It depresses me that in 20 years nothing seems to have got better for women in their 50s. In 1996 at the age of 53 I took voluntary redundancy from my career (the alternative was compulsory redundancy on far worse terms), I went back to university for a year and then started job hunting.

I applied for all kinds of work, relating to my previous work, new qualification, or just because the job interested me. In most cases the rejections came back so quickly it was clear that my application was opened, date of birth noted and rejection sent by return of post. At the time I attributed part of the problem to the fact that lots of companies were chucking out the over 50s and we were a drug on the market.

I was fortunate, I had an immediate small pension and DH had a well paid job. After a year, I gave up looking for work and went to work as a volunteer for a charity. The job I had utilised my career skills, and did result in me working as a paid employee for a year to cover someone's maternity leave.

With all that has been said and legislated for since, it is truly depressing that things have got no better in over 20 years.

Nothing's changed I've now been out of work for 1 year and have applied for 5 jobs a day in that year. I generally get the "over qualified" response - others have said they want someone they can train up - I.e. Young and inexperienced. I was advised to contract as companies don't mind your age then and have given up - it seems they do the job centre tell me -"wrinklies hurt companies images" apparently, and "30 somethings feel undermined if they have someone their Mums age working for them" so I'm no going to get anything now, I've almost made it to my 60th birthday when I would have got the relief of my pension - but no savings now, everything has gone, and no pension in sight yet - Job Centre has nothing for me and advise I get help from family until 2024 when I can get a pension - I don't have family that can help - my sister is in a similar position, my daughter is trying to buy a flat- I'll have to cash in the £795 pa private pension I have - pay tax on 75% of it and live another year- maybe 2, by which time the job centre woman will have left for another job and the advice on what to do next is someone else's issue. There is no cure in sightIm afraid - they put up the age but employers do not want anyone over 50 do you cannot bridge the gap. I am however probably more flexible and able than I was at 50, but cannot even fill a shelf - part time as the team lead will be younger and can't manage people older than them alledgedy.

You can sort of hide your age on your CV.

Only go back 3 employments, give start or end dates if you must, otherwise just state length of time there.

When it comes to the "Education" section, state something along the lines of qualifications gained in English, (Lang &Lit) Maths, History, Sociology and Advanced Bullshit.

Putting together a CV can be achieved without giving age away, however those bloody application forms are another matter

Was made redundant at 68 in Dec 2015 after 8 years running a very high flying practice in a top London private hospital - survived by doing temp work and by having a self employed husband ! .
But I now have a 5 day week 10-4 med see. Role working from home so no travelling
Money's not brilliant but I paid off the mortgage and I gave my state pension and husband still working so we can manage - gave cut down dramatically in everything but that was no bad thing
Had big piece in DM about this very subject
The problem is that HR is stuffed with youngsters who cannot envisage being old
And even tho you don't out age on CV these people work it out !

Me and lots like me are lucky enough to be in employment never having had the threat of redundancy.
I can't say I ever thought I would be able to retire before 60 but did think at 60 I could probably cut my hours a bit.
The n I had my letter from the DWP 2 years before SPA of 60 telling me I would now not receive SPA until I am 66.
Bit ticked off to say the least.
The patronising attitude of some (not on this site obviously)towards those who have contributed for the last 40+ years is appalling. We aren't asking for something for nothing.

I would like some part time paid employment and never put my age on a CV. But all want experience so you need to put work history - your age can be worked out from that. I have changed my education from O'level to GCSE level.
It is not only age that puts employers off but also the fact that they can pay under 25s less than those over.

Twenty years ago, at the age of 53, I took voluntary redundancy into early retirement. I didn't want to go, but the offer from my employer was so good - and with no guarantee that I wouldn't be made summarily redundant the day after the scheme ended, with far less money and a delayed pension, I went. Unlike many OPs, I had no real money worries. I had a professional job, a good occupational pension and DH was in a good professional occupation.

However, whatever my income resources, I didn't want to retire at 53. I was happy to take any job I would enjoy, regardless of salary, but found women in their 50s are utterly unwanted in the labour market. In 15 months I had two interviews. Usually rejections came back so fast, it was clear that it had been written as soon as they saw my date of birth.

