According to Geraldine...........

The sorts of examples given - queen, pope, Alex Ferguson, Ben Fogle, etc., are not in run-of-the-mill jobs. Many people, including myself, have done jobs that they don't particularly like or that are very physically taxing. They may well be thoroughly relieved to retire. That's not to say that people shouldn't pursue other careers if they wish and are able to. And, let's face it, many retirees are doing other unpaid jobs looking after grandchildren (and elderly parents).

Oh yes...and I was a receptionist in a photographic studio, after which, I became the photographer's on-the-road rep...calling on businesses in order to introduce his portfolio and secure possible brochure work.
I'm dismayed to find that even though I earned a living as a proof reader [almost 50 years ago] I now struggle to punctuate my own threads.

That sounds like Radio 4 closing down for the night.

This is where I leave you lovely lot and wish you a very pleasant weekend.

...but very interesting just the same, anno

During the busiest time of my life, I worked as a proof reader until 5:30...walked two miles home, had a shower and a bite to eat and left for job as bar person/cashier on the gambling table of a night club at 8:30. Job started 9:00 until 3:00 A.M. Harry, the doorman, took the girls home after the club closed. Bed by 4-ish and back to proof reading by 9:00. Slept under knee-hole desk during coffee/lunch breaks. On one occasion a prof gambler from the States played blackjack until I made a steak sandwich for him at breakfast-time. He tipped me £20...a lot in the mid sixties.

soop, you make me feel tired just reading your CV! You make me feel very one-dimensional!

Exactly! NellieSmol

She was soop ......she had me

NellieSmol Your mum must have been one wonderful lady.

In my lifetime I've kept several balls in the air. We women can do that sort of thing [with panache]. I've worked as a civil servant, proof reader, accounts clerk, managed a retail outlet x2, a pharmacy assistant, nanny/hosekeeper, live-in general assistant in a hotel, cashier in a night club, cleaning lady for several families, moved furniture/tended gardens/, sold my own artwork from a small gallery, reproduced my artwork into greeting cards and sold to local shops. From time to time, I still do piles of ironing for a good friend. I've never been work-shy. A thing called old age is slowing me down and preventing me from being the busy person of yesteryear. Just saying...

graces thanks for the recognition,I need to work to support E 5 job applications,this week all different types of work a Jill of all trades master of none ,wondering how many interviews out of that lot,my return to work advisor trainer as nice as she is has no idea of the living in the real world.....she actually believes I have a choice of wether I take first one offered ...well you tell Atos and DWP that one then!! I am finding the voluntary work very rewarding and interesting,and getting involved in community events enjoyable....mum used to say put the broom up my b*m and I will sweep the floor as I go..

Riverwalk Respect!

Well said, Riverwalk!

Galen Atta girl.

I never structured anything in my life - more sort of lurched.

Geraldine says "I was really making a plea - given the massive shift that is going on - for us to think more imaginatively about how we structure work over a lifetime.

Only the likes of the pope, the queen and Alex Ferguson can afford to think imaginatively - the rest of us have little or no say in how we 'structure work over a lifetime'.

And, Phoenix with your talent, if anyone deserves a 2nd career, it's you.

Sorry Phoenix crossed posts. I know I'm very fortunate that I can afford to have a choice.

That's great. The important bit is that you do it because you want to. I found my job was getting in the way of all the other stuff I wanted or needed to do.

Better late than never!

graces thank you for the point you made earlier, it is appreciated.

For those who may not know, I need to work in order to pay my mortgage etc, retiring is not an option.

May I put my oar in here?
I'm 68. Disabled, in pain most of the time!
I enjoy my work, not just for the money, but for the interest. It also makes me feel I am fulfilling a role in society.
If I wasn't paid, I'd probably still do it on a voluntary basis.
If I'm honest, the money does come in useful for DGD's ISA and cruises.

You're right - I've now read to the bottom of the article and it does include volunteering. Although I would never consider my multiple dabbling a second career.

To be faair, Geraldine did say it needn't be paid work.

My paid job was as a receptionist. When my husband retired through ill health on a reasonable pension, we were lucky in that I could afford also not to work. By retiring we opened up two positions on the job market for younger people. Most of the high profile career bods need to have a whole support team behind them so in a way they create jobs
.
If I opted to have a second career, bearing in mind my ability level, i would be taking work from someone who needed it more. And who else would do my present unpaid job as part time occasional child minder, dog sitter, carer for an elderly mother (this has been full time, seven days a week since before Christmas as she is seriously ill), and charity volunteer.

Just think how many organisations rely on a large unpaid voluntary work force. Mostly grey haired. Well, grey haired if left to nature.

gadabout
Someone was telling me earlier about someone they met on holiday in NZ. A woman in her 80s who was travelling in a little camper van. Every year she goes to a remote headland and counts the penguins (science is interested).
Nice story. Anyway need to get off my butt and make tea for my poor MIL who has enough medical conditions for a whole team of retired football coaches.

I'm sure many in GN were like me - didn't have one career after another - had them altogether in a roundabout sort of way - paid work, voluntary work & raising a family - different paid work at different times according to stage of life. Now I'm training to be a Vol for a Restorative Justice Panel & it's really difficult having to sit there being told things you've been trained in & trained others in for the last 40 years. The unwritten rule is thou must not know more than the trainer & anything you already know has to be packaged in a very prescriptive way.