Starting over at 60 Stinks

[Randy Price]

Worked almost 27 years for a company and they decided to close the department I worked in.  We were sold to a VC company a couple of years ago and I was worried but thought I could last five years.  Wrong.  Sucks having to start over at 60.  Oh well, what are you going to do.  Have many of you had to do the same and how did it work out for you?

[TnRiver46]

I started over at 40 and it has worked out great so far . Did animal damage control for 17-18 yrs and the company just fizzled away. Now I’m in maintenance with little experience but learning rapidly. There are tons of jobs out there now and they all pay a lot better than they used to 😂 

[Randy Price]

A little suprised.  92 views and only 1 response.  I would have thought this has happened to others too.

[greentrout]

In some ways easier to start over today because of tight economy in need of intelligent skilled hard-working folks. Personally, believe in the future the economy with have plenty of openings for experienced workers of all walks of life.  

[DaubsNU1]

I changed jobs four times supporting first wife through medical school. We also up and moved to new cities four times. Our last move was back "home" to Nebraska after she landed a great job with partnership opportunity. We decided I would be stay-at-home Dad to our two daughters.

 

Four years later, I discovered she was not being faithful. Divorced, and I was back in the work-force soon after in a local private, not-for-profit University. That was in 2009.

 

Happy to report I met a wonderful Woman with two boys...we married, merged families in our own little Brady Bunch way...my daughters are now both engaged, her boys are doing great.

 

I've promoted three times since then, and now run a department of eleven. Times are not great in higher education...I really, REALLY like my team, my co-workers, and my boss! If cuts come, and I'm forced to look elsewhere, I have faith in God's plan that it will all work out. I'm 57 years old and looking to retire in ~8 years.

 

Good luck in your search @Randy Price! When one door closes, another door opens...new opportunities!!

 

 

[Glenn]

After working at the same company for 18 years I was caught up in another round of mass layoffs (I was one of 5,000) in 2021.  I tried applying for several jobs and didn't even make it past the automated screening process. After seriously beefing up my LinkedIn profile, a headhunter (er...recruiting agency) found me.  8 interviews later (yes, EIGHT for the same job), I landed a better paying job without all the stress, less hours, PLUS unlimited vacation time!  Yes, unlimited, however don't abuse it. They treat you like adults and expect you to be responsible.

 

Key things about finding a job:

• LinkedIn and social media matters!  Make sure it's professional.  There's a lot of YouTube videos on how to beef up your LinkedIn profile
• When they want to interview you, they've already determined you're qualified for the job, they want to know if you're a good culture fit.  So focus more on projecting an energetic, positive, can-do attitude throughout.  Drink a box of Red Bull if you have to. LOL
• Apply for jobs you don't want or are over-qualified in the hopes of getting interviewed - great practice opportunity.
• Engage the services of a recruiting agency if you're struggling to land interviews.  Research and find the best ones.  It's seriously worth it.
• When they offer you the position, ALWAYS counteroffer.  They've already determined they want you and they're also tired of interviewing people, plus they need the position filled asap.  YOU are in control at that point.  Counter at least 5K a year (recommend 10K).  They'll come back with a lesser offer, expecting you to accept.  Don't.  Counter again with a slight bump up, but add a signing bonus (or up it if they're already offering one) and add a week of vacation.  They'll hem and haw, but will likely accept it.  If they counter, accept it.

When you start the new job, knowing HOW to do it won't be an issue. You have plenty of experience.  So much so, people will look to you for advice.  The challenge is twofold:

1. Learning the ropes.  Internal systems, procedures, org structures, and who does what is overwhelming and frustrating.  I went from a one login system to 8 independent systems, each with their own logins, for example.
2. The culture. Pay attention to the history and company mission during orientation. It drives every decision process, how they work together, and how people act.  Pay attention to how others behave and what they wear.  Some places are more "corporate" while others that seem "corporate" on the outside are all about jeans and t-shirts and swearing on the inside.  They'll be watching you to see if you're the right fit, but remember you'll be doing the same, so keep the job search going for 90 days after hire date in case it doesn't work out.

Hope that helps, now get to work on that resume and LinkedIn profile!

 

[Darth-Baiter]

not me.  but my wife.   she was in commercial finance.  

 

now she is a registered nurse.  she buckled down and took charge.  we managed on my income the duration and ended up with Zero loans to pay off.  got sketch for while, but we managed.   she broke the situation into "steps/hurdles" and tackled them sequentially and kept on going.  going back to school to get some prerequisite courses out of the way, getting into nursing school, etc.

 

I see age biases now in industry.   know that going in.  

[MediumMouthBass]

I was forced into early medical retirement a few years ago, i had to leave the only thing ive ever known. I was only in my 20s at the time and felt like the earth was moving past me while i was standing still. I had some investments and money saved so i decided to try to enjoy life for awhile, travel, fish every chance i had, and start my own business doing something i love (has to do with fishing). Now im getting back on the horse, I was a little anxious because to start over id have to learn everything again, start at the bottom making the companies starting wage, and have to compete with every person looking for a career in the area. I cant imagine doing it at 60, im sorry you are going through this😌

 

There is hope though, especially for someone older. Everybody my age is getting fired, no one wants to hire them, work with them, or be around them. And i cant blame them, i feel the same way. This is leading to lots of companies and businesses looking to only hire older men and women, who are accountable, responsible, not afraid of talking to people, and have life experiences that will add value to their company.

 

I dont know how it is around you, but near me the places are struggling to find workers. I applied to 3 places, the first one was very desperate to fill the position, the 2nd i walked in for a sales job and the manager from another location who was filling in really tried pushing me to apply for their store manager position instead, because they didnt get any applications. They wouldve hired a person on life support if they applied.... The 3rd was the one i wanted the most and will be starting this week, ill be starting at $16 but making $23-24 after commission. My one friend started a job filling bottles with beer at one of the local warehouses for $26 an hour too, Our states minimum wage is $7.25. These companies are very desperate for people today, not many are applying. And the majority that do, are antisocial, cant pass a drug test, show up late or not at all, put in the bare minimum, act entitled and ask for an absurd amount of money on their first week, take a professional workplace environment and cause a scene every chance they get to promote their opinions on the worlds issues. These companies are paying like never before to get a good candidate, because its getting very hard to find them.

 

Glenn offered some good advice above, but ill add this. If you apply online make sure you go to the place in person as well. I keep hearing "i applied at 10-25-50-100 places online and never got a call or email". I decided to do something different, something old fashioned, i went into each place i was interested in, talked to the people, got a feel for the place (a few i turned around and ran within a minute) talked to several managers, handed in my resume, gave them my name. This will put you at the front of the line for most careers. Because nobody does this anymore, and i got told it at each place. Be different, stand out, be personable, and sell your experience to them. Show them that they need you.

 

I know you will find your way, just stay positive, and do your best. Because thats all that we can do