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Unemployed, job hunting and massivley hating it

NAS65321

Long story short we relocated in December to have a much quieter life in a rural area, both quit our jobs. We brought a house that needed work but we had money that would keep us going for a while. My wife got a job in May and that just keeps us going at the moment. In June I had to admit I was getting nowhere and go on JSA.

Finding a job for a 55yo who is happy to do min wage jobs with the least stress, but has never done a min wage job is very difficult. I did work as a IT hardware service engineer but ended up hating it, couldn't wait to leave. I started to apply for min wage warehouse and driving jobs but I have had one interview in 5 months of looking. I have always worked Mon-Fri 9-5 type jobs and no way can my brain adjust to shifts, weekends etc. There are the jobs out there that fit in my 'box' and I have applied for 18 in last 3 weeks but get nowhere. Am I seen as 'over qualified' even though I have no real high education and just worked my way up?

This is really affecting my mood, my depression, and my marriage. My wife is being supportive but I am having to constantly hide how I really feel from her because it upsets her. The mask cracks occasionally and I loose it and we just end up argueing. I am just permantly exhausted. I looked at what other benefits I can get but there is nothing as I am not bad enough to get PIP and Universal credit is pointless as my wife earns about £30k. 

There is no real question that I am asking just wondered if anybody had the same issues and how you got a job?

Rob

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  • NAS65321 said:
    Finding a job for a 55yo

    Ageism is alive and well in the workplace. I found it increasingly hard to get work from my late 40s because of this, in spite of having a quite impressive CV.

    I agree with  that a complete reworking of your CV is needed. Just list the last company or two you worked for and say you fixed hardware for them - make it sound much simpler than it was and don't give details of the actual tasks / skills / qualifications for that field.

    If you are doing up your house, have you considered selling your skills as a handyman? I'm in that boat and do odd jobs here and there, mostly for the fun of it these days and make the bulk of my income from flipping one or two properties a year.

    One bit of advice that I have used myself is to create a stop-loss point to prevent things financially slowly going under.

    If you find savings are dwindelling and there is no realistic chance of this trend reversing then the future will look bleak and the stress from being in this situation can be much worse than in a job you don't like.

    When you work out this number (mutually agreed with your wife of course) then it triggers a return to where you started - you try to get back into that line of work and she can probably get a better paying job there as well.

    Think of it as stepping back so you can prepare better for the next time.

    I had to do this once and narrowly avoided bankrupcy and it took a few years but we got back on track.

    NAS65321 said:
    I am having to constantly hide how I really feel from her because it upsets her. The mask cracks occasionally and I loose it and we just end up argueing. I am just permantly exhausted.

    It really sounds like you could do with some trained support - have you considered reaching out to a counsellor or therapist?

    I retired a few years ago in my mid 50s after doing a series of property renovations and flipping them in England in the '20s. You could consider developing your skills in this field (I used to be an IT manager with no real skills in building) and, if it feels good to do, make more of a career out of it.

  • in reply to Iain

    Thanks for the reply, my DIY skils are not good enough for me to use them in work. I am more of a bodge it and walk away type, lol. I have been considering downright lying on my CV for a while. I have the advantage that one of my employer no longer exists and another closed my department down so nobody is left who knew me. To Be honest I would not know where to start with agetting a counsellor or therapist? I have only ever talked about my mental health with the lady that did my assment, and my wife. 

    We are surviving money wise its more of the fact I feel a utter failure and am lacking any sort of routine or focus.

  • in reply to NAS65321

    You can make your own routine. Create a weekly plan.

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