As I said, I did not have the financial problems that so many have, so after 18 months I saw an advert by a charity for volunteers to do work that my professional experience made me suited for and I worked for 10 years as a Benefits adviser and Problem solver for older people. During that time I helped hundreds of people obtain hundreds of thousands of pounds in benefits that made their lives easier and also helped them with many other problems. It was very satisfying, but unpaid. As far as the world of work was concerned I was worthless.

I find it very depressing that in 20 years no progress at all has been made to make older women acceptable as potential employees

In a way I was lucky that I got my pension at age 60 but I continued to work another year after that. I have worked since the age of 16 with one year off when I had my daughter. I have always chopped and changed my jobs some very different from others and have always been lucky in getting employment. I was widowed at 43 with an 11 year old and needed to carry on working even with widowed mother's allowance. The allowance stopped when my daughter was 18 and unfortunately the job I was doing at the time also stopped! So left with very little money I started to look for a new job at the age of 51. I found that it was much easier to get temp work. I can do office work and was ok with computers so got a temp job at the college. They liked me but job was only for 3 months but I went straight into another temp job for admin with social services. They liked me too and after a year I got asked to be employed by them in a different dept. These were 3 month temporary contracts but luckily got renewed each time and then was offered a permanent contract. I had a variety of jobs within social services and gradually cut down my hours to see if I could manage when I retired. I don't have much of a pension and don't pay any tax and also have a small mortgage but I can manage - just.
If you have a low income then try the site entitled to.com. It will let you know what you can claim for e.g. pension credit, housing benefit, council tax rebate. The forms can be pretty formidable but well worth it.

There was a discussion on Radio 4 earlier in the week about older women getting back into the job market. In every case, it was recommended that an older applicant should disguise their age in some way if they are to stand a chance in the workplace. This is shocking. Age discrimination is as serious as sex, race, or any other form of discrimination in the workplace. .

Yet you wouldn't expect a black person to hide his or her ethnic origin, or a gay person to hide his or her sexuality from a prospective employer.

Why is it different for age? What's wrong with depth and length of experience?

I'm 57, I've taken time out to care for my child, like many women. I have little chance of getting back to work. Yet I'm at the top of my game in many ways. I'm healthy, fit, mentally as alert as ever.

I'm not "old". Far from it. I can't get my pension for 10 years, yet I'm considered past it.

It's a disgrace.

How worrying that someone with the experience and contacts of the OP should end up with so little. And that so many women are ending up in a trap between no work and no pension. I went to the WASPI demo in London this year and just on the train down met one woman who had had to sell her house to get money to live on, and one who was 61 with very poor health who knew she would not live to see any of the pension she had worked for.

I was made redundant just before I turned 60 and am lucky in that I am not alone, have no mortgage and have a small private pension, so we can get by till I get my state pension at 66 (if I'm spared, as my Methodist friend says!). I am however angry that had I been born two years earlier I would have got my state pension at 62 (I have a 41 year NI record). This has knock-on effects too - having to pay £5 a day busfare if I go to look after the grandchildren for one, whereas DH got his bus pass at 60. I personally know others who are valiantly jobseeking, feeling demeaned, told to keep their ages and their health conditions secret, told to prove that they are spending five hours per day looking for work. And constantly worrying about the bills.

Some years ago aged 48 we had to close the business we'd run for 22 years making ourselves, our son and the workforce redundant. My husband with a vast knowledge in his industry couldn't find a job at all - no one wanted to employ someone nearing 50 who it seemed had failed. He was either classed as 'over qualified' or not having qualifications past the 1960's 'not qualified enough with no degree'. As the MD he was not entitled to government redundancy and felt completely worthless and possibly had a mental breakdown (undiagnosed) due to the situation. For nearly 5 years he tried self employment sitting at home day after day trawling through job ads waiting for the phone to ring, consultancy work and finally was given the opportunity to work for a government funded grant aid company - ironically because of his business knowledge and background. This gave him back his self esteem but then due to cut backs the grants were withdrawn and he was back to looking for something else when the job became untenable. Luckily this time he did find something but now has 2 hours travelling every day and 10 hours work in between. At 62 he'd like to retire but can't really afford to. I was luckier and have worked for the same company for over 12 years now but being born the wrong side of the pension age date am unable to retire for another 3 years either. We are the 'lucky' ones - being employed and still bringing in earnings to cover our outgoings and save a bit. For those who through no fault of their own find themselves unemployable due to age is soul destroying and so short sighted by employers - older people have a wealth of life experience and skills to offer - they may not be able to tick all the boxes for qualifications but that shouldn't exclude them from many of the worthwhile jobs that must be out there they could do standing on their heads!

