Jobs for the over 50's..??

annie_tanks

I was made redundant last year,and have subsequently been more on the dole ,with short bursts of contract work.These have been low paid and involves long working days, for which I have been grateful for some decent income, but no-where like what I was used to..and yes I have I cut my cloth.
My latest job application I was pipped at the post for being overqualified and would be bored..so much for education.My other similar aged friends are experiencing the same veiled job refusals as an ageism excuse.
I find it galling that we are supposed to work longer for our pensions, but where the heck are the decent jobs for the over 50's..
Taking early retirement is not an option.
Is anyone else in their 50's + experiencing the same problems..and how have they coped with meagre incomes...and getting that elusive job..where all the usual channels are currently being pursued.

Judas

The problem is 10-30 years ago people where being massively overpaid for mid level jobs and now its time for these to be cut back they expect to walk out and find a job paying the same.

Those on good salaries these days work far harder for it and in my view are less obstructive to change than the old timers.

Further more it is not ageism; it is valid reasons; why should companies give jobs to staff who will think it is beneath them and likely create unrest or leave in a few months.

annie_tanks

Judas..you have just written of a whole bulge of people over 50 now, who are willing to work, for less money,but because we are made redundant cannot find work.
So how do you think we will manage for say another 10 years then.We cannot be turfed out and put on the scap heap because it is perceived we are all the above that you have stated..

Tippytoes

Annie, you are so right. My sister was made redundant at the age of 50 when the company she had worked for for years closed. She is reasonably well educated and has worked all her life. She has found it impossible to find work. Her OH works, so she can't claim benefits of any kind. She's got years ahead of her and gets very depressed at the thought of being out to pasture at 50. She can't understand how she can be the dog''s b******s one day, then the next she is unemployable. What really rattles her when she receives a "dear john" letter is the appalling standard of written English....and these people have got jobs!!

Judas

Tippytoes wrote: »

Annie, you are so right. My sister was made redundant at the age of 50 when the company she had worked for for years closed. She is reasonably well educated and has worked all her life. She has found it impossible to find work. Her OH works, so she can't claim benefits of any kind. She's got years ahead of her and gets very depressed at the thought of being out to pasture at 50. She can't understand how she can be the dog''s b******s one day, then the next she is unemployable. What really rattles her when she receives a "dear john" letter is the appalling standard of written English....and these people have got jobs!!

And that attitude is exactly what I am talking about.

Maybe she should think about what is wrong with her own CV; skills and experience rather than deciding to blame the recruiters.

As you say at 50 she has a good few years left in her so why on earth would an employer choose a weaker overall candidate? They wouldn't

Any time I have interviewed an older person they have on most occasions come across to me as people who expect to manage and have people do the work rather than do it themselves. The days of secretarial staff doing the typing etc is long gone and even management these days are expected to get involved in such work.

Hellyboro

Tippytoes wrote: »

Annie, you are so right. My sister was made redundant at the age of 50 when the company she had worked for for years closed. She is reasonably well educated and has worked all her life. She has found it impossible to find work. Her OH works, so she can't claim benefits of any kind. She's got years ahead of her and gets very depressed at the thought of being out to pasture at 50. She can't understand how she can be the dog''s b******s one day, then the next she is unemployable. What really rattles her when she receives a "dear john" letter is the appalling standard of written English....and these people have got jobs!!

Can't comment on the over 50's element but I've had many a badly written rejection letter that I would not have dared to send to someone in my last job. Have to keep plugging away I suppose.

Tippytoes

Judas wrote: »

And that attitude is exactly what I am talking about.

Maybe she should think about what is wrong with her own CV; skills and experience rather than deciding to blame the recruiters.

As you say at 50 she has a good few years left in her so why on earth would an employer choose a weaker overall candidate? They wouldn't

Any time I have interviewed an older person they have on most occasions come across to me as people who expect to manage and have people do the work rather than do it themselves. The days of secretarial staff doing the typing etc is long gone and even management these days are expected to get involved in such work.

Her CV has been professionally re-written. Weaker candidates are generally cheaper. She knows for a fact that several jobs she has applied for have gone to much younger, less qualified/experienced people - at the lowest $$££ remuneration band (inside info). Proving it (ageism) is a different matter.
As for "managing", I don't see how a bottom of the ladder admin job paying £6.00 p.h. could possibly attract managerial-type people.

Judas

Tippytoes wrote: »

Her CV has been professionally re-written. Weaker candidates are generally cheaper. She knows for a fact that several jobs she has applied for have gone to much younger, less qualified/experienced people - at the lowest $$££ remuneration band (inside info). Proving it (ageism) is a different matter.
As for "managing", I don't see how a bottom of the ladder admin job paying £6.00 p.h. could possibly attract managerial-type people.

I am sceptical about professionally written CV's. The majority I have seen are poor and not suitable. CV's should always be tailored to the job.

As for the next bit. I am afraid this is life; a company will not employ someone (regardless of age) at the top of bands straight away in most cases unless there is a clear advantage to doing so. If the candidates are all capable and one is more expensive then of course they will go for the cheaper ones.

And well they do. We recently advertised a £7 an hour assistant job and received several applications from those who are fully qualified, often with directorship experience. Such are the times. These people are quite clearly just desperate for a job and will be out the door as soon as they can, furthermore, the majority probably do not realise what it involves. We had a similar temp who came from a mid management job in the interim and they didnt want to do the work; they spent more time trying to get office juniors , and permanent colleagues on the same band to do the work whilst she "co-ordinated".

eamon

I could rant about this issue but I can't be bothered........... but until you are put into this situation by circumstances beyond your control then it is a tad rich to gripe about those who are. In todays uncertain economic times it is not wise for kettles to be calling pots uncalled for names.

Googlewhacker

Tippytoes wrote: »

Her CV has been professionally re-written. Weaker candidates are generally cheaper. She knows for a fact that several jobs she has applied for have gone to much younger, less qualified/experienced people - at the lowest $$££ remuneration band (inside info). Proving it (ageism) is a different matter.
As for "managing", I don't see how a bottom of the ladder admin job paying £6.00 p.h. could possibly attract managerial-type people.

Employing someone who is cheaper is not ageism, you may have been used to earning X but if a candidate that may be weaker overall but is capable of doing the job in question and is cheaper then of course any business will employ that person.

David_Brent

annie_tanks wrote: »

I was made redundant last year,and have subsequently been more on the dole ,with short bursts of contract work.These have been low paid and involves long working days, for which I have been grateful for some decent income, but no-where like what I was used to..and yes I have I cut my cloth.
My latest job application I was pipped at the post for being overqualified and would be bored..so much for education.My other similar aged friends are experiencing the same veiled job refusals as an ageism excuse.
I find it galling that we are supposed to work longer for our pensions, but where the heck are the decent jobs for the over 50's..
Taking early retirement is not an option.
Is anyone else in their 50's + experiencing the same problems..and how have they coped with meagre incomes...and getting that elusive job..where all the usual channels are currently being pursued.

What sector of the job market are you looking at exactly?

I am sure it is not ageism that you are experiencing.

Have you thought about starting out Ltd as your own business?