I'm not after sympathy but I'm afraid I got made redundant today after 13 years at the company I worked for. Bolt form the blue - I never expected it.

The point is, has anyone any advice for an old-timer like me, or
even better, does anyone know where there might be something going?

I'll have a go at anything. No problem.

I had a job in the castings industry but would like to do something completely different. Retail, working with the public, sweeping-up, whatever.

Anything considered.

How old are you, may I ask?

I'm forty-eight.

Originally posted by caprice
How old are you, may I ask?

Check his profile.

That's really ****ty SM. How about training as a teacher or classroom assistant? Pay's not great but it means you can switch your central heating off during the day when you're out.

Best of luck whatever you choose mate.

But you need a degree for teaching jobs, and I need to get work straight away.

Classroom assistant, mm, how do I go about that?

Sorry to hear that. I don't think you'll have any problem finding a job in a retail environment. Age is never a barrier in that field although the pay isn't what I'd call impressive. Good luck mate.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel

Classroom assistant, mm, how do I go about that?

Talk to your local schools' headteachers. Alternatively, if you've a clean driving licence try some of the agencies. They always seem to be in need of drivers. If I can remember the name of the one I worked for I'll get back.

Look in The Star tomorrow, Thursday's the best day.

One in tonight's:


Person required to work in post room of Dental Laboratory, plus other duties. 30 hours per week. 10-5 Mon-Fri.

Apply in writing to: JJ Thompson Ltd., 95 Hill Street, Sheffield S2 4SP.

In fact, the only one in tonight's Star.

Good Luck.

Sorry mate :(

Actually, we are looking for front desk clerks, a bartender and a night auditor to work in the hotel. D'ya think you can fly out to the States for an interview? I could do with some more Brits on my side. They talk funny over here.

Good luck.

Thanks for everything up to now, keep 'em coming! I'm taking notes and will follow up every possiblity.

Sorry to hear this SM, (and I'm being serious).

Don't have any info for you at the mo, but I'll certainly keep my ears/eyes open for you and let you know.

Stupid question here SM, but ever thought of something scientific. College maybe?

Just a thought. Good luck though mate!!:thumbsup:

I noticed you were offering Spanish lessons in another forum.

Maybe you should contact secondary schools and colleges to