I’m 50 and need to get a job. What should I do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Neither OP, nor anyone else on this thread has made a case that OP "deserves..."

There is just one PP who keeps arguing that OP doesn't DESERVE a great job or a career or something.

This isn't about being entitled to anything. OP, and many others who were full-time managing kids/home, is just looking for ideas on how she can become employed. There is literally ZERO need to throw disdain and judgment in OP's direction or in the direction of any SAHP. It reflects REALLY poorly on you, PP who keeps talking about what OP doesn't "deserve." It reflects on your bitterness at the choices you made, and possibly your own jealousy that someone wasn't as unhappy in life as you are/have been. That's really sad. But, it's all about your unhappiness that you are projecting on OP and other SAHPs.

This is nonsense. She can get an admin job. But she does not deserve rapid advancement. Dumb to be a stay at home parent. It is the most financially stupid thing a person can do. Btw, my mom was a SAHM. Bad parent. I have no respect for people who stay at home and then can’t support themselves. They are essentially adult children. Grow up.

Clearly some issues you are projecting on others! Yikes.

+1. OP and others don't need to suffer to make up for your bad childhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

Someone who hasn’t worked in 20 years isn’t a threat to your career. Why are you so opposed of someone applying for job if they haven’t worked in 20 years? Are you also unwilling to hire recent college grads? They haven’t worked in 20 years.

It’s to the benefit of society that OP finds an entry-level role and builds a nest egg for her future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

Someone who hasn’t worked in 20 years isn’t a threat to your career. Why are you so opposed of someone applying for job if they haven’t worked in 20 years? Are you also unwilling to hire recent college grads? They haven’t worked in 20 years.

It’s to the benefit of society that OP finds an entry-level role and builds a nest egg for her future.

I know, right!

It's like PP (who has issues with her own mother), wants to have it both ways: Oh you're a SAHM --- you're so lazy! + Oh, you're a SAHM who now wants a job -- Hell no, you don't deserve one! That's a lot of bitterness there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am in the same boat as you. I'm out here after nearly 20 years raising DC also looking to restart a work life. It's not easy and some days it feels so daunting, but keep going, OK? There's a place for our skills and experience. If nothing else, as a pp said, I'm not job hunting while weary from burnout.

I'm also in the same boat. Keep looking and don't listen to the naysayers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

Someone who hasn’t worked in 20 years isn’t a threat to your career. Why are you so opposed of someone applying for job if they haven’t worked in 20 years? Are you also unwilling to hire recent college grads? They haven’t worked in 20 years.

It’s to the benefit of society that OP finds an entry-level role and builds a nest egg for her future.

This is an obtuse comparison. The new grad has more runway than a 50yo.

[Anonymous]

For those who want to have a resume with non-entry level experience straight away, I have known SAHMs who started consulting “companies” for education, non-profit fundraising, party planning, logistics/administrative work etc. I’m not sure if everyone will buy the important sounding titles but I think some people will and self employment and title sounds good on the resume and LinkedIn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

Someone who hasn’t worked in 20 years isn’t a threat to your career. Why are you so opposed of someone applying for job if they haven’t worked in 20 years? Are you also unwilling to hire recent college grads? They haven’t worked in 20 years.

It’s to the benefit of society that OP finds an entry-level role and builds a nest egg for her future.

This is an obtuse comparison. The new grad has more runway than a 50yo.

Ahh so you just believe in age discrimination.

[Anonymous]

I worked for several years before leaving the formal workplace to stay at home. I went back to work last year after being home for 14 years. I went back into the field I left. It was for slightly more than I was making when I left. Yes - I would have been much further along salary wise if I never became a sahm, but I am happy I did. And now I am happy to be back getting my career back on track. Don’t give up OP. You can also start as a volunteer at a place you would like to work if they take volunteers. That may develop into something or at least give you more experience and catch up on skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked for several years before leaving the formal workplace to stay at home. I went back to work last year after being home for 14 years. I went back into the field I left. It was for slightly more than I was making when I left. Yes - I would have been much further along salary wise if I never became a sahm, but I am happy I did. And now I am happy to be back getting my career back on track. Don’t give up OP. You can also start as a volunteer at a place you would like to work if they take volunteers. That may develop into something or at least give you more experience and catch up on skills.

And people in my workplace do not see me, nor my time at home, as “worthless” as a PP stated. I was upfront on my resume when I returned stating Stay at Home Parent to account for time away. I was unsure and insecure going back that it would be obvious I had been away from formal employment for awhile, but, at least in my case, I have found the re-entry relatively smooth. I hope the same for you and all the PPs who are looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

Someone who hasn’t worked in 20 years isn’t a threat to your career. Why are you so opposed of someone applying for job if they haven’t worked in 20 years? Are you also unwilling to hire recent college grads? They haven’t worked in 20 years.

It’s to the benefit of society that OP finds an entry-level role and builds a nest egg for her future.

