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?

Yes. I have been looking at their job board and have applied for one role this week and will keep trying. I hear they are supposed to be less ageist, so I thought it was worth giving it a go.

I’m a similar age and in work but if I lost my job I’m setting up as a companion for older people- shopping, taking out and about etc. There’s a huge demand for this where I am.

I’m sorry you’re going through this. I want to offer some hope. I own an SMB. In the last 18 months I have employed two people in their mid- late 50s. What made those candidates stand out?- exceptional experience in industry and life. Not needing to train in depth. Ability to take the bull by the horns. Initiative. Skills. They have something to offer that is invaluable.

You will have invaluable skills and experience. Are you under selling yourself?

Was made redundant at 54, was worried that my most recent role was quite niche, though I had lots of transferable skills. I took some temping roles in the public sector, having only ever worked in private sector before. It rebuilt my confidence, particularly that I could adapt to new software etc.
This enabled me to get a fixed term contract which has turned into a permanent role, it's at a slightly lower level than previous, but with room to advance.

Ageism is very real in the comms / marketing / PR world sadly.A year ago and aged 58 I was where you are now and ended up turning my back on PR / Comms roles as I wasn’t getting anywhere. I looked at what skills I had outside of this and successfully applied for a part-time receptionist/ admin role with a small charity. I’ve been there a year now and love it. The job is very varied and I do far more than the initial job description outlined but this adds to the interest and is building my skillset so if I found myself back in the jobs market I think I’d be more employable.

I got a civil service job at 58 when my job went weird during COVID.

You’ve got great skills! What about it a temp agency? Might lead to something new

I would like to work again. My problem is my husband a self employed journalist who can go anywhere with short notice. We have 2 dogs so if we go away (lie next weekend)

they have to go in kennels

l

I found, in my 50s, job hunting wasn’t too bad. I am 62 now, been out of work since November. It’s soul destroying. I have an interview tomorrow, the commute is a faff and I really don’t want to work for them. I do, however, want to pay the rent and have the occasional treat.
the job centre put me on a Restart scheme, with Reed. They have been really helpful. Ask your local jobcentre about restart, they try to actively place you in suitable workplaces.

Youv'e probably done this but remove from your CV any reference to date of your qualifications.

Have you looked at the charity sector where there seems to be plenty of part time work? Many non profits operate upon flexible funding they rely on project based or part time. Many champion family friendly policies such as job shares and remote or hybrid.

Marketing, comms and copywriting have been eviscerated by AI. There are nowhere near as many jobs these days, it’s so disheartening when that’s the area all your experience is in. If it’s any consolation, I know people a decade and more younger than you, highly experienced, who are getting 100 rejections before finding a job. The market is terrible.

Do you have a particular area that you can specialise in? Tourism, public health, etc? I am currently looking at doing a part time grad dip in my area (the type of content I tend to work on as opposed to a further comms qual) to upskill a bit.

Are you on LinkedIn?

And I'd definitely look into temping, it's an easy way for employers to see if you're a good fit without committing too soon

Is your industry one that is declining or particularly youthful? What are your transferable skills? Do you look your age? Or are you youthful in your appearance and attitude?

Can you type well? Manage people? Fine all of your transferable skills and then search those terms and see what roles come up

It is harder for older people particularly women, there is a real paradox that older senior people are desired, more so than younger ones but run of the mill people in the middle are often the opposite and overlooked. There are some industries which look past age: schools, local authorities, NHS but often will be low paid.

Or stick in your industry but hit it with positivity and excitement and a role will come.

Lots of industries are shrinking at the moment so it is hard for most people but push on jeep going. Don't be defeated.

Generic phrases like we've gone for someone who's a better fit for the company or someone who fits our culture means they've gone for someone younger. I'm 57 and I got this alot. I now work part-time in a job where I was 2nd choice because the first choice didn't work out so they contacted me after 6 months. Don't give up hope x

I completely agree.

This is why I was hoping my experience of charity fundraising and securing and managing big grants (for example from the Big Lottery Fund) would allow me to get a fundraising role, as there seems to be less ageism there. All that matters is that you can bring in the money!

I am applying for admin/PA roles as well.

Basically I am really flexible.

I have mainly worked in the charity sector which is usually quite diverse. So it has been a shock to not be able to pick up a new role quickly.

Yes I have management experience. I was quite senior in my last role (I got to head of team/assistant director level).

I don't think I look particularly old/knackered either :). I have to keep in shape to manage my health condition and exercise everyday.

Yes. That's my thinking as well.

The 'you were great but we chose someone else who was a better fit' is a standard response to let people down gently.

Thank you. it is really helpful to hear feedback from employers as well and well done for not rejecting people just based on their age!

Are you claiming PIP? There is also the access to work scheme to fund travel etc. Sign on to get the NI credits.

Temp work is like free networking. Apply for FT jobs as if they like you / you interview well you never know what they might offer you / other roles / someone else might also want a jobshare.

I've been in a temp role for 3 years. They keep extending because I'm experienced & good at what I do and I make their lives easier - but they didn't know that until I started. I'm late 50s.

Yes I am getting the low rate of PIP.

I am still hoping something will turn up but I will sign on if needed once my final freelance invoices have been paid.

Exam invigilating ? (At that time of year)
Second the suggestion of governance clerking - schools crying out for good clerks
When you're about your daily life do you think you're chatting to people in a way that would open up opportunities? E.g. your local café, library, hobby group etc do they all know your expertise and capability? Don't hide your light.
Do you have an online brand yourself? Insta, FB and LinkedIn where you show what you've worked on and what you're open to next? Your own SM is your best ad of what you can do.

Sorry to hear it about finding work op. The area you’re in can be somewhat brutal to 50 plus women which is annoying and should change.

Plus jobs are harder to come by generally which is also concerning. I hope you find something.

Also there was an interesting thread yesterday when someone was asking about retraining / jobs at a certain level. It came up about Data Protection & Governance etc was a good pivot as it's actually needed even more now because of / despite AI.

This might be a really stupid question but do you have your DOB on your CV? My mum was looking for new jobs in her 50s and kept getting knocked back… looked at her CV and she had her date of birth on it! Told her to take it off and we had a whole back and forth (she was adamant that you have to have it on there for some reason). Eventually she took it off and got a new job within a month.

No, no date of birth.

Also no dates in the education section and I have trimmed my previous employment to cover only the past 15 years.

So I have 'de-aged' my CV already :).