Looking for a job and only ....69

Sounds like it's easier to work if one has a reasonable level/interesting type job.

I'm only too glad I don't need the money - as I'm all too conscious that I was in demand for work a couple of levels up from anything I ever got paid for prior to retirement age and there'd be hints/requests to me to do so.

But I've mysteriously lost a couple of voluntary jobs I took on since moving from England to West Wales - and so I'm only too glad I don't actually need the money from a paid job. I never was any good at slapping a smile on my face and saying I agreed with something I disagreed with. Whew - the relief at being able to be free to be retired.

I’ve just gone back to work at 72. It’s in the field I worked in since 1999. I did my degree late after my parents died at age 40 (which I think throws employers a bit as you are never asked your age now on application forms to be shared). I had cancer last year and prior to that tried retirement but felt a bit lost. I hadn’t worked for a couple of years so had to include personal references. Am successfully employed as of this June in an area am qualified in. Once in the interview I could prove I knew what I was talking about. So on paper (I suspect) they think am 20 years younger ! But obviously I managed to sell myself.

I’m 72 and still work part time . I was given my current job when I was 65. I’m an adolescent counsellor and set up a new service in the school I’m working in. They certainly weren’t ageist if they gave me the job at 65. The Head told someone else it was one of the best interviews he’d ever sat in on so you also have to sell yourself well so they think you are the best choice.

I am 70 and work 2 days a week in a retail store. I’m interested in the clothes and equipment that they sell and have used it all over the world so am knowledgeable about what I sell. It has great staff perks and 2 minutes away from where I live. It gives structure to my week and it is very sociable with regulars popping in for a chat.
The computer stuff is taking me a while to learn though.
A great positive for my employer is that he doesn’t have to pay NI for me.

Just leave your age off. If you have hobbies that show you have interests that need stamina etc then add them to your CV or job application.

Cariad You say 'I'm determined not to have chronic health problems myself'. I think the vast majority would think the same . You can't will health problems away by determination. We can keep physically fit, in the ideal weight range and avoid smoking and eating unhealthily but a number of people still end up with chronic health problems. Your persisting deafness in your left ear would count as a chronic health problem.

Impressed with your backwards writing in German skills, Countess

I can read up side down if that helps.

Just been offered a part-time job, working from home, writing backwards and forwards [computer obviously] in German to tenants in the former DDR. Not long turned 80. Rare but possible

I suppose few women approaching 70 would be looking for work if it wasn't needed.

Yes, I know about all the social advantages and the MH pluses.

We were totally shafted.

I don't think it's a case of women being invisible in this agegroup - though, goodness knows, we are and that's not an easy one to cope with.

I think that possibly a major obstacle to getting a job in this agegroup is the health levels prevalent in this agegroup. I was absolutely shocked to read recently that 95% (yep 95!!!!!) above a certain age have at least one chronic health problem and I do recall the age was between 60 and 70 and I'm pretty sure my memory tells me it was only 60!!!! I was thinking "Is the vast majority of peoples health really that bad and not from that old an age at that?!!!!!"

Looking round at what I know of other people in this agegroup and I wouldnt be surprised if that is true at that.

I know the other people I'm friendly with in this agegroup have got chronic ill health - though, goodness knows, I know people the next generation with one or more chronic health problems. I'm determined not to have chronic health problems myself - and have listed what's wrong with my body and am working through getting rid of it in order of priority (currently working on the feet and heartburn for instance and wondering if I'll ever be able to get rid of the viral deafness in left ear and the virtually non-existent sense of smell that I got left with - probably from Covid).

If I were an employer - the women I'd look at would be mid-40's up to about 60 (no pregnancies likely) and I would hope an older woman would sit there and tell me how good her health was (and be studying her body language to see if that was the case or she was not exactly being accurate).

That's the problem I think - being healthy and energetic enough for a job and convincing employers there won't be a lot of sick leave.

I wouldnt even look for a job ever again personally - and one of the reasons is I'm wondering myself just how long it's going to take me to get my health and energy levels back to normal. There are other reasons that are not personal to me but affect me......but wondering how long it's going to be before I'm healthy again is an issue.

Our small local charity has a part time job going. So far six people have asked for further info but no applications. Very disappointing but also worrying.

Are you still looking for work? I’m 73 and would love a little job. I still think that women are invisible when they get past 65.

Of course its NOT old, I quite agree. But when trying to get a job you realise that it is.

petra

Marriedalongtime

Try your local 6th form colleges. I applied to a couple last year when I too was 69 and I am employed by one of them now as an exam invigilator.