The frustrating thing about many of these posts is the ignorance of the benefits system! If you are unemployed and single or an unemployed couple with a mortgage you can get help with the mortgage interest payments!it's part of the job seekers claim and is called statutory mortgage interest help. You have to claim this when you first claim JSA. Housing Benefit is the benefit paid to people needing rent help it is paid by the local council and is nothing to do with the job centre! In some areas single people or couples with no children would claim a benefit called Universal Credit instead of JSA and HB in all cases if you loose your job for heavens sake go get advice from your local Citizens Advice about potential benefit claims and if your "redundancy" was fairly done (not always the case!) DO NOT wait until you have used up all your savings!!

Over 50s on the scrap heap but cannot get their pensions for 10 years or more. This cannot be right.

I found myself out of work when I was 50 and went to the job centre. The woman behind the desk told me bluntly that I'll find it impossible to get another job. I tried for several years to prove her wrong but despite a degree and several decades of experience I've never managed it. I'm one of those who has to wait until I'm 66 to get my state pension and I can't claim any benefits (although I paid in all my life) because I've a working husband (OK, fair enough when there are others who need help more but not being able to contribute financially in any small way does something to your self-image).

I'm caught in that betwixt and between stage - not retired but not working, feeling I ought to be but not managing it and totally financially dependent upon my lovely OH. At times I feel the rest of the working world has put me on the scrap heap because it's been decided I've nothing left to contribute apart from as an unpaid carer for the family or as a volunteer to the community. I've signed the petition, let's hope it'll do some good.

Please - anyone affected google WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) - not against pension equality but the way it is being brought in.
Even if you are not personally affected, you are bound to know someone who is. Thanks

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/110776

I sympathise etheltbags1

I agree with so many of you, I was widowed quite young but spent my time looking after my DD, I started doing my current job 13 years ago, it is basic wage, zero hours and often just sheer hard slog. I am a cold caller and have to put up with the nastiness of the public who just don't want me knocking on their doors. Im struggling with health probs now and have to work another 6 years but no one wants to know me for another job.
I did start working for an agency doing demonstration work and found myself lifting heavy tables and standing for 6 hours with only a brief break all for 30 quid a day. I cannot get much work doing this at the minute so I keep on door knocking. I fear for the future if I fall or become ill I have no insurance and no security, my savings are gone and I live from month to month, I worry that it will be worse as I get older. I also have to run a car which is so expensive but I cant work at all if I have no car.
My sympathies to anyone in this situation.

It's true. I have watched Phoenix's search with great interest. I gave up trying when I was 50. We just downsized instead.

What saddens me on reading this thread is evidence of the deep ocean of unused talent sparkling in the autumn years of so many GNetter's who find themselves, for whatever reason, forced early out of regular employment. The empty words of politicians and community leaders fall like so many withered leaves and are blown away in these harsh times by the cold winds of despair and hopelessness. Many of the organisations which used to provide support for those in need and an opportunity to serve for those prepared to volunteer are struggling to exist. Yet this cruel and harsh government relentlessly continues to tighten the financial screws on those least able to stand the strain, whilst continuing to let slip the leash of proper fiscal control and taxation in respect of many of the richest and most powerful in the land. Shame on them!

I work for a charity for no wages just expenses but the job satisfaction is huge. i am on just basic state pension and struggle month to month but manage with occasional part time work. Self esteem is so important and working, albeit for nothing gives me this.

