Over 50 Can't get benefits

blaidd_Drwg_2

Hi
I'm over 50 (just). 5 years ago I had a major illness (mental health) and lost my job and went bankrupt. I was categorised as permanently unable to work. I disagreed with that description and continued to seek work after a couple of years. This led to me being removed from the "disabled" category. Fair enough.
Now I am in the situation where I am over 50 and a huge gap in my work history. Whereas before I would always get job interviews and usually get the job. Now I can't even get an interview.

I'm in a catch 22 situation where my self-esteem is shot to pieces and the best way to fix that is to get a job. But I can't get a job because my self-esteem is shot to pieces, and I'm over 50, and I have a big CV gap.

Because my partner is employed I don't get any benefits and so I'm not counted as unemployed. It's humiliating to have to rely on your partner for everything. Now I know what a 1950s housewife felt like.

What scares me is that, if this continues, I am not accruing national insurance credits. I feel like I don't exist.

If I had access to a small amount of income I would use that to start up my own business (as many over 50s do). But I'm in catch 22 again.

Comms69

What kind of jobs are you applying for?


Someone with a 5 year gap may need to lower expectations - but you may have already done that.

blaidd_Drwg_2

Yep - the first thing I did was lower my expectations. I used to be a programmer, website developer, data manager and project manager. After 2 years I started applying for cleaner jobs.

TELLIT01

You need to claim JSA / UC in order to get your NI credits, even if you won't actually receive any cash.

Takeaway_Addict

blaidd_Drwg wrote: »

Yep - the first thing I did was lower my expectations. I used to be a programmer, website developer, data manager and project manager. After 2 years I started applying for cleaner jobs.

Can you update your skills?

jonnygee2

There's a huge skills shortage in programing. And although most languages will have updated to newer versions in the last few years, as I'm sure you know once you can code learning new or updated languages isn't hard. It's a bit trickier if you only do front-end (more has changed) but still not unlearnable.

I'd say create a new portfolio of stuff written in up to date language versions and approach a recruitment agent.

Also a lot of work is in open source software like Drupal, Magento etc so very good to build some experience with those and help out on the open source communities.

Honestly, I don't think age will be an issue. Right now most developer jobs are almost impossible to fill, even at crazy salaries.

[Deleted User]

Re-adjusting my CV (I used to think it was your best self but now not sure!) I just deleted what would have been old history, decided less was more and uploaded to a job site (reed) helped - in 24 hours two recuitment agents offered opportunity of temp work if I was needing something quick.

One of the agents had an interview and start same week. It was just work on the other end of the telephone.

New issue of Jobs and Careers magazine is out too, that might give some inspiration. Even that now say's temporary working is on the rise - might be best way, just picking up anything initially.

xapprenticex

go on fiverr.com for example



you could freelance .

74jax

My husband is lead programmer. Can you write something at home and use that in applications. Pop it online and link to it?

Have you emailed actual studios, or just waited for vacancies? Definately drive over if you can, chat to receptionist and hand over anything you have. My husband has a huge list of what he has worked on that has been published and is linked online. Can you do that?

tacpot12

It shouldn't be any more humiliating to rely on your partner than it should be to rely on the state when seeking work - in both cases it should be a temporary arrangement and I assume you would do the same for your partner if the situation was reversed.

You just need to keep job hunting and accept
that for some employers the gap is going to be a problem.

SingleSue

Don't give up hope!

I had an even larger gap (12 years due to being a carer for family members) with an added complication of being visibly disabled. I applied for umpteem jobs, got down to the final two a few times but employers were put off by the crutches and wheelchair.

However, just over a year ago I secured employment. I had got it on the strength of my CV and my previous history with the company over 30 years ago (it was my summer job whilst at school and my first full time job on leaving school, before moving into the corporate world a short time later). I was invited for a chat where the first question was "Are you ok for the first shift on Sunday" That was my interview!

Yes, it is minimum wage, no it doesn't have the career progression that some would want but I love it. They believed in me when hundreds of others wouldn't and it is that needle in a haystack job that enables me to work (albeit very part time) instead of being on ESA.

I did keep my skills up to date (I run a sporting results website/forum), did extra qualifications etc but it was still a bit of a slog.