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I am 56 and am a nurse.
I lost my chance to retire and 55 when I stupidly opted out of the pension scheme temporarily in the 80’s.
Had I been able to retire last year I wouldn’t now be going through this pandemic constantly worrying about going to work!
Pandemic aside, I feel valued and respected. The downside is I struggle to learn new things

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEZ_qos8V4A

Since 29th March 2020, we have recorded a piece of music everyday. Along with giving singing and piano lessons on zoom we've had the wonderful opportunity to share our music from our home. I hope you like this one above called 'From a Distance'. The words are beautiful. I'd like to share that whatever your job, it is never too late to start learning to sing or to play the piano. For our exercise we ride our tandem, so if anyone needs anything we are available to drop things off locally.

I started life in the civil service - left work when I married, finished my part-time Hons degree which I started when working, and launched a part time job as a self-employed Book dealer. I Divorced, and as a 'single' mum with 2 sons I became a full time book dealer travelling across the UK to exhibit at Book Fairs. At 74 this year I am still working as a Full Time Book Dealer - but working from home. I had to learn all the intricacies of the internet as now almost all the Second-hand and Antiquarian book trade is on the 'net. Unless I fall off my book perch, or become otherwise unable to continue - I will Never Retire! I have never made much money - but I love my books and my job!

I was very grateful when I returned to work as a Nurse in the Hospital I had several offers even though I was in my late 50s. The employers was very impressed with my interviews and I was able to choice which one I really wanted to work with. One of the offers was very far away from my home but the Employer was prepared to adjust my starting and finishing time so that I wont be worried in case I am late going to work. They were so helpful but sadly I had to turn them down as I have never been late for work and did not want to cause any friction in the team working different hours. I am pleased with my choice and I enjoy working there and I don't have any worries of transport problems as I can drive there easily!!!

I retired at 57. I loved my job but wanted to travel and spend more time with my grandchildren. I never regretted retiring, but I can’t help feeling that so much knowledge and experience which I had gained in my job, was no longer being used to help people. At this point, when thoughts of this type enter my head, I think how other people have gained experience through replacing me, and that they are now helping people as I used to do.

I’m 63 and still working. Seventeen years ago, I was a nursery nurse when my husband had a heart attack resulting in a sextuple heart bypass resulting in early retirement. I knew,I had to earn a lot more money to pay the mortgage and bills and to enable me to look after my two children and ill husband. I decided to go to University to gain a teaching degree and business management certificate, which enabled me to finally open my own preschool. I’ve been there almost 8 years now and I am very proud of myself for working full time and going 2 nights a week to university for 3 years. I have a BA hons in Education. I am very hands on in my preschool which only opens 38 weeks of the year allowing me to have a better work / life balance to enable me to have more time and holidays with my family. I feel I have the best of both worlds now!
Stay safe and stay at home to save our NHS and other key workers!!!

When I was around 40 I wanted to return to the sort of work that I had left to raise my family but found I seemed "too old" to fit in with the commitment and lifestyle that goes with that type of job. So in the end I settled for a minimum wage job rather than following the career path of what I was trained for and good at - That felt really demoralising. I stuck with it for 18 months - but then worked out that financially it didn't make sense as I still had childcare costs for my youngest child to consider and so I was working for very little by the time I'd paid for childcare. There is definitely a pool of talented parents out there who have taken a break to raise a family and then feel "written off " by employers because of lack of flexibility or willingness to give them a chance. Luckily my digital skills are good (I recently did a course to improve my digital skills and turned out to already be "top of the class" so that has boosted my confidence for the next job I apply for.

I worked over retirement age and wasn't treated any differently at all. Probably because I worked in a government department and they are pretty hot on that sort of thing and had quite a senior position.
When I did retire I did some voluntary work and felt I was treated quite badly in that I was given the worst jobs in the office to do and mucked about with the times they wanted me to work. I didn't mind turning my hand to anything but I did feel they were trying to push me out. Needless to say I didn't stay too long.

I was made redundant 27 years ago when I tried to return to work having had my second child. Have not had paid employment since then although I have done voluntary work.
I think when this is all over I will look around although I fear that there will be a lot of competition.

I think your experience is fairly typical, anj123.

I think getting a decent job was easier back in the day, even if you weren't a "professional" as such. A lot of those jobs don't exist any more or are like gold dust.

I gave up "proper" work for 14 years. I have a Masters' and two postgraduate qualifications, alongside 23 years' unbroken work experience.

It did not occur to me that I would find getting another job difficult, but it was almost impossible. I didn't know where to begin. I volunteered for 2 years before getting paid work.

Work is so casualised these days. I suppose we should count ourselves lucky to have work at all.

In May last year I was made redundant from my post as a policy officer, after 27 years of working for a local authority. I was gutted. I spent the summer job hunting and it was then I realised how difficult it was finding another job. However, I don’t think it was to do with my age but a mixture of being de skilled and wanting part time work. I had gone job share after my daughter was born 15 years ago, and I know I’m fortunate in that I don’t want to work full time, and can afford to do so.

In September I took a big pay cut and started working in a call centre. I hated being on the phones all the time, and managed to get a job back at the local authority where I worked before. It was a lower grade than the job I had where I was made redundant but more that the call centre. I started in January and am enjoying it but feel disappointed that I couldn’t get a job on the same level as what I had before. However, I know things could be a lot worse. I have brilliant colleagues and am currently able to work from home.

Although many jobs say that they require experience, people with ideas etc I often get the impression that these things aren't really valued at interview stage. Sometimes it feels as though the interviewer is intimidated and rather than taking the attitude that the company will benefit they worry more about being out performed by someone who would be junior to them. My (female) friend has often experienced this also, - often after failing an interview we ask for feedback and are told we are "over qualified".

