I’ve been effectively unemployed since mid-2011. I have worked bits and pieces of retail type jobs, including two straight Christmas seasons at Go! Calendars and Games. I’ve had part-time jobs at convenience stores, but honestly, I’m 57 years old, I can’t work eight hours on my feet without a break.
I’ve got some computer skills, but they seem to be outdated, and, again, I’m 57. Nobody seem to want to hire anyone older than 25 or so.
I’ve been getting by on the temporary part-time jobs and with help from my parents. I need a real job.
Education? I’ve a GED and some college. My computer skills are obsolete COBOL, obsolete Cognos Powerhouse, obsolete Oracle Forms and Reports (not Oracle Apps), and some SQL.
I’ve a lot of retail and warehouse experience prior to my computer work. The OP shows my post-computer work.
I’m 4 or 5 years younger and after my last layoff 6 years ago I’m very fortunate to have found a decent job. I have a couple of friends in your age group Frank, and I wish I had better news, but they’ve also been struggling finding work.
One of them just got a job trimming and looking after legally grown medicinal marijuana plants, but it’s a couple hours drive from his home.
Actually, my work also is a couple of hours drive from home, and I’ve been doing it for 5+ years, but expect to move closer to work this year.
It sounds like we all need to start looking for diversification in job duties, and looking beyond our immediate area.
Frank, have you tried applying with the state, the county, the city and the federal government? Some of those jobs don’t require anything more than a high school diploma and will usually offer paid time off and other benefits. They also won’t care so much about your age, I don’t know about the “on your feet” thing, though, as some of the jobs might be outside work.
As a fed, I can say that while all of this is true, the competition is fierce these days. That combined with veterans’ preference for hiring makes it quite difficult for a non-military civilian trying to get in.
OK then. I lost my job in 2008. I worked at several places as a temp both full time and part time before landing a real job in 2014. The last year I was working 2 part time jobs and doing odd jobs on the side. It wasn’t pretty.
You’ve already discovered the age barrier. No sense discussing it.
If you’re desperate I’d look at pick/pack warehouses where you spend all day filling orders for shipment. They start at $10-$11/hr and full time hrs are available. You might be able to train on a fork lift or some other job that’s a little more tolerable.
After that there are usually aviation temp jobs at night. They usually pay more and give you an option of hours that can offset a part time day job.
Grocery stores are always looking for work but they will start you out part time for a year and the pay is minimum wage. Stay away from the service side of it.
If you’re good with tools there are contractors that will hire you. Again the pay starts at $10. On the same note you can look at joining a union trade group. Plumbing
Don’t discount your computer skills. SQL is universally useful in an office that deals in data. I interviewed for a bank job and didn’t have enough of a SQL background to get the job.
It was really hard for me to take on low paying part time jobs but I got through it. Hang in there.
That’s what I was thinking, but my company’s offices in Ohio are all up by Cleveland, and I don’t trust other companies. Not a great job, but not a boiler room.
I’m often stunned that people like cashiers stand in one place all day.
As long as I’m moving, walking, I have no problem. But put me in a line waiting and I’m done after about 20 minutes. I MUST sit down. My back can’t take it.
Not sure what difficulties you are having being on your feet. But perhaps a job that would have you walking and moving more.