This is an obtuse comparison. The new grad has more runway than a 50yo.

Okay but is an employer going to hire a new grad because of their long runway? Are they hiring youngersters with the assumption that they will be around when they are 65? No, everybody knows they will probably be gone in five years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

I don't think she is asking for a career, she just wants to make a living. What are you doing for your career? Are you a successful business owner, medical practice owner, Big Law or consulting partner, MD or C level exec at a medium/large company? If you just have a regular job paying the bills, that's not a career, and if you are 50, it's not awesome in the workplace either, and job security isn't great.

I have a friend who was high earning for 2 decades, raised kids, and then lost it all, unable to work due to health issues, and in the same shoes as OP trying to start from scratch in an alternative "career" at 50.

In your scenario, your friend would be eligible to receive social security disability benefits, because she worked for 5 of the last 10 years. I have a friend who has been a stay at home mom for the past 9 years. She has been eager to get back to work because her husband doesn't really make enough for her to continue staying at home. She recently was injured and now legitimately has a disability that could prevent her from returning to work. She won't be eligible for disability benefits though, because she hasn't worked for 5 of the last 10 years. This is just one more risk that women take on (usually unknowingly) when they decide to stay at home to raise children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

I don't think she is asking for a career, she just wants to make a living. What are you doing for your career? Are you a successful business owner, medical practice owner, Big Law or consulting partner, MD or C level exec at a medium/large company? If you just have a regular job paying the bills, that's not a career, and if you are 50, it's not awesome in the workplace either, and job security isn't great.

I have a friend who was high earning for 2 decades, raised kids, and then lost it all, unable to work due to health issues, and in the same shoes as OP trying to start from scratch in an alternative "career" at 50.

In your scenario, your friend would be eligible to receive social security disability benefits, because she worked for 5 of the last 10 years. I have a friend who has been a stay at home mom for the past 9 years. She has been eager to get back to work because her husband doesn't really make enough for her to continue staying at home. She recently was injured and now legitimately has a disability that could prevent her from returning to work. She won't be eligible for disability benefits though, because she hasn't worked for 5 of the last 10 years. This is just one more risk that women take on (usually unknowingly) when they decide to stay at home to raise children.

Wow, I didn’t realize the requirement for disability benefits is to work with the last 5 years. Is there a different requirement for individuals that are born with severe disabilities where they cannot ever work? A friend of mine’s 20 year old son is schizophrenic, cannot work, and he was able to qualify for SSDI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

Someone who hasn’t worked in 20 years isn’t a threat to your career. Why are you so opposed of someone applying for job if they haven’t worked in 20 years? Are you also unwilling to hire recent college grads? They haven’t worked in 20 years.

It’s to the benefit of society that OP finds an entry-level role and builds a nest egg for her future.

This is an obtuse comparison. The new grad has more runway than a 50yo.

Exactly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

Someone who hasn’t worked in 20 years isn’t a threat to your career. Why are you so opposed of someone applying for job if they haven’t worked in 20 years? Are you also unwilling to hire recent college grads? They haven’t worked in 20 years.

So what? They are still the better person to give a job to.

It’s to the benefit of society that OP finds an entry-level role and builds a nest egg for her future.

This is an obtuse comparison. The new grad has more runway than a 50yo.

Okay but is an employer going to hire a new grad because of their long runway? Are they hiring youngersters with the assumption that they will be around when they are 65? No, everybody knows they will probably be gone in five years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. You kind of have to think outside the box. Society wants to make 50 year old women believe they are worthless but you have to sort of elevate your own status and think of all your skills as counting for something. What are you good at? Since you have a background in sociology, could you become a social worker? At least then your education would count for something. If you switch careers it will make your degree seem worthless. The hard part is getting references. The school systems lower the bar so you don't need as many references or can use a personal reference. It might help to get your foot in a door, even if it's like a month long Amazon warehouse job or a school instructional assistant. Then you can at least put something recent on a resume and switch to something better. There are also work from home jobs like in customer service but you might need a year of retail experience. You can also try part time clerical jobs. Older women sometimes just start their own business, like you could teach teens to drive or start a maid service. You could try freelancing or the gig economy or find a caretaking job on care.com. I know at our age we've been to school, done that, don't feel like going back again. Have you tried career counseling?

If you have not worked for the last 20 years, why do you deserve a career suddenly. You took a risk staying home…it did not work. I worked the entire time and had kids. Too risky not to. At 50, man or woman, if you have not been employed for 20 years…or even 10…sorry, you are pretty much worthless for employment.

Someone who hasn’t worked in 20 years isn’t a threat to your career. Why are you so opposed of someone applying for job if they haven’t worked in 20 years? Are you also unwilling to hire recent college grads? They haven’t worked in 20 years.

It’s to the benefit of society that OP finds an entry-level role and builds a nest egg for her future.

This is an obtuse comparison. The new grad has more runway than a 50yo.

Ahh so you just believe in age discrimination.

Welcome to reality