Part time jobs for over fifties

Mistral001

I am looking for a part time job and I am in my fifties.

Most of the part time jobs I look at, I just think it is a waste of time following up, as if I was an employer (and I once was), I would just not choose someone of my age over a younger person.

There are certain jobs like shop work and bar work where opportunities exist for older people to do part time work, but all the employers seem to be looking for people with experience.

I have worked all my life in design-related jobs and that experience seems to be totally irrelevant to any part time job I have seen advertised.

I am not looking at the perfect job, but just any job.

t0rt0ise

Can you say you've had admin experience with your previous jobs? There are a fair amount of admin jobs around although lots of competition so still a fight to get in.

cazziebo

OP, I don't think you are looking at this the right way. I don't think you can second guess the ideal candidate for a job. For every employer who thinks they are looking for some bright young thing, you can be sure there will be at least an equal number looking for someone more mature with proven life skills. I think the fact you're looking for part time is a major plus; there are more part time jobs around and for many candidates, this would just be a stop gap.

I know B&Q positively discriminate in favour of older employees, and recruit people from all sorts of career backgrounds.

As tortoise says, it's tough out there. I would try to assess objectively what your skills are and what benefits you would bring to a business. If your previous career has been design, then there are all sorts of competences and qualities that would interest an employer.

Best of luck in your job search.

Mistral001

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Can you say you've had admin experience with your previous jobs? There are a fair amount of admin jobs around although lots of competition so still a fight to get in.

This is something I have not thought of before. I am good with microsoft excel and not bad a composing letters and doing accounts linked to a small business. Learning to touch type might be an advantage there and probably could be done by teach-yourself. .

gingerdad

I am employer most of my employees are over 50 and/or semi retiered. and would tend towards employing more in the future.

GD

wombles_forever

Learning to touch type may be an advantage but is normally only needed for a secretarial/typist position.

I have been in business administration for over 15 years and have never needed this skill even through taking several NVQs in the subject.

Emmzi

I would take an over-50 over a school leaver any day

And over most grads, especially if said over-50 has a track record of reliability.

Depends on the job. don't sell yourself short.

Googlewhacker

gingerdad wrote: »

I am employer most of my employees are over 50 and/or semi retiered. and would tend towards employing more in the future.

GD

Tut tut can't age discriminate in these days

My guess is that most employers will hire demographics that they have had good experiences with.

Mistral001

Emmzi wrote: »

I would take an over-50 over a school leaver any day

And over most grads, .

What about over fifties graduates?

t0rt0ise

Mistral001 wrote: »

What about over fifties graduates?

I'm a graduate too, I just ignored that bit.

The NHS doesn't seem to be ageist as they took me!

http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/

Eliza_2

Mistral001 wrote: »

I am looking for a part time job and I am in my fifties.

.

So what? The same job opportunities are out there for over 50s as anyone else - but your own mindset can make all the difference. I am over 60 and have several part time jobs, 3 of them acquired within the past year, none of them in my original professional sphere (though I still do that as a volunteer) but all of them using some skills and personal attributes I picked up along the way, eg admin, customer service, reliability, confidence etc etc.

One of them is in a local specialist shop where the majority of staff are over 50. The owner values good customer service very highly indeed and many of his customers are from the same demographic as his staff. One of my other jobs is admin in a small office where being unflappable (I've seen it all!), sensible, with common sense is allied to decent computer and internet knowledge- as well as being a reasonable tea-maker and being prepared to have a go at any task that comes along. Yet another job requires ability to speak with people at all different levels to solve problems and get things done - a 20 year old wouldn't have that confidence. I also do babysitting for several local families - rent a granny so to speak!! I do a few other things too.

You need to think laterally about what you can offer, not just your skills and work related experience, but your life experience and all the other things you can offer. Get a big sheet of flip chart paper - or several - stick it up on the bathroom or kitchen wall and throw thoughts at it. You will be restricted if you sit at your desk in front of the screen or blank sheet of paper - but in the bath, or on the loo, or cooking the tea - that's when good ideas come.

Happy to share experiences but have rambled on here long enough, got work to do! Eliza