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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. These suggestions are very helpful and I’m so appreciative. I am in the process of doing my real estate course but it’s taking me a long time to complete it and I’m wondering if I just throw in the towel as let’s face it, few people are buying in this market now. I don’t have lots of contacts either. I am not at all interested in going back to school and need to get a job soon(ish) even if it’s really meaningless as I need to accrue social security and retirement. I put myself in a terrible position and now I will pay for my bad decisions.

Listen to me. Stay positive. You only need a job. It’s not like you’ve been given a terminal death sentence. If you think about it we have to work (if we are blessed) for nearly 70 years. You don’t expect some hiccups in 70 years?! You can do this. You can dig out of this with hard work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. These suggestions are very helpful and I’m so appreciative. I am in the process of doing my real estate course but it’s taking me a long time to complete it and I’m wondering if I just throw in the towel as let’s face it, few people are buying in this market now. I don’t have lots of contacts either. I am not at all interested in going back to school and need to get a job soon(ish) even if it’s really meaningless as I need to accrue social security and retirement. I put myself in a terrible position and now I will pay for my bad decisions.

OP, this is a really bad time to become a real estate agent. Plus even in good times, it takes someone a while to build up a solid client base and become profitable.

I would focus on becoming a teacher, like some pp's said. You would get great benefits including retirement benefits. There's a teacher shortage so you'd be in demand. You might have to start as a para while you get your certifications. Like others said, DC charter schools don't have the same stringent certifications as DCPS or other public school districts. You'll earn more than you would as a new real estate agent plus teachers get benefits.

If your kids are older, then look into driving uber for a shift or two each weekend to beef up your retirement. Cut expenses as much as possible. You can do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. These suggestions are very helpful and I’m so appreciative. I am in the process of doing my real estate course but it’s taking me a long time to complete it and I’m wondering if I just throw in the towel as let’s face it, few people are buying in this market now. I don’t have lots of contacts either. I am not at all interested in going back to school and need to get a job soon(ish) even if it’s really meaningless as I need to accrue social security and retirement. I put myself in a terrible position and now I will pay for my bad decisions.

Remember: the time to enter a business is when no one else is in it. Honda had a famous quote about this - can’t seem to find it but basically THIS time is the only time you enter a business like real estate (because competition is low)

What? No! This is a terrible time to become a realtor. Sales volume has significantly decreased and there's still a bloat of realtors who got into the field when the market was hot. There will be lots of layoffs and a newbie with no experience or client base won't make much if anything. Stick to being a teacher like other posters advised. You'll earn much more.

[Anonymous]

front desk realty

Front Desk Receptionist/Office Administrator- job post
EXIT Landmark Realty indeed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. These suggestions are very helpful and I’m so appreciative. I am in the process of doing my real estate course but it’s taking me a long time to complete it and I’m wondering if I just throw in the towel as let’s face it, few people are buying in this market now. I don’t have lots of contacts either. I am not at all interested in going back to school and need to get a job soon(ish) even if it’s really meaningless as I need to accrue social security and retirement. I put myself in a terrible position and now I will pay for my bad decisions.

Yes, any decent paying job will require you to go back to school. So, unless you are willing to work for minimum wage, you are going to have to go back to some kind of training or school to get a certificate.

You are 50. You are not going to accrue that much for social security because 1. you are 50 and 2. you will only be able to find minimum wage type jobs, unless, again, you get some certification or training.

My sister quit her job a very long time ago to be a sahm, and she has no degree. She got a job PT as a waitress, and working in the grocery store through connections. But, if she didn't have those connections, I'm not sure if she could've gotten those jobs with zero experience in that area.

You could try grocery stores, retail, starbucks, costco.

This is bad advice. You can absolutely get work with benefits, not just retail, if you look around. Do you know basic computing? You will need to be familiar with computers to do any sort of administrative work.

And paying into social security starting at 50 is WAY better than not paying in at all.

[Anonymous]

Temp work can be a way back in, too. Day jobs or longer term. Clerical, answering phones, etc. If get exposure to a wide range of employers that way. And if you don't like your day or week at a place, you can turn down the assignment and wait for another one.

[Anonymous]

*You'll* get exposure...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. These suggestions are very helpful and I’m so appreciative. I am in the process of doing my real estate course but it’s taking me a long time to complete it and I’m wondering if I just throw in the towel as let’s face it, few people are buying in this market now. I don’t have lots of contacts either. I am not at all interested in going back to school and need to get a job soon(ish) even if it’s really meaningless as I need to accrue social security and retirement. I put myself in a terrible position and now I will pay for my bad decisions.

Retirement yes but for social security, you probably won’t do better than getting half of your spouse right?

[Anonymous]

Real estate is tough if you don't have the personality or network for it, aside from the license. If you aren't a natural networker and ready to hustle, I'd think really hard about that path. But if you do it, some people get started by helping family and friends sell/buy to start to get the track record.

I would second the advice to temp and work your way into another role. I know many folks who have done that and ended up with good, full time jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Work in a school. Good benefits and they’ll pay for you to get a teaching license while you work as a paraeducator.

Where is this program?

A friend did this in FCPS, went in to teach at around 50. Did an online teaching certification program. He had 2 advanced degrees already. Was able to teach (not as a para) on a temporary basis while getting the certificate.

[Anonymous]

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! 🙏

[Anonymous]

I'm in your similar shoes OP, out of work for 15 years, so hang in there. I'm dealing with the same thing, wish we could have a support group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. These suggestions are very helpful and I’m so appreciative. I am in the process of doing my real estate course but it’s taking me a long time to complete it and I’m wondering if I just throw in the towel as let’s face it, few people are buying in this market now. I don’t have lots of contacts either. I am not at all interested in going back to school and need to get a job soon(ish) even if it’s really meaningless as I need to accrue social security and retirement. I put myself in a terrible position and now I will pay for my bad decisions.

Yes, any decent paying job will require you to go back to school. So, unless you are willing to work for minimum wage, you are going to have to go back to some kind of training or school to get a certificate.

You are 50. You are not going to accrue that much for social security because 1. you are 50 and 2. you will only be able to find minimum wage type jobs, unless, again, you get some certification or training.

My sister quit her job a very long time ago to be a sahm, and she has no degree. She got a job PT as a waitress, and working in the grocery store through connections. But, if she didn't have those connections, I'm not sure if she could've gotten those jobs with zero experience in that area.

You could try grocery stores, retail, starbucks, costco.

This is bad advice. You can absolutely get work with benefits, not just retail, if you look around. Do you know basic computing? You will need to be familiar with computers to do any sort of administrative work.

And paying into social security starting at 50 is WAY better than not paying in at all.

Sure, OP *might* be able to get a receptionist job at a small company, and paying into SS now is better than not, but the payout will be tiny.

And Costco and Starbucks pays benefits.

[Anonymous]

OP, one place people don't think to look for "office" work is car dealerships. Not selling cars, but just doing paperwork and admin tasks, which there is a decent amount of. It's a good way to get some experience doing "office" work.

[Anonymous]

Contract Administrator - go get certification
Great pay
No real work.