Are We Written Off At 55 plus ?

tim123456789

gingerdad wrote: »

most of our companies staff are between 55-70..... we tend toward the more mature employee as you get a much higher work ethic

Do they have any vacancies?

DCFC79

Anyone see todays guardian in the work section, asdas store in broadstairs recruited 25% staff aged over 50 and its apparently worked for them,

so no i dont think its the scrap heap yet,

what im saying is it shouldnt stop you from going for jobs you know you can do, some employers see the older generation as more reliable etc

Tempus_Fugit_2

ceridwen wrote: »

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Where I DO expect there would be a difference in attitude is with Jobcentre staff. Jobcentre staff know that a lot of people who are made redundant in that agegroup don't actually want to get a job again and would regard themselves as being "early retired" really - rather than unemployed. This group of people will "go through the motions" to "be actively seeking work" in order to make sure the benefit money is paid until such time as their pension starts and will not expect to be harassed by Jobcentre staff (the attitude will be "Read between the lines - and leave me alone"). There will be the other group of redundant people in that agegroup on the other hand who WILL genuinely be seeking another job and they will expect whatever genuine help they can get from Jobcentre staff with this on the other hand.

It must be difficult for Jobcentre staff to tell the difference between the two groups sometimes and leave the first group alone and not bother them BUT actively genuinely help the second group. Either way - they might get it wrong.

Personally - if I were made redundant I would be in Group 1 (ie the "leave me alone - I'll go through the motions and do NOT harass me" group) - as I would be regarding myself as "early retired" - but having to sign on to get my income until the pension started.

I think one can sympathise with someone in either group if they get treated as if they are in the "other" group.

> Ceridwen. Just to develop your comment a bit further : I think in my case I may qualify for Contribution Based JSA for six months but my occupational pension would take me over the threshold for Income Based JSA. I have established that I have paid over 30 years NIC. I am wondering how the Job Centre will handle my case in those circumstances. Am I right in thinking that once I pass the six month point I will not be `compelled` to sign-on the Job Centre but they would continue to provide advice if I approached them ?

dickydonkin

Tempus_Fugit wrote: »

> Ceridwen. Just to develop your comment a bit further : I think in my case I may qualify for Contribution Based JSA for six months but my occupational pension would take me over the threshold for Income Based JSA. I have established that I have paid over 30 years NIC. I am wondering how the Job Centre will handle my case in those circumstances. Am I right in thinking that once I pass the six month point I will not be `compelled` to sign-on the Job Centre but they would continue to provide advice if I approached them ?

I too was receiving company pensions and had over 30 years of NI contributions when I was 'signing on'.

I was not eligible for income based JSA, however, I still continued to sign on.

I was persistently asked as to why I was continuing to sign on as I had enough pension credits and I was not receiving any jsa - to the point it became really annoying.

My answer to these persistent requests was to state that I come to the jobseekers office to well.........seek a job - I thought the clue was in the title - seemingly not.

I suspect that targets had to be met and by getting me to 'sign off' would not have me classed as 'unemployed' and improve their targets but I was still unemployed nonetheless.

My dealings with Jobseekers staff were not positive ones unfortunately.

sofaspud1234

hcb42 wrote: »

I have no idea why companies ask DOB on applications either - and if it is on your CV, then simply remove it

I agree I am 57 and have never put my age on my cv. I believe my skills and experience will get me the job, as well as looking presentable ie suited and booted. If you have the skills and the confidence go for it, I do.

sagalout1954

Redundant at 56, thought it might be hard but took 5 months with 10 serious job applications/CV's resulted in 7 interview invitations. Got job number 6 (so cancelled no.7), out of the 6 there was 1 I'm POSITIVE were looking for someone younger, and 1 with the NHS I felt already had a candidate in mind so were just going through equal opps monitoring motions.

As for the job centre, I think they pretty much treat everyone the same. Certainly didn't feel they weren't bothering with me, they weren't bothering much with anyone! Half the staff were going to be laid off themselves in the not too distant future - no longer motivated and I don't blame them.

PS With my first 3 interviews I was so out of practice I was rubbish! I'd advise you to start looking for any/all freebie training available in your area, interview skills, CV writing, application forms, networking etc I learnt LOADS. (NextStep were quite helpful critiqued my CV - I'd never written one before), Age Concern were GREAT, they run a job club where I live for over 50's (though they let younger people come too, it's primarily older age range), virtually anything you felt you needed help with, they helped, brilliant. They gave the most useful 'panel interview' and 'one-to-one' interview training and I think I'd still be struggling now if they hadn't.

BodyElectric

In answer to the original question no one can write you off but yourself.

ceridwen

dpassmore wrote: »

I too was receiving company pensions and had over 30 years of NI contributions when I was 'signing on'.

I was not eligible for income based JSA, however, I still continued to sign on.

I was persistently asked as to why I was continuing to sign on as I had enough pension credits and I was not receiving any jsa - to the point it became really annoying.

My answer to these persistent requests was to state that I come to the jobseekers office to well.........seek a job - I thought the clue was in the title - seemingly not.

I suspect that targets had to be met and by getting me to 'sign off' would not have me classed as 'unemployed' and improve their targets but I was still unemployed nonetheless.

My dealings with Jobseekers staff were not positive ones unfortunately.

The last time I was unemployed was quite some time ago now - so I dont know the position personally.

The above sounds about right to me as to what I would expect at my age and with a full NI record in place already to get my State Pension. I would certainly walk in well aware that I would likely be recorded as "easy target - I'll try and get her to sign off and then I've got one of my 3 people I have to achieve for this week knocked off from signing on". My suspicion would be that they would try to target me for knocking-off the register even during the 6 months worth of non means-tested benefit - and that I might have to be "determined" in order to make sure that things went as I decided.

Not sure whether the fact that I'm obviously old enough and intelligent enough, etc, to be aware of my rights would be sufficient on its own to protect me from attempted "target practice".

sagalout1954

Think there's a programme on tonight, BBC2 Panorama which will discuss the difficulty faced by the over 50's trying to find employment.

Tempus_Fugit_2

sagalout1954 wrote: »

Think there's a programme on tonight, BBC2 Panorama which will discuss the difficulty faced by the over 50's trying to find employment.

Watched the programme. The stats they were announcing were a bit depressing - people aged 50 plus will find it more difficult than other age groups to get a job.

Posters on the board are a bit more upbeat and keeping a positive outlook seems to be crucial.