Support thread for us 60+ year olds looking for work

[InFreeFall]

I thought I would start a thread for anyone in the same boat as me who is job hunting in their 60s.

I was made redundant from a senior role in January. Initially I approached job applications like a full time job in itself, working really hard at them, but having sanitised my CV and work experience to not give away for age. I had a couple of interviews that I never heard back from, which was depressing. Have chased up temp contract work but so it would appear is everyone else.

Most depressing of all is when I spend a couple of days crafting covering letters only to have them auto rejected by AI within minutes of application.

I've got five years to go until I get my state pension, and so I have to work.

Please jump on the thread if this sounds like you.

I’m in my mid-50s, so I hope you’ll let me join! I read your opening post and found myself nodding along, as I’m experiencing the exact same challenges. I’ve been out of the workforce for 5 years due to health issues, so that, combined with my age, feels like a double whammy, but I have to work for financial reasons, so would love some support and to give some too for anybody else in the same position.

This is depressing. My H has been out of work for 25 months now after being made redundant. Late 50s. I am despairing of him finding work again. He’s finally started doing self employed delivery driving in the last six weeks It’s better than nothing. I suggest doing that rather than treating looking for a job ‘as a full time job’ like he did and burning through your savings. Because doing that means we are now in a worse, not better, position than we were 25 months ago.

Im mid 50s. Left teaching early recently. Doing supply teaching at the moment- ad hoc- it not what I want- want something more sociable and more regular. You probably could pick up some work as a cover supervisor on supply ,or as a more permanent role, if you have some experience working with children? It can be ok if you choose a school with decent discipline system. Don't just go on the OFSTED. Obviously it will be a lot less than you are used to earning. If that's something that interests you, see if you could visit a school or shadow someone doing the job. You could then ask the school which supply agency they use? Good luck everyone