No work and running out of ideas - help!

[MarmiteMakesMeHappy]

I am 55 and never thought I'd be in this position, but I realise now that years of doing a bit of a 'made up' job has put me here and I don't know what to do.

I am under-qualified (didn't go to University as I was offered a full-time job at the BBC aged 17 and took it). I have worked my whole life in TV, Film, Video, Live Events and Content Producing and have suddenly found myself without work since January.

I have worked for broadcasters, film production companies, individuals, event companies, agencies and private clients across so many areas of the industry including: writing/producing/scripting/casting/directing/creative development and have spent the past 10 years freelance with enough work to bring me in an average of around £60K a year.

And then suddenly, nothing.

Everything seems to be working against me:

Age - pretty sure this is a factor.

Contacts - I have always relied on people who know me and understand my experience and skillset giving me work, and they have. But now - despite following up with everyone I can think of (even the ones that are a bit embarrassing to chase), there is nothing.

Lack of clarity - Because I am not a 'thing' - more a flexible/multi skilled and experienced person that can adapt - it's really REALLY hard to apply for jobs online (although I am trying really hard and doing really careful bespoke CV and covering letters almost daily - one or two a day at most).

I am also trying to apply for things outside of my field - I've tried Civil Service jobs/NGO and charity storytelling jobs/visitor experience jobs - things that have some correlation - but I don't seem to make it past first sift on anything.

Apart from the financial strain and burden on DH who is now starting to buckle under the pressure of being sole earner, I hate not working. Hate it.

I have no idea what to do. I feel sick and a bit desperate and have no idea how to find work, or pivot at my age. I don't feel old and still have so much to offer but I'm not sure anyone wants it!

Any advice welcome. I'm really struggling - financially and emotionally.

Hello, I love Marmite too. I'm sorry, this sounds really tough. I have friends who work in TV and the industry is brutal anyway and the market is very tough at the moment, so it's not just you. And I'm sure you're right, your age is probably against you. It's wrong, but likely.

I think the lack of clarity won't be helping. People don't want someone who has done "script writer / writing/producing/scripting/casting/directing/creative development" - they generally want ONE of those things. You say you've tailored your cv, have you done one version for script writing, another for producer, another for casting etc? That may not be feasible but I think I'd try that. Are you on Talent Manager? If not, get on there, ignore me if you are.

I would take anything off your cv that shows your age, so maybe summarise "previous roles" rather than show what year you started, that's what I've done anyway. Nobody cares about 1996, they care about the past 10 years max. Good luck.

Also is there anything else you're good at or like doing and could you sell your services doing that? Cleaners around here earn £25 an hour, which isn't amazing but is better than nothing and they're in short supply.

Anything useful here? Ignore me if not, I'm sure you're perfectly capable of Googling!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ben-shackleford_opentowork-share-7462470070242402304-GB6t/

Thank you @Irememberwhenitwasallfieldsroundhere I completely agree that my 'flexibility' is working against me. I have many MANY career regrets and one of the biggest ones (apart from not going to Uni and not doing what I really wanted to do which was something else completely) is the fact that I didn't stick to one thing. So yes, I have made a few CVs which are focussed on different skills and do try to be really specific about highlighting experiences/outcomes that are directly related to the positions I am applying for, but not working so far.

Good point about hiding age. I've been a bit evasive on my CVs but I might revisit and see if I can condense the past 10 - maybe 15 years, tops.

I am not workshy - the opposite - and open to just earning money any which way for now - so I will follow your link, thank you.

It's really really hard!