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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please don't become a teacher unless you're serious about teaching all kinds of kids. So sick of the revolving door of paycheck chasers.

Work for a temp agency until you figure it out, but don't subject kids to your lack of experience and expertise.

Lol, get used to it. As teaching pays less per actual hour than stocking shelves at Costco and becomes more and more difficult, that's all you're going to have very soon as older teachers retire. I guarantee you even the young ones who trained for it are leaving if they can.

[Anonymous]

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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!

I agree. I never was a SAHM and my child is 7 years old. I'm glad I have worked the whole time, even though it was tough and still is. There is absolutely no comparison with juggling house chores vs. mental stress at workplace. All the SAHM actually annoy me by saying how busy they are. For me, cleaning the house, laundry, groceries is a piece of cake, therapeutic and relaxing compared to having to work in my professional field.

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.

The problem is that someone who hasn’t worked in decades has many hurdles to overcome:

- lack of skills. Unless the SAHM has been keeping up professionally (trainings, technology) they missed out on decades of learning
- the SAHM will look as though she isn’t professionally motivated. Someone who cares about working doesn’t stay home for decades. Something else has taken a priority over working for years and years.
- changes to personality. Many SAHMs experience personality changes over time. Even spending time with SAHMs of 5-6 years they seem far removed from the workplace. Inability to juggle multiple things and making a huge deal out of typical childhood problems and illnesses.

LOL! I think you may be out of touch. Many stay at home parents who return to the workforce have been used to juggling many different things at once and have little trouble adapting back into the workforce. Yes, they valued staying home over work for many different reasons and were fortunate to be able to make that choice. Most are realistic and are not expecting to go back in at a higher level than they left. Plus change happens often in trainings and technology. You only have to be up to date on the latest changes, and most of those are learned on the job or during training the first few weeks. But keep trying to convince yourself that stay at home parents shouldn’t be allowed to go back. They can and they do. Often happier and more motivated because of their time at home. They are happy to be back in the workforce and often show it. Give me an eager and excited back to the workplace former SAHP any day over a bitter burnt out career driven worker. Skills can be refreshed - changing attitudes is harder.

DP.. I am 52. I quit for 8 months with DC#1 and 18 months with DC#2.

Yes, you juggle multiple things, but not intellectual multiple tasks. The juggling is mostly housechores/childcare. It doesn't require much critical thinking or analytical skills. When I was a sahm for even that "brief" period, my brain cells started dying off. Getting back to work mode took some time. It would be that much harder for OP.

agree. I never was a SAHM and my child is 7 years old. I'm glad I have worked the whole time, even though it was tough and still is. There is absolutely no comparison with juggling house chores vs. mental stress at workplace. All the SAHM actually annoy me by saying how busy they are. For me, cleaning the house, laundry, groceries is a piece of cake, therapeutic and relaxing compared to having to work in my professional field.

[Anonymous]

If you have time to go to school, you could volunteer instead in a field you want on your resume so you can apply for a FT position somewhere.

If you take an administrative job with fed gov, there's a lot of room for GS level increases, some places up to GS-15. Plus the health insurance is cheap, and you can earn a retirement pension, maybe 12% of your salary at age 62.

[Anonymous]

My mom was a milspouse for years and also a SAHM. At 43 or 44, she was working for a friend's company doing admin work. Before that, she worked in a doctor's office doing some admin. Around 45-46, she attended a hiring event and was hired into the intelligence community where she worked for about 30 years. A friend of hers from church worked in the IC and told her about the opportunity.

If government agencies still have those kinds of hiring events, they might be worth a look.

While I agree keeping a professional network active is important, your other networks can also be leveraged. Church, synagogue, running club--whatever group activity you do for fun can mean connections who can help you.

Good luck, OP! I'm considering a return to a reg job after running a small business for many years, and I found some useful resources in here I'd never heard about before.

[Anonymous]

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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.