It’s interesting work, albeit a bit boring at times but it’s not onerous. To a certain extent you can choose what hours you want to work and it’s not badly paid either. I’ve also met some lovely people there who are all ‘of a certain age’

I’d encourage you to give it a try. Good luck.

A bit late with that reply.
The OP asked for advice *in November 2024*

I think you stand corrected. I posted my reply on 1st Jan! The last two comments are the more recent ones.

Marriedalongtime

Try your local 6th form colleges. I applied to a couple last year when I too was 69 and I am employed by one of them now as an exam invigilator.

It’s interesting work, albeit a bit boring at times but it’s not onerous. To a certain extent you can choose what hours you want to work and it’s not badly paid either. I’ve also met some lovely people there who are all ‘of a certain age’

I’d encourage you to give it a try. Good luck.

A bit late with that reply.
The OP asked for advice in November 2024

I also am aware that age and menopause are protected characteristics but I don't have time and money to sue everyone who is ageist. This is not for me. I get new jobs usually pretty fast

I have been having peri-menopause and ankles issues and people have been getting rid of me....I know it is because of the fact I could not do the jobs fast. So I developped new technique, I put it all out there, all my health issues and found a manual labour job which works with what I can actually do

Try your local 6th form colleges. I applied to a couple last year when I too was 69 and I am employed by one of them now as an exam invigilator.

It’s interesting work, albeit a bit boring at times but it’s not onerous. To a certain extent you can choose what hours you want to work and it’s not badly paid either. I’ve also met some lovely people there who are all ‘of a certain age’

I’d encourage you to give it a try. Good luck.

if you can actually get to see someone you can often persuade them that you are worth employing. It is getting the chance to meet them and not be weeded out from the letter. I once wanted to get a job, because it was with an airline - cheap flights -and nearer home. At that time I was head of the communications for england and wales. I managed to get an interview but the first thing this man said was, I wouldnt be likely to stay long as this job was so much below what I had been doing. I laid my cards on the table. That I enjoyed my job but it was a longish commute, that I wanted to get the chance for cheap travel , but to look at it another way. What a bargain I was, as I lived close by and unlikely to want to change to another job when I could be at work in 10 minutes. So they were the benefits for me, and what a bargain they would be getting. I could read and correct 5 unit tape, make columns where there were no tabs, in those days. Was used to bills of lading, spoke and wrote 3 other languages and could do simple translations, all for the bargain price of the wages they would pay me. I was also a qualified trainer and had worked in overseas telegrams and done codes and cipher. They did see the point, I got the job and we all did nicely out of it. My best trip was I managed to take my husband and myself to Thailand for £100 !! Long time ago now but it worked well. The other thing is try and get a temp job somewhere. Again that works both ways. They go to an agency as they are desperate for the job to be filled. As you are not their employee they couldnt care less how old you are if you do the job well. You get a chance to see just how they treat their staff, not just lip service. I have done quite a bit of temping in the past as I wanted to be free to go abroad at the drop of a hat. I was offered the full time job on several occasions when they saw how I worked. By working as a temp you see how the staff are treated in real terms not just for a day. So you can make informed choices as to whether it would suit you Good luck finding something that suits you.

Yes Foxtail, that's it exactly. I once talked to a law firm about non-selection due to disability, & they said this exactly - you can't prove you were the right person for the job & there are hardly any winning cases citing non-selection because of a protected characteristic. There are quite a few of unfair dismissal, that is far easier to prove. But most of us are exemplary employees once we get a chance, it's just so much harder to get a chance matching your abilities if you're disabled, or, even, 69.

69 is hardly old! What are people on?

Age is a protected characteristic as per UK Equality Act 2010 meaning in employment terms you should not be discriminated due to your age. However there are many ways potential employers can get round it. Most application forms may ask you to mark your age group on a separate form but you do not have to complete that . If you have the relevant experience then you stand an equal chance on an application. Do not include anything more than 10 years work history and do not to complete dates for your education unless it is relatively recent. Then once you get an interview you need to sell yourself. All of that said, once they can guess your age, they can just choose another applicant, if they want someone younger, and lots do, how can you prove they interviewed better than you? Mature employees have a lot to offer, experience, work ethic, won't get pregnant, commitment, not looking to move on or up, some employers do recognise this. I hope you find something you want, good luck.

What sort of job are you looking for?

There are some jobs that are always in demand. Whatever your age. Well they are around here.
Gardener.
Odd job person.
Private carer. Live in or out.