Searching for work over 60

I suggest you make a list of local service providers you'd accept as employers ( by whatever criterion appeals, including commute journey, local news coverage, their community involvement outreach etc.). Do a little research on who manages it. Get their name, job title etc.

Then write to named person offering a day a week as either a volunteer or sessional worker. The aim is to get your foot in the door Once you're in, the value of advantages of your lifetime skills and experience will make you so indispensible they'll be begging you to work more days and pay you.

OP hopefully sorted, posted last October.

I moved areas, had a 6 month planned break, got a new job at 64 then changed again at 66 and am still working in that one part time at nearly 73.

I may have been lucky but didn’t feel age discriminated against in either job. Keep going and good luck

As a retired teacher, living in Norway, I was quite determined that reaching the age of 67 I would definitely stop teaching, not trying to get hired for some more years. But I´ve always liked working, so I knew it would be difficult, here in Norway as well, to get a regular job so I could add some extra to my pension.

So what did I do? I went online to search. While searching I was contacted by a friend wanting me to have a look at an online opportunity. I had a look and I found something that I could do, no matter what background or experience.

Perhaps you can find something as well...?

We all know that when growing older health matters more and more, so I found something that has helped me to a better life and a better future financially, so don´t give up.

Could you do any teaching or tutoring? Perhaps online. I do private tutoring at postgraduate level. I began on a website but found I could quickly pick up students by word of mouth and earn more. I charge £50-£80 an hour - more for special tasks.

Thank you all for your messages. I have had no issues with finding employment up to now. I am confident and knowledgeable during interview process and know how to present myself as I have interviewed many people myself in former job roles. 60 jobs to date applied for only heard back from a few. Temporary work looks like the way I will have to go, hopefully get foot in the door. My friend who works in HR says a lot of young people worry about the vibe more mature staff bring to the table they also said it’s the fear of managing someone older than them being more experienced and knowledgeable. I have respect for anyone in a more senior position regardless of age.

When I went looking for a job after COVID, and being made redundant in the job I was in, I was told to apply to B&Q as they like old people because they know more! I was 65!

Wigwamgran

I changed jobs at 53, 55 and a week before my 60th birthday.

Firms like M&S and B&Q are known for taking on “older” people and my sister who is a year older than me retired recently and is about to start a seasonal job with M&S.

Wow, that’s really inspiring! Changing jobs at 53, 55, and even just before your 60th birthday shows incredible determination. It’s great to hear that you and your sister have been able to keep finding opportunities and staying active in the workforce. Companies like M&S and B&Q clearly value experience and reliability, and it’s wonderful that age isn’t holding you back. Check out something here birthdaycancoolers.net.

I think it's a really difficult economic situation currently. I started a new job this week (at an entry level salary because I need to take an associated qualification). They seem very happy to have my many years of employment experience. But it's win win because I'm looking forward to gaining another qualification. I'm almost 63 and had been actively applying for months for vacancies I was eminently qualified for without success.

I've had four new jobs since I was sixty (now 69). I do have a traditional profession, which helps, and I do work in the charity sector where they tend to be more inclined to hire older workers. Job 1 was maternity cover which then turned permanent, jobs 2 and 3 were interim, and current job 4 is permanent and I started three months ago. So it can be done.

I went as a self employed temporary PA to people with disabilities. I put an advert in the local paper and was inundated with replies. Tried it for a couple of weeks then as I liked it I registered as self employed. Mostly it was helping people bath, dress, cooking simple meals, doing their shopping, housework etc. Set my own hours, and hourly rate, gave receipts for payments and kept records of all payments and expenses like petrol, overalls etc. Made very good money and met some lovely people.
Or you could advertise cleaning, or collecting children from school and walking them to their home, giving them tea etc until parents get home. Can't take them to your home as you have to be a registered Childminder but to their own home is OK. HTH

I still work at 74, interviews for job 28mths ago, don't give up , keep trying. There are firms who have a positive approach to employing older people.