The problem is that someone who hasn’t worked in decades has many hurdles to overcome:

- lack of skills. Unless the SAHM has been keeping up professionally (trainings, technology) they missed out on decades of learning
- the SAHM will look as though she isn’t professionally motivated. Someone who cares about working doesn’t stay home for decades. Something else has taken a priority over working for years and years.
- changes to personality. Many SAHMs experience personality changes over time. Even spending time with SAHMs of 5-6 years they seem far removed from the workplace. Inability to juggle multiple things and making a huge deal out of typical childhood problems and illnesses.

LOL! I think you may be out of touch. Many stay at home parents who return to the workforce have been used to juggling many different things at once and have little trouble adapting back into the workforce. Yes, they valued staying home over work for many different reasons and were fortunate to be able to make that choice. Most are realistic and are not expecting to go back in at a higher level than they left. Plus change happens often in trainings and technology. You only have to be up to date on the latest changes, and most of those are learned on the job or during training the first few weeks. But keep trying to convince yourself that stay at home parents shouldn’t be allowed to go back. They can and they do. Often happier and more motivated because of their time at home. They are happy to be back in the workforce and often show it. Give me an eager and excited back to the workplace former SAHP any day over a bitter burnt out career driven worker. Skills can be refreshed - changing attitudes is harder.

DP.. I am 52. I quit for 8 months with DC#1 and 18 months with DC#2.

Yes, you juggle multiple things, but not intellectual multiple tasks. The juggling is mostly housechores/childcare. It doesn't require much critical thinking or analytical skills. When I was a sahm for even that "brief" period, my brain cells started dying off. Getting back to work mode took some time. It would be that much harder for OP.

I'm a SAHM after a 20 year career. It seems like it would be hard to stop working then have to start again. I'd rather save up then stop working once you never have to return. It seems stressful to burn through your savings just to stay home, plus knowing you have to go back eventually. I hope it ends up well for OP.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:OP was a sahm for the past how many decades, and is 50 years old. She is not going to get a job that pays more than $20/hr, even $20/hr will be lucky.

You can get a job as a receptionist at a small business that may pay $16 to $18/hour.

-52 yr old woman

This is often what happens, our society is punitive towards women who choose to raise their kids themselves and prioritize family and home. If you don't marry well and secure a nice divorce package or something befalls your husband you are SOL. Even if you have a degree, it can't help you. You have to keep working and raising kids, and part time jobs aren't easy to find and not available for professional jobs until you are so well established that you can call your schedule or consult PT. no wonder younger women are deciding to stay childless more and more.

The solution is not to stay childless, it’s to not become a sahm. Keep working ladies, even if you have children!

The best is to have kids early when you have much more energy to work and have kids and are junior in your career and can exit and return, or you can work periodically. Taking 1-3 years off is often not nearly as detrimental to your career as taking 20 years off from the workplace. Once your kids are teens you can lean into your career

Unless your teen is the one in three who has seriously considered suicide. Then perhaps you should hold off on leaning in until you get their mental health sorted first.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0213-yrbs.html

This is me - stepped away about 6 years ago. Harder than a regular job and there's no way my kids would have been ok if I had kept it up (very demanding industry, hours). Everyone's situation is different and you never know what might be going on behind those Instagram posts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Just want to give my sincerest thanks for all the supportive responses. I honestly was prepared to be bashed and shamed because I’ve been out of work for so long and have no security at all at age 50! Thank you for being kind! 🙏

We're rooting for you, OP. Becoming a teacher for a public school system is by far the best thing I've seen listed here in terms of salary and benefits. You already have the degree and just need the certification. Plus there's a nationwide teacher shortage so you're almost guaranteed to get a job. Look into it now.

Agree. I felt the same way as you did a year ago. I'm 55 and started teaching this year after a 25 year hiatus. I was hired quickly and love my job. I'll retire with a pension when I'm 75 and feel great about my situation now. You can't change the past, anyway, so don't waste energy on regrets.