I worked as a teacher then took a break doing part time teaching work whilst our children were young. I went back to teaching and, around my 40th birthday, applied for and got a job training teachers at a university. They were looking for "new blood" and took on a lot of lecturers of a similar age to me. My mother though said it was good I got the job then because at 40 women were "past it". (We never got on well!)
I loved the job but took redundancy after 16 years as one of my adult children was seriously ill miles away and I looked after him for a short while. This also shook me up so
I took another less demanding job in education on a short term contract. When that ended I took another job in education, at 57, where I stayed until my 60th birthday. I gave my notice in then because I wanted to look after my first grandchild whilst her mother retrained. I was lucky in that I was due to retire at 60 yrs 4 months as I was only just "caught" in the changing retirement age. The last almost 10 years I have looked after several grandchildren with my husband who retired early. Since the grandchildren are all at school now we help out before and after school and in the holidays and do voluntary work, unpaid. I support a post graduate student teaching English to refugees and asylum seekers. I was offered the chance to do the teaching (unpaid) but, although I love it, I don't want to go back to doing all the preparation and it's not my main area of expertise, but it suits me well as I can't stand for long periods due to arthritis. So personally ageism hasn't affected my working life. Sexism has been more of an issue for many women as they often get paid less than men doing comparable jobs.

As a retired teacher, I could get some work as an exam invigilator. I don't, as I think younger non-retired part-time staff welcome these extra hours of income and I don't really need it. Better to spend my spare time doing voluntary work.

I am due to retire in a few months so am not looking to further my career. My problem has been that while 'working from home' during the coronavirus crisis I am expected to undergo online training courses. If I complete them all I'll never use my new found skills! I know I should show willing as I'm being paid, but it does seem a bit pointless. I've decided just to do one or two that interest me and hope I can get away with that.

In the past few years - since I was 60 - I have continued doing occasional work for the local authority as well as doing ad hoc house sitting - am happy the way I've been treated - being older has been an asset.

I work in a team where there are a range of ages. We all bring different skills and experiences.

I retired as a teacher 7 years ago, age 61, but still work for 6 or so weeks every summer marking exam papers for one of the exam boards. I can work from home and more or less choose which hours I work. My experience of teaching for 35 years, during which time the exams changed from O levels, to CSEs to GCSEs - and many variations within these categories - has put me in an ideal position to be able to offer a valuable service as an examiner. Markers/examiners receive a 'report' at the end of each marking period, and I have always been in the top category for accuracy and reliability. I have even been asked to apply for a more senior position - but so far have turned down this offer. So I think that in my case, experience has triumphed over age to provide me with the satisfaction of being able to do a job like this, as well as some additional income.

I was lucky enough to be able to retire at 60 and prior to that was in a job where promotion and/or a move to a new posting was largely based on competence in the job which generally also took account of the experience and its breadth that comes with age and time in the job. Far from there being a worry that staff would not be able to cope with new technology there were constant demands from staff for that IT to be made more effective and relevant to the tasks they were required to perform.
As a general comment on this forum and all others why can you not put the reply box immediately below the question which would mean the respondent could view both together - at least at the start of the comments? As things are the respondent has to scroll through all the existing replies to look (again) at the question. That is poor page design.

I am still working at 65 and work with a wide range of people in education, play and child care. I provide training, speak at conferences, consult/advise and write. 99% of the folk I work with are there for children and do their very best for their learning, play and care. It takes a real mixture of people, backgrounds, and diversities to provide role-models for children and young people and I'm pleased to work with them. They inspire me and keep me young.

I was made redundant in my mid 50s as my department was taken over. I hated the new firm, but still felt useless when I walked out the door with others. Despite having experience and 2 degrees I could not even get interviews. I felt really unwanted and definitely redundant. However, 10 years ago a friend said she was invigilating exams in a local school. I applied, got an interview, and I am still there at 73. Busy months are May and June, but there are also other opportunities throughout the year with mocks etc. I feel useful and wanted again. Plus with grand children care I definitely feel useful and needed. I will miss the summer exams with the schools being closed.

I loved my job although physically demanding(hard work). Because I could meet friends, colleagues. I had to leave my work on medical ground( back, shoulder, knee pain) although I was over 60 years I wanted to still work,,,keep my job may do part time but could not. As I was over 60, did not get any compensation or anything. But I am ok now because I got grandsons to be proud of. Only wish there was no lockdown, isolation then I could see them them twice a week. (Be with them, cook for them, read, play, collect them from school). Miss them.

Since retiring I haven't looked for other work.

Love to be outside walking my dog, and also have lots of hobbies which I enjoy. We also have friends and family who we see regularly.

I changed roles 5 years ago and went to work in a supermarket for the first time ever I am 58 now and I work with a lot if younger people at university and working part time and I have such fun with them. We get on brilliantly and they say I am very young at heart , I make them all cakes on their birthdays and we learn from each other.I am treated well at work and I am happy in my job.I also find I have changed a lot and surprise myself with my confidence.I have no problems being an older worker and find maybe even I get more respect because of my experience.

I love keeping up with tech, fashions and the company of people of all ages. I’m a very social person with a friendly outgoing nature and I’m not afraid of hard work. However, after many years of working in a caring role I have a very bad back now, this makes standing, bending or walking for more than an hour impossible so jobs are restricted due to this.
I think voluntary work is a great alternative for me and if I find myself with enough time to spare on a regular basis I will certainly swap over to this.