Mid 50s - will I ever work again?

[Greenseacat]

I have had no luck finding a permanent job for almost a year and I am starting to lose hope I will ever find anything.

I seem to be getting regular interviews so I assume my CV/statement/application forms are of a good standard and the feedback is always very generic: usually that I was good at the interview but that they went for someone who is a better fit for the role, so nothing tangible I can even improve on.

This week has just been the worse: I was asked to have a chat with an employer I interviewed for last week (so got my hopes up) but it was only to be told that I was there second choice if their chosen candidate did not accept the job (which they did). Today I was ready for another interview, got a call that HR had made a mistake and sent the candidates the wrong location and could I travel to another town 45 minutes away. Just as I was about to start my journey another call to say that actually the interviews would be rescheduled because too many people could not make the new time/location...

And on and on it goes, one soul destroying experience after another and this is affecting my self-confidence.

All I have done in the past year are some freelance contracts which at least kept me in contact with the workplace but that is not enough to keep me going financially and I am now facing having to claim benefits if nothing comes good in the next couple of weeks.

I am 55 and I have a long term health condition, which means I can only work part-time. So I know this goes against me but there is nothing I can do to change that.

I have applied to job in my usual area of work (comms, marketing, website management, fundraising, project management, copywriting for charities and small businesses) but I am also applying for pretty much any part-time role going where I could transfer my skills but nothing seems to be working...

Anyone has been successful finding new employment in their mid-50s and has any advice?

Art you currently in a free lance role?

I did - I was in a similar situation, - looking for work at 54/55 and in the end I accepted a fixed term contract (not in my ideal field) which got extended and then found a permanent role while I was in that role. Have you looked at fixed term contracts?

Also do you need to disclose at interview or when applying that you can only work part time? can you not wait until you have an offer to start talking about that?

I agree, it has been so much tougher at this age than previous times I've been looking for a job.

No, I just finished the latest one I was in.

I only has one little bit of copywriting scheduled next then nothing!

I don't really want to waste the employer's time so I usually only apply for roles that are advertised as part-time or jobshare and are either permanent or temporary.

Have you looked at admin jobs for churches? Tends to be 15-20 hours a week and they are likely to be more understanding than they average employer. Well paid, not so much (understatement) but I’ve never worked for such lovely people.

Do you have/can you add social media content creation and management to that skillset? Small businesses are often crying out for social strategy and if you could do that as well as all those other things it might open a few more doors

I hear you. 53, can't afford to retrain/gain new skills, can't work FT, worked freelance for 25 years in totally non-in demand field, so references impossible to get and can't even apply for care work. Thought about volunteering as a mentor or something to bring real-world experience up to date, but don't know how to fake "passion for helping the citizens of the future realise their true potential" any ideas?

Universal Credit/ebaying appears to be my future until teenager leaves home in a couple of years then will re-evaluate.

Sorry no advice but watching with interest to see what ideas others come up with.

There is another poster (Bringbackcatseyes) in literally an identical position. She started a thread and loads of good advice. I’ll see if I can find it…

Yes I do and I have been applying for this type of roles too.

I do think many employers prefer to employ younger people for permanent social media management roles but it has been part of my freelancing work.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/work/5535892-here-i-go-again

Lots of suggestions here

Thank you for sharing!

Indeed retraining is something I have considered but another degree would take too long and be too costly and I can't realistically retrain for a trade which requires a lot of physical work.

Thank you! I will have a look.

Do you have a partner? Any dependents?

No just me and my pets :) but can't relocate as I have already downsized and moved away from an expensive city to reduce costs,

Sorry to hear this. I lost a job last year, and am working at a lower level. I feel a bit robbed, If I'm honest. September is a good time for jobs as people come back from holidays and decide to change jobs So fingers crossed!

Pension?

I hear you, it's tough out there. Just to offer a bit of hope, a couple of years ago I got offered a temporary contract aged 59 and was made permanent shortly after I turned 60. I work in higher education administration; it's not very exciting but it should be secure until I want to retire. Best of luck to you.

Good to hear that you have managed to find something good :).

It sounds like temporary contracts are a good option to lead to something more permanent.

It seems to be a growing issue. Follow Stacey Duguid on Instagram.

Wow! her instagram posts and the comments that other women are posting are really quite sobering...

Interesting, and concerning, to read that so many women are in the same boat.

What about an introduction to governance Clerking course or introduction to local authority Clerking course op. Nhs bank admin? Or even a few micro part time jobs and build a portfolio career

I'm 56 and it's been a year for me too. Applied for hundreds of jobs interviewed for maybe 5, no meaningful feedback. I've 22 years left on the mortgage and an ineligible for benefits so it's bloody hard. I feel your pain.

I got a pt NHS admin role because they were recruiting a pool of people. I mean of course I’m marvellous and highly over qualified, but O reckon they’re more likely to take a punt on a 55 year old when they need to fill 10 roles.

That sounds really tough. Are you sure you cannot claim benefits at least?

Have you considered the civil service? I somehow managed to bag a great job with the CPS this year