[Anonymous]

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.

You have issues. See a therapist to work through the rage at your mother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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

It’s pretty bold to admit your issue with OP is that she is 50. Pretty c*nty too.

I am near 50 myself. She was dumb to stay home.

Np. Op thought she would get real advice. Since time travel is unavailable perhaps your "advice" was mot actually needed.

[Anonymous]

- Container Store and Penzey's seem to truly value mid-life employees, and both could be aligned with skills honed from SAH years (organizing, baking, problem-solving)

- Add key marketable words to your LinkedIn - with a master's in sociology you very likely have strong communication skills, interpersonal skills, critical thinking. Update profile to say you're looking for work. Staffing companies will reach out - their positions are often a good foot in the door even if you're giving a cut to them for the duration of contract, you could be hired permanently by client. Some may be call-center type work where a good phone manner is obviously a huge asset.

- Don't get sucked into MLM or devil corp situations!

- The hardest thing I found was streamlining my resume so it fit into the automated forms. Reach out to a friend in HR for some tips there.

GL OP! Rooting for you.

[Anonymous]

It's still not clear if OP just needs a job to get started, or actually needs to live off of her earnings. Is she looking for part time or full time? Is she o.k. with something that is an on-ramp situation for something better in 3 yrs?

I think OP is most likely to find admin asst types of jobs. They aren't going to pay a lot... but the hours are usually normal. She can probably use this as an on-ramp type of job that leads to something better down the road. And she likely has a lot of the skills now, or could work on them relatively quickly. It will probably pay $20/hr ... which isn't much to live on if you are trying to pay a mortgage. But, if you are trying to just get into the working world, contribute to Soc. Security, and do something out of the house... I think admin asst. types of jobs are the most likely for you.

[Anonymous]

What kind of person are you?

Being a legal secretary pays pretty well.

[Anonymous]

Some of the best jobs are the support jobs in hospitals: X-ray technician, radiology technician, respiratory therapist, these things are always in need have good hours are shift work and pay well. They always need smart hardworking people in hospitals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of person are you?

Being a legal secretary pays pretty well.

How much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

The problem is that someone who hasn’t worked in decades has many hurdles to overcome:

- lack of skills. Unless the SAHM has been keeping up professionally (trainings, technology) they missed out on decades of learning
- the SAHM will look as though she isn’t professionally motivated. Someone who cares about working doesn’t stay home for decades. Something else has taken a priority over working for years and years.
- changes to personality. Many SAHMs experience personality changes over time. Even spending time with SAHMs of 5-6 years they seem far removed from the workplace. Inability to juggle multiple things and making a huge deal out of typical childhood problems and illnesses.

LOL! I think you may be out of touch. Many stay at home parents who return to the workforce have been used to juggling many different things at once and have little trouble adapting back into the workforce. Yes, they valued staying home over work for many different reasons and were fortunate to be able to make that choice. Most are realistic and are not expecting to go back in at a higher level than they left. Plus change happens often in trainings and technology. You only have to be up to date on the latest changes, and most of those are learned on the job or during training the first few weeks. But keep trying to convince yourself that stay at home parents shouldn’t be allowed to go back. They can and they do. Often happier and more motivated because of their time at home. They are happy to be back in the workforce and often show it. Give me an eager and excited back to the workplace former SAHP any day over a bitter burnt out career driven worker. Skills can be refreshed - changing attitudes is harder.

DP.. I am 52. I quit for 8 months with DC#1 and 18 months with DC#2.

Yes, you juggle multiple things, but not intellectual multiple tasks. The juggling is mostly housechores/childcare. It doesn't require much critical thinking or analytical skills. When I was a sahm for even that "brief" period, my brain cells started dying off. Getting back to work mode took some time. It would be that much harder for OP.

This. Rare is the long-term SAHP who uses her brain much. I absolutely respect people who stay home for the first five years of their children’s lives. Beyond that… I mean c’mon…