford · 16/06/2025 11:37

You've got school holidays coming up, schedule all the interviews for then and you'll soon have something sorted before you are due back in September.

Toooldforanything · 16/06/2025 11:39

@spoonbillstretford Very good point. Just feel mean leaving in the holidays!

OP posts:
DesparatePragmatist · 16/06/2025 11:41

Solidarity. Also 57, also looking for a new job. I've never done this many applications with zero progress. Different line of work (charity manager) and I know the economy is massively difficult and affecting opportunities, but I do also think age is affecting our chances.

Have you de-aged your CV? That was the advice on a previous thread. Put the last 10-15 years or so on with dates, and then just have a 'previous experience' section with roles and responsibilities listed in summary. No dates on qualifications etc either.

Doesn't seem to have helped me yet but worth doing. Good luck, OP!

Gymmum82 · 16/06/2025 11:41

Don’t quit your job without another one lined up. Employment is slim pickings at the moment and your age is against you.
Can you WFH? Honestly I’d love a job where I could get everything done in an hour and spend the rest of the day doing my own jobs at home

spoonbillstretford · 16/06/2025 11:43

If you have office experience maybe you could do some temping and try and few different places out, without commitment on either side?

I did that a few years ago and it did me the world of good.

spoonbillstretford · 16/06/2025 11:43

DesparatePragmatist · 16/06/2025 11:41

Solidarity. Also 57, also looking for a new job. I've never done this many applications with zero progress. Different line of work (charity manager) and I know the economy is massively difficult and affecting opportunities, but I do also think age is affecting our chances.

Have you de-aged your CV? That was the advice on a previous thread. Put the last 10-15 years or so on with dates, and then just have a 'previous experience' section with roles and responsibilities listed in summary. No dates on qualifications etc either.

Doesn't seem to have helped me yet but worth doing. Good luck, OP!

Edited

Sounds like a great idea. 🙏

Passmethehappyjuice · 16/06/2025 11:54

I left a toxic environment for a much quieter smaller company. Similar to you the work is quiet yet think I need that right now over an overly intense organisation!

GeorgieBot · 16/06/2025 12:08

No need to have all your employment history on the CV - last 10 years should be fine.
I absolutely wouldn't leave without having a new job lined up.
Good luck!

Toooldforanything · 16/06/2025 12:14

@GeorgieBot Thank you but the way I feel today I am never going to find another job and will be stuck here.

OP posts:
Mh67 · 16/06/2025 12:22

BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 16/06/2025 11:10

Hospital outpatients appointment is quite a good excuse as they take ages and could be for all kinds of relatively minor reasons.....

Unfortunately you need to show hospital letter to attend appointment

Welshmonster · 16/06/2025 12:28

Just go to the interviews. Why limit yourself. I worked as a teacher and just put appointment on my leave request for interview. Life is too short. I left teaching and now in boring office job and job hunting at 46

SqueakyDoor · 16/06/2025 12:29

Am here for the tips on de-ageing the CV, how's best to do that when you have O levels rather than GCSEs?
Many forms ask for these ancient details and it instantly puts an age on you (I.e. at least mid-50s,)
I know how you feel @Toooldforanything

Toooldforanything · 16/06/2025 12:30

@SqueakyDoor Just makes me wish I had stayed in my toxic job tbh. So disheartening.

OP posts:
StillCreatingAName · 16/06/2025 12:35

Toooldforanything · 16/06/2025 11:25

@MeganM3 I am looking for secretarial/administrator roles. Unfortunately the role will never improve. I can handle boring work but I have no work to do at times which is unbearable!

Is there scope to do some online learning (or even reading a book) if you’ve literally got nothing to do or how about volunteering to start up a group or activity within the workplace because you have the capacity to do so and it might keep you feeling more useful? I wouldn’t be saying out loud you’ve nothing to do, you might find your hours are cut.

If you have a good stable job at the moment with no extra stress, isn’t it better to take advantage of it- fill your time outside of work, leave on the dot instead of working into the evening, create a really nice work/life balance?
Or is this my dream only? 😊

StillCreatingAName · 16/06/2025 12:37

Toooldforanything · 16/06/2025 12:30

@SqueakyDoor Just makes me wish I had stayed in my toxic job tbh. So disheartening.

Absolutely not. No workplace is worth that. The grass can be greener!

Horserider5678 · 16/06/2025 12:40

Toooldforanything · 16/06/2025 10:10

Hi - I would really value some advice please. I left a job of 16 years due to a toxic senior management team for what I thought would be the job of my dreams! However - it hasn't worked that way, people are nice but there is very little for me to do. Without outing, on paper it should be non-stop, but it isn't. I have tried to ask for more work, discussed my concerns, attended training and even started an online course to keep me busy. The problem is that it is a very small organization.
Its still too quiet. I have done my work in an hour and spend the rest of my 5 hours a day anxious and thinking "what the hell have I done". I know that after 6 months of trying to make it work I need to move on, but here's the problem......I'm 57. I have had 4 interviews, felt they all went well and didn't get any of them. I'm hardworking, never had much sickness and so want to be busy. I think I look younger than my age. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out my age when they ask for your work history and dates. Should I just resign first and then start looking??

My other problem is taking time off to attend interviews. I work within the education sector and therefore cannot take annual leave outside of school holidays. I know education settings should be busy but this one just isnt! I have just turned down an interview because it was 11.30am! I have already pulled the dentist/sickness card much to my shame.

Employers should allow you time off to attend interviews, particularly if you are tied to taking leave in school holidays. Have an honest conversation with your line manager about this. I would not go off sick to attend an interview, employers always ask for sickness when obtaining references!

FlatWhiteExtraHot · 16/06/2025 12:46

DesparatePragmatist · 16/06/2025 11:41

Solidarity. Also 57, also looking for a new job. I've never done this many applications with zero progress. Different line of work (charity manager) and I know the economy is massively difficult and affecting opportunities, but I do also think age is affecting our chances.

Have you de-aged your CV? That was the advice on a previous thread. Put the last 10-15 years or so on with dates, and then just have a 'previous experience' section with roles and responsibilities listed in summary. No dates on qualifications etc either.

Doesn't seem to have helped me yet but worth doing. Good luck, OP!

Edited

I’m not convinced it has much to do with age any more. At the other end of the spectrum my DD is 24 and has applied for over 100 jobs. She took a dead end job in a supermarket just to earn something but it seems every job she applies for has hundreds of other applicants. 😕