I think it's down to necessity for many people to keep on working way past retirement age because it's a daunting task to try and manage on the basic state pension. I have been in my current position for 20 years and have worked in total for 50 years now. My current job has become busier and busier but I do not anticipate retiring until I have to. Having worked out a few sums, I realise that the state pension would not even cover the monthly outgoings for utilities and community charge. The ultimate decision I will have to make when I cannot carry on working any longer is to move to a more affordable area, leaving behind memories of my late husband, memories of bringing up a family and all my friends and neighbours - 38 years worth of living tied up in the fabric of my house. (Reading this - maybe I should move on anyway!!) I do know it is unlikely that I would ever get another job; on paper I am too old and could be thought past it. However, I run an Orthopaedic private practice, work 40+ hours a week, am never late, hardly ever off sick, am loyal and have a degree. But then, anno domini counts more than that!

It wouldn't frighten me either, a friend of my sister's has a business like Maxine's, but when dodgy knees, eyesight, hips etc, happen all many of us is our old desk jobs back. My sister couldn't find a job up here so had to move back to London only a couple of weeks ago, as she is a widow. She did find it very hard working for her friend for so little money and being on her feet all day. I did warn her that if she came up here, workwise all she would find was either growing cabbages or looking after them. And then she would have to fight off the Poles and Portuguese first.

After reading MaxineCook's post I went onto a NW jobsite. The hourly rate for a wide range of jobs (med. receptionist, cleaner, shop assasstant etc) was between £6:52-£7:00. Shocking. And they want a pound of flesh and some. Don't get me wrong, hard work doesn't frighten me.
Alex

This thread frustrates me a lot, because I am an over-50's woman who has been actively trying to employ retired or semi-retired people for many months now, to work in my growing domestic cleaning business, and I have really struggled to find any. Having experienced ageism myself in a previous career that I took time out from and tried to get back into, I understand how difficult it is to be taken seriously once you get to a certain age. I know my own worth, and how great an asset I would be to any employer, and I feel very strongly about offering opportunities to older people just like me, who still need to work. Just bear in mind, when venting frustrations about how hard it is to be taken seriously, that not every employer will turn their back on you. Some, like me, would welcome you with open arms, support you, TREASURE you in fact, as valuable role models in the teams they are trying to grow, and do everything in their human power to give you a decent chance, if it were only easier for them to find you! There seems to be an assumption that age is a barrier, and maybe that is what stops people from even applying, or maybe too many see domestic services as beneath them. Well for me, and I know I'm not the only employer out here who would say it, rejecting older workers is most definitely NOT what we would do!!! Quite the opposite.

I'm now 65 and have been happily retired for 2 years. I got my state pension at 60 and, because I worked for a few years in the Civil Service (at the lowest admin grade) I have a small pension from that as well.
I took an early retirement option at 50 but my marriage ended so I had to return to full time work. Over the next 13 years I was never out of work. I became a medical secretary, a GP receptionist and a general "temp" then moved to the other end of the country and rejoined the Civil Service as a JobCentre Plus advisor, first on temporary terms and then permanently. Aged 58, I returned home and transferred to another CS department, which I left at the age of 63.
I can honestly say that, apart from the medical jobs, I have not enjoyed the work, which has been monotonous, mundane and far from satisfying. However, I have enjoyed the company of my much younger colleagues and, because I have always been interested in IT, was able to learn from them and to share my knowledge. I became something of a guru for some of them! I never felt left out or awkward in their company. I joined them on nights out and still get invitations to join them for lunches and parties.
I do believe there are jobs for older workers who are adaptable and prepared to work at mundane jobs, probably well below their capabilities. I think we should be open minded about what work we do and who we do it with and accept that our colleagues and managers will be young enough to be our children or grandchildren. We have no option but to work so we must accept what we can get and look for the good in it.
Funnily enough, I applied for numerous jobs while I was in my forties and rarely received a response, let alone an interview. Evidently, I became more attractive in my fifties! Was that because of my age or because of my lower expectations?
I would add that my own family are far away and my parents are dead so I have no responsibilities. This is a mixed blessing as, in consequence, I have no family support.