Am I too old for a career change ?

[Lilywisp]

Perhaps ‘career’ is the wrong word here but I’m using it as a convenient term. I’m now 62 and for my entire working life I’ve worked in offices with a short spell in retail after being made redundant from the head office of a bank during the 2009 ‘crash’, recently I faced redundancy for the third time in my career, I managed to get a Christmas job but this ended on the 23rd December and since then …nothing…

I’ve applied for a fair few jobs now but I seem to be getting nowhere, two recent interviews including the NHS didn’t even get back to me, I’m sure I’ll find something eventually but I’m beginning to wonder if it would be feasible to retrain so when I do get a job in my current field (I need to pay those bills !) I could perhaps avoid this situation arising in the future.

what sort of work is your current field? "working in an office" covers a lot of options! If you retrain then you'll need to start from the bottom of the career ladder and to be honest I can't see many people wanting to recruit a 63 year old with no experience in their field as they'd need to invest time and money training you and you'll shortly be retiring.

Have a look here, @Lilywisp:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

@MiddleAgedDread…thanks for the vote of confidence ! I used to be a PA to a director at a large bank and more latterly I’ve worked as a Receptionist and Administrator. Who said I’d be retiring ? It’s not an option for me and I don’t get my state pension until 67. I’m not expecting anyone to take me on and train me up I’m well aware of my age and I have very realistic expectations, I was simply looking for some ideas for career alternatives.

@OffToSeaInABlizzard…thank you very much for your helpful response, it’s good to know that I’ve not been completely ‘written off’.

Given that we are expected to work until we’re 67 …

The only pity is that being over 60 you’re no longer eligible for a Government Postgraduate Loan. (I took one in my mid-fifties for a very niche Master’s degree that opened up all sorts of opportunities.)

I don't know OP but don't let the naysayers put you off trying. I've recently started a new direction/role at 60 (admittedly using experience from my distant past). The number of people who suggested I should be 'slowing down' look at part time only, not start a full time shift work role when I'll 'be retiring soon' etc was unbelievable. I dropped a couple of friends who took this line. Find your supporters and keep your self belief, good luck!

@Middlechild3…thank so much for your words of encouragement, I really needed that boost ! I don’t think it occurs to some people that one day they may be in the same situation and consider how they would feel if they were spoken to like that.

Admin / reception / PA covers a pretty wide field already and you've got retail experience so I'd stick to those fields unless you do something like set yourself up a business as a virtual PA, but building a business and client base takes time.

What degree was that if you wouldn't mind saying, please?

@Oftenaddled - check your PMs. (Mobile site, not app.)