Going back to work at 64

[bumpintheroad]

I retired 3 years ago at 61 on a small private pension with full support of Dh. I’m now in a position due to divorce (not my choice) to have to go back to work part time until state pension age at 67. I have an admin/finance background and just wonder if anyone would employ someone my age or what else I could do to earn a bit of money. I’m lucky enough to have good health but not a lot of physical stamina and think I’d struggle on my feet all day. I had a very stressful job before and just want something simple. Happy with minimum wage and would only need to earn about £150 a week to manage. Any advice?

Yes it is. Behave yourself.

64 is not old. And you are rude.

If you like kids, teaching assistant in a school. The pay or low but holidays and hours are good. Many schools can’t fill TA vacancies.

Most developed Western countries set the retirement age around the age of 65; this is also generally considered to mark the transition from middle to old age.

Reaching this age is commonly a requirement to become eligible for senior social programs.

There is no universal official definition of old age. The United Nations considers old age to be 60 years or older.

In contrast, a 2001 joint report by the U.S. National Institute on Aging and the World Health Organization [WHO] Regional Office for Africa set the beginning of old age in Sub-Saharan Africa at 50.

Cat sitting?
Invigilating
Babysitting
Dr's receptionist - min wage I think, so probably 20hpw.

Unfortunately most TA's in schools are now 1:1's for high needs SEN children and very physically demanding. Many schools can't afford general class TA's and even if they do they need to be able to run interventions, teach phonics etc. it's no longer a bit of tidying , photocopying, washing the paint pots and listening to readers (as it was when I started teaching)

Wow, thank you for all the amazing suggestions. I’m going to investigate lots of things. A finance/bookkeeping job I can do mainly at home so hybrid would be ideal and actually applied for a couple of things but no reply. You only have to look at my work history and see I have o levels to work out my age and I wonder if that’s an instant rejection. . I don’t feel old by the way but a couple of hours housework and I need a nap 😀 and I think my brain is more active than my body. Invigilating is a possibility and definitely can look at temping.

Have a look at public sector roles.
I work with a lady who joined us post-divorce at 62, and is about to retire at 67. She works 3 days a week in an admin role.

I have a friend who took early retirement, who works a few hours a week for a private agency as a carer. She spends most of her time taking the clients out and about - to garden centres, or talks, or to appointments, or even concerts. She rarely does any personal care.

I have another friend who does admin work for an agency. She has an elderly mother to look after / take to appointments and just who she wants to spend time with, so works very flexibly but always has plenty of work.

I know several people who do exam invigilating, but that is seasonal of course, and wouldn't bring in an income throughout the year.

And with ARLA qualification. It’s not a job you can walk into

‘That’s usually someone old’ charming! I’m just a few years off 64 and certainly don’t consider myself old and past it. How to make someone feel old blimey!

A 55 year old would have olevels plus for a lot of cv requirements especially public sector you can anonymise age including the qualification type.

Is your financial settlement done? Under the circumstances could you push for £40k to bridge the gap to retirement?

I was going to suggest waitrose or m and s checkout, always lovely older ladies working there. And discounted food!
a teaching assistant might be another lovely job

You don’t need any qualifications to be a key holder and show people round….in fact the man ( I would say late 60s) who works at our local EA just opens up and locks the property ….you take yourself round….he hasn’t got any such qualification….it’s a part time casual job earning him minimum wage to supplement his pension

You really don’t need to put your O levels/ GCSEs on your application! My CV doesn’t even have my degree, just my last 5 years work and professional qualifications.
Good luck OP. If I was hiring I’d want women over 50 exclusively if possible- the most competent people in existence!

I dream of working at Waitrose!

Some NHS trusts still have bank for some roles

Take your O and A levels off your CV as they aren’t relevant any longer. Keep the degree but without the dates you did it.

Describe yourself as “an experienced finance professional with more than 20 years experience in …”

List your roles but without dates or durations in post.

This is now standard practice for CVs and won’t stand out as trying to hide anything. Employers are expected to be “age-blind” in their recruitment practices so provided you are being honest with them about how experienced you are (ie you aren’t applying for a very senior role when you are newly qualified) this is all absolutely fine.

What an unpleasant person you are

Try university professional support services OP - there are a wide range of posts and grades - and certainly at our place, we don't give a toss that people are within a few years of retirement if they have relevant experience and good references.

Could you consider self employment as a book keeper?

Came across a writer who talked about her father doing this, and his returning to work aged 71 as a nighttime security guard. He worked at the art gallery at Somerset house in London, patrolling the galleries all night. It sounded interesting and made me wonder what other nighttime economy roles might I not have considered?

In similar circumstances I took my private pension early and got a lodger.

This. DH went to be a TA at the age of 57, it’s one of the most knackering jobs he’s had, as he does mostly 1:1 support with higher needs kids. It’s physically and mentally demanding, and minimum wage, definitely wouldn’t recommend if you want something easy!

OP, re your point about your CV and O levels, depending on how much work history and the type you’d have, I wouldn’t even list them.

No idea of job ideas but just to say I noted that you wrote in your op you have to go back to work because you are divorcing, which was not your choice.
That’s very hard. Sending hugs.