57 and trying to find a new job again!

[Toooldforanything]

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.

I would hate to be bored at work, so I completely feel your pain.

However, the grass is not always greener and I would be careful about jumping ship too quickly.
It’s very easy to take any job because you’re so desperate to get out and then end up hating it.

If you are not getting other work then it could be that you do not have the qualifications for it.
Could you do a masters degree with the open university and also do this during working hours to fill some time?

Could you move to a different department/role within the same organisation?

Surely the reduction of stress and not going home upset from your old job outweighs the boredom.
I think you need to remind yourself how bad the old job was and appreciate this job, whilst still looking for something else.

Also have you thought about doing things like becoming a union rep etc things that allow you to keep your current job but give you more responsibility.

OP, you will find something. Don't worry. I found myself in the same position last year when I was 61.

Concentrate on your years of experience and your breadth of skills.

Have you considered offering to join the governing body as a clerk? You could pick up more responsibilities/be on committees that way. Also ask to meet with other people in the organisation just to find out more about what they do, and ask to join or support with any interesting things they are doing.

My view - It's a tough job market out there right now and getting worse.

1. Do NOT leave without something to go to especially as you're 57
2. Especially since you've been getting interviews but not jobs
3. This suggests your cv is good but maybe you could improve your interview technique?
4. Stop cancelling or rearranging interviews, make every effort to go to them
5. Agree about de-ageing your cv if possible
6. Find something to occupy yourself if it's not busy enough!

I would do all my life and home admin, read the internet, plan my holidays, call friends for a chat, organise my life, read some books, watch some films, learn something new...

In terms of the interviews, have you explained your current position to the interviewer and asked them if they can facilitate an interview outside of your working hours, or if they can do a Teams/Zoom interview so you can do it over your lunch?

Alternatively, if it’s an option, be honest with your current employer and tell them you are looking for another role, and why. It might jolt them into giving you more work, and if not they may let you take time out to attend interviews.

Definitely do not resign without another job to go to, as you don’t want to end up having a prolonged job search which leaves you financially vulnerable, and then jump into the first thing that comes along because you’re forced.

@sunflower85 "Alternatively, if it’s an option, be honest with your current employer and tell them you are looking for another role, and why. It might jolt them into giving you more work, and if not they may let you take time out to attend interviews".
Thank you for this. I have actually requested a meeting with my line manager. I am going to be honest and like you said, it will either
a. give me some more work
b. get it out in the open that I need to attend an interview without feeling like a naughty child!

I think I should add that within roles in Education you cannot avoid leaving dates unfilled due to Safeguarding issues! In fact due to safeguarding, its getting very difficult to fill in your application as they really do request everything!

Good lord, DO NOT tell your employer you're looking for another job! It might get you replaced quicker than you want to be replaced and you don't want that. Or they could ask you to leave earlier - are you still in probation? They could fail that.

Just be constructive and say I'm not as busy as I'd like to be so can I suggest I do xyz? Or anything else I can help with.

I work in education and have to provide my hospital appointment letter each time I ask for leave of absence.

Definitely don’t leave before you secure a new job. Use your spare hours to get some useful skills towards a new job.

Admin and secretarial work is changing rapidly due to software and AI. It’s a job family that is shrinking fast. Assuming you have 8-10 years left to work it’s worth looking at how your experience can be pivoted to new opportunities.

Good luck!

It's not often I'd recommend this but I'd be doing my life admin once my actual work is done. Plan your meals, sort your grocery shopping, plan holidays. Learn a new skill/language.

Under no circumstances should you leave without having another role lined up. I'm hearing that it's super tough out there in the jobs market.

It's a tough job market out there and Britain is filling up more and more each day.

Why did you complain about no reply to your post after 39 minutes in the middle of the mourning? The world doesn’t revolve around your post. Although at least I can see why you are finding it so hard to occupy your time when there’s little work to do.

To be frank most people would be quite happy to have an easy job, can’t you bring in a boom to read or something. Or do an online course, etc.

@GiveDogBone - having a bad day?

@GiveDogBone complaining? That you for your post. It was really helpful and friendly

The golden rule is to NEVER leave a job until you have a job to go to. However tricky interviews might be you have to stick with it. until a new position is in the bag!

Gosh! That’s not what we’re here for, sisters. Constructive replies or simply, ssshhhhh!

Don't leave the role till you find another, it is brutal out there at present. Apply and ask for after work interviews, as many will accommodate a good candidate. Use the quiet time to upskill, Open Learn, GoogleGarage, Coursera. See if you can shadow, do a health and safety course, anything really and keep applying.

Just to give you a bit of hope, @Toooldforanything, I left a horribly toxic workplace early last year, and managed to land a great new job quite quickly at the age of 59. I de-aged my CV as described above and started getting interviews as soon as I did that. My job is in the higher education sector, and as long as you fit the job specification they don't seem to discriminate.

Are you in a private education setting or local government? If you are paying into the LGPS pension think carefully before bailing out to a new company, as it’s a good scheme and you can top up with AVC contributions. If your school is authority run start applying for internal roles as you can have time off to attend interviews. If you are over 55 and made redundant you can access your pension without actuarial reductions. Have you considered talking to your Head about if you can do a different role within the school. I can’t believe you are bored as schools are so short on staff and you could be doing work on the employee database, producing reports, monitoring absence, looking at budget savings, keeping training records. Definitely don’t resign until you have clearance for a new post if you decide to leave.

Have you considered temping? Find a decent job agency and ask them if this is a viable option for you. I used to work in education doing admin secretarial, if a member of staff was sick they would be desperate to get cover staff in. Good luck.

Ridiculous, don't assume older people are a homogeneous lump.

Have you tried Police support staff roles? These are very busy and rewarding to work for, very supportive environment and they encourage the experience of older staff. In my office we were all over 55

I've got an interview. Slap bang in the middle of the day at 11.00am. Its a similar role but in a much busier/bigger environment. Should I go wise Mumnetters? Blimey its awkward getting time off for another rejection. I did ask for earlier/later time but no reply.