Very familiar with this scenario. It is your age. No one will tell you because age discrimination is not allowed, but it happens anyway. Worked in HR and managers on interview panels could always find a reason - usually they said they wanted someone to fit the role now, but who could grow with the company and be an asset in ten years time as well. But there are a whole bunch of seemingly non-discriminatory reasons. Basically its sterotyping, younger folks seen as bright eyed, bushy tailed, less of a threat to the manager, more gullible and able to be moulded to fit requirements.

I changed jobs at 53, 55 and a week before my 60th birthday.

Firms like M&S and B&Q are known for taking on “older” people and my sister who is a year older than me retired recently and is about to start a seasonal job with M&S.

Very disheartening for you Rainbow, but please don’t give up, as I’m sure something will come along. Maybe call into a garden centre, supermarket, school, etc. on the offchance that a job is available, leaving your CV and reference details. Good luck. 💐

I was told an at interview that I was over qualified. My response was that yes I was but this job suited me very well and my qualifications meant I could probably handle just about anything they chucked at me. I got the job.

Potential employers are not allowed to discriminate due to age. Suggest you ask for feedback on your interview as this will help you. Telling you there were a lot of applicants is not interview feedback. Do you have a Firdt Aid qualification? Put this on your next application and on your CV. Do you have a manual handling qualification? You need to know how to carry a box of 5 reams of photocopying paper safely. When you walk into an interview room, take one step in, pause, smile, say good morning then turn to close the door. Sit upright, talk a little louder and a little slower. Practice asking yourself interview questions whilst facing a mirror. Good luck

I went for temping. Once IN work, I got multiple offers.

It is very disheartening. As a lifelong nurse who returned from retirement during COVID; i just had to , and managed an extra few years I find I am only now offered corridor shifts in A&E at night. Not what i want or am comfortable doing. Outside nursing I have unsuccessfully applied for 50+ jobs. Retail, schools, catering. No one is interested unless I take a minimal hours contract (aprox10) and commit to any overtime they require. As a registered carer for my husband I cant commit to this. I have another 3 years till I receive my state pension and am using savings to supplement my income. Never mind the long term sick who could work some hours but aren’t facilitated. There are cohorts of people who can and want to work who are refused at every hurdle. I do appreciate the issues with employers wanting the best for them. Surely there needs to be some government initiative.

Ageism is real sadly.

Waiting to hear back from agencies regarding temporary TA work. I am thinking are companies getting seniors in for interviews just to tick their boxes for diversity. I have more interviews lined up but my confidence is feeling a bit low as I cannot improve my performance in relation to interview technique.

I have worked in Care for over 20 years,I’m 72 now but still work part-time ,only 18 hours a week but I really enjoy it and it tops up my meagre state pension…

Would sign up with an agency to work in schools as a TA that kind of work is in demand ?

It is the experience of many people I know, and was mine too, that if you look for a new job after the age of 50, never mind 63, you may be called for an interview, but you don't get the job.

Before applying, find out how old your boss or immediate supervisor is. In my experience few people of thirty or forty want to have a person of their parents' age group working for them. Subconciously, I think they fear it will be difficult to criticise if or when this becomes necessary.

It is also well to look at the average age of the staff employed. These days hiring people is not just a matter of their qualifications - bosses are concerned that the new person "will fit in well". Being older than most of the others is not attractive.

It is at any age more difficult to get a new job if you are currently unemployed, than if you apply before leaving a job.

The rationale? The unemployed are probably unemployed because they are unsatisfactory, not because there is a shortage of jobs.

It might help your prospects if you have some voluntary work of much the same kind as you wish to do for a salary, as this points to your being employable.

Keep on trying and try not to let the refusals get you down.

Good luck.

I took redundancy at 63 and just wanted something to tide me over to state pension age. 18 hours a week on checkouts at Waitrose was perfect, staff discount after three months too! Probably the best of the supermarkets to work for.