I need some DU love and encouragement, please.

[hamsterjill]

Long story which I’ve posted about on DU before, but basically, I had a job I loved for many, many years. I was the executive assistant/legal assistant to the President of a small business. The business closed in 2017 due to his retirement and I lost my job.

Since that time, I’ve now had three jobs. I left the first two on my own accord due to not being good at the first one (a different industry), left the second based on bad treatment by my supervisor (constant and extreme micromanagement and put down), and was just fired last week from the third which had been another bad fit. I needed the job but it had no benefits and I was literally shedding tears every morning when it was time to leave for work because I hated going.

I’m in my 60’s but need to work longer before I can retire. I need some sage DU wisdom, advice and just plain love. Anyone else ever experience job hopping at a later age? Been fired, but perhaps recovered? Been down and out and yet pulled yourself back up and kept going?

What sayeth DU? Do I just give the fuck up? Or continue to look for another situation that might fit? If you’ve experienced anything similar and made your way back to sanity, I’d like to hear from you.

Full disclosure: I am NOT suicidal. I’m just tired and feeling hopeless.

[Girard442]

1. You might consider doing what I did and take a temp blue-collar job for a while.

The money's pretty awful, but my coworkers are golden. They've retored my faith in humanity.

[customerserviceguy]

31. Temp work

is what got me into the job market when I moved to the East Coast in my fifties. One place I temped for hired me outright, but I lost the job in a consolidation that came later that year. Still, the story of having been hired after only two months as a temp persuaded my next employer to hire me, and I retired out of that firm.

My impression is that temp firms respect the older worker's experience and work ethic.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

2. You could try something in the not for profit world.

Less pay but usually people are more mission driven and your years of experience as an EA etc could be valuable.
You could try taking a couple part time jobs. I have been told Costco is friendly to older workers. A complete change of pace and environment but it's honest work. I was fired in my 50's and found something in the social service/non profit world. It's not perfect but my experience in the for profit world made the fit a little easier.
Good Luck!

[hamsterjill]

8. Thanks. I've applied to Costco twice.

No response from them. I have no retail experience whatsoever so perhaps that’s why.

Yes, I routinely apply to the nonprofit jobs. I’d love to be able to do something meaningful. So far, no bites.

[raging moderate]

29. Once, while in graduate school, I did volunteer work which led to a paid position.

It was at a day care center. After I had been working there for free awhile, they announced that I was doing a good job and hired me. Of course, it was low-paid, but it was heaven-sent for me at the time. Another time, when I had been fired and slandered, I pieced together a couple of those low-paid temporary free-agent jobs for awhile. After a year, one of the principals wrote me a glowing letter of recommendation, and I got a good job.

[LakeArenal]

3. Same thing happened to me in 2009

Wasted 3/4 of my retirement funds trying to survive. I finally made it to 62 and took early SS.

We never recovered.

Not fun. Hurtful even. But survival is just that.

[hamsterjill]

11. This is what I see as my future.

It’s frightening.

Are you doing okay these days?

[MH1]

4. Been partly there, doing great now. (for now at least)

I was laid off very unexpectedly. After some months I am at a FAR better job (less pay, actually, but better in so many other ways that it makes up for it). But I also realize that in my industry and skill set, no matter how much my immediate boss thinks I "rock", I could once again get that unexpected bad news. It will be harder and harder to recover as I get older.

I can't give more of my own details here. But I can give this advice:

* Indeed.com was my best site for finding and applying for jobs. But I used many, and your mileage may vary.

* Having a professional LinkedIn profile is crucial.

* Use your state employment agency resources.

* Make sure to have documented positive references from prior jobs and volunteer work if applicable.

* Challenge whatever reasons you have for not retiring yet. If you have a 401K, you can start tapping that, if you're in your 60s. Hopefully you are on Medicare or will be soon. How can you downsize your expenses? Is going back to work REALLY absolutely essential, and if not, is it worth the emotional downsides? There are lots of volunteer opportunities that can give fulfillment and are easier to walk away from. (I started down this analysis path myself, because it was by no means guaranteed I would go back to a paying job that met my criteria.)

* Speaking of volunteer opportunities, consider looking for those as a possible ramp to a paycheck.


Hang in there, it took me months but the result was worth the wait.

[hamsterjill]

9. Thank you.

I use Indeed and have never gotten anything from there. I do have Linked In.

I’ve had my resume looked at by two HR professionals for feedback and they seem to think I’m presenting myself in the right way.

I continue to apply and I’m hoping something comes down the pike.

[JDC]

5. Don't give up and find a job that you like

Some of the previous posts are great ideas.

[guillaumeb]

6. Is the Census Bureau still looking for workers in your area?

That might be a temporary solution.

Second, one of my long time friends retired 5 years ago and went to Costco to work. He loves the job, and he says that the atmosphere there is quite good. Plus, they offer very reasonable insurance for their employees.

Good luck.

[Turbineguy]

7. I kind of fell into a teaching job in adult education.

One of my older neighbors tutors children and he charges and gets $60 per hour.

[lillypaddle]

10. My two cents ...

Don't turn down a job because it seems beneath your ability and skill level. I won't go into a long story, but after executive experience and a lot of bad circumstances, I took a job as a secretary, which was basically a clerical position. I liked that I didn't have to lie awake at night thinking about the "big decisions" I would have to make - I also enjoyed being able to leave at 5:00 every day - no more meetings until 10:00 at night.

Of course I was more than competent at my job, given my education and background, and it eventually paid off in increases in pay and benefits, and I still got to leave every day at 5:00. This was all happening in my early 60s, and after I had had breast cancer and surgery.

I was able to save enough to retire early at 65, although I don't recommend that most people do that. I'm 72 now, and could sure use that extra income I would have had if I had waited a couple of years to retire. Over all, it was worth it to me.

Good luck to you, hamsterjill! Don't give up.

[hamsterjill]

12. Thank you, lillypaddle!

I hear what you are saying and I AM open to that. I would do anything at this point that allowed me to pay the bills and still maintain a little self-respect and dignity (i.e., not be bullied at work).

[drray23]

26. Interesting experience.

Often, employers are afraid to hire people who are obviously overqualified for the job like you were. They fear that person will take off as soon as they get another job elsewhere. I'm glad it worked out in your case.

[lillypaddle]

33. They were hesitant at first to hire me

I'm glad they took a chance. I worked there 7 years.

[musicman65]

13. You need to

try on a few shoes before the right fit, be it out of the box thinking,perhaps it may work,,it did for me

[hamsterjill]

14. I think you're right!

I hate shoes that don’t fit! Good analogy.

Thank you.

[Fla Dem]

15. If your state has unemployment compensation, have you applied?

Don't give up hope. I could give you my experiences, but we are all unique. It sounds like you worked in a small tight knit office. It's hard to fit in another where loyalties and favorites are already established. Just keep plugging away. Think about working in a larger environment. In the meantime maybe a part time job, at your local supermarket, or Target, they always have "We're Hiring" signs on their doors and they're raising their minimum pay to $15 per hour. Who knows, given your experience and talents you may work yourself up the ladder.

Target raises its minimum wage to $13 an hour, with goal of reaching $15 by end of 2020. Target is increasing its minimum hourly wage by a dollar to $13 in June. The increase is part of a goal to hit $15 an hour by the end of 2020.

Target raises its minimum wage to $13 an hour, aims for $15 ...

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/target-raises-its-minimum-wage-to-13-an-hour-aims-for-15-by-2020.html

I just looked at the Target home page: https://corporate.target.com/careers/ Might find something here both corporate jobs and local sales positions..

Good Luck hamsterjill, I'm sure you'll land on your feet!

[frazzled]

16. OK, just a joke suggestion to cheer you up (plus one real idea)

Run for president! You'd be the youngest among the top contenders. It seems like it's the only good job you can apply for late in life!

On the serious side: is there a way to convert your organizational and/or legal skills into some kind of freelance business conducted mostly online? A service-oriented site for people who need help on specific projects, for example? If you have some clients in mind (people you've known from your previous job), you could contact them.

You wouldn't have to leave for work at all, and you'd be your own boss.

On edit: As a work from home legal assistant, your job is to provide remote services for a lawyer or law firm. In this role, you may research documents and situations on behalf of an attorney, help assemble a case, file paperwork, transcribe recordings, analyze records, and provide any other services the lawyer needs.
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/Legal-Assistant-Work-From-Home

[Kaleva]

17. I've adapted to living on SSDI which converts to SS in a few years.

You say you are in your 60's and need to work longer before you can retire. Are you retirement age now and need to work more before you believe you can live in retirement or are you not old enough yet to apply for SS?

[hamsterjill]

18. I am not old enough yet.

n/t

[Kaleva]

19. Ok. I think several people have given you some good advice. More then I could.

[hamsterjill]

24. Yes, there are some great ideas here.

Thank you.

[abqtommy]

20. I've been a job-hopper but maybe the most rewarding job I had was as an OTR/Over The Road

truck driver. I was basically on my own and in charge and one incident driving from Indio, CA to Phoenix AZ made it all worthwhile. There was a full moon and no other traffic so I shut down all my lights and enjoyed the experience. Add in being able to choose where to stop to eat/sleep and listen in to music or talk radio and it wasn't too bad even if it did result in the breakup of my marriage but that was a plus too!

[hamsterjill]

22. Sounds wonderful.

But I doubt I could learn to drive one. I’m glad you found something you enjoyed.

Thanks for the post.

[abqtommy]

25. Well, there are some good driving schools and many of them are subsidised but you know

best. I was lucky to learn with on-the-job training years ago.

[cwydro]

21. Look at county and city jobs.

Usually nice people with good benefits.

I’m retired and have no need to work, but recently decided to go part time at a county job where I can work with people. It’s been fun!

[hamsterjill]

23. Good for you.

I live in a big city and those jobs are sought after positions unfortunately. Anything other than the lowest entry level jobs all seem to be filled from within. That said, I DO keep applying.

Glad you found something you enjoy.

[cilla4progress]

27. Good.tidings, hamsterjill

I found myself out of work in my mid-50s and was able to turn it around, kind of through timing and luck.

I didn't hesitate to sign up for unemployment. They also had some really good job re-entry programs that were also obviously designed to get you up and going each day with purpose, which I found helpful.

Good luck!

[cwydro]

30. Sorry.

We have virtually no unemployment here, so all kinds of jobs are always being advertised.

I hope you find something you like.

[Bayard]

28. What are you good at?

Could you start your own business, with a grant or angel money? Is there a service that is hard to find in your area? There are many things you can do over the internet these days. Do you have skills where you could work on contract, or as a consultant? Have you tried temp agencies? You may want to talk to the Small Business Assoc. there.

I was fired from a stupid insurance office job back in the 80's (I reported the boss to the regional manager for falsifying expense reports, and sexually harassing one of the young women in the office).

I collected unemployment for months, while interviewing. In desperation, I answered an ad for a "data processing recruiter". Franchise office. I spent a few years there learning the business. Three years at another firm when we relocated, then went out on my own, and never looked back. Been doing it now for more than 25 years, and make a decent living, working from home--its great if you are disciplined enough and don't spend too much time on DU!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

32. Hang in there!

It could be worse.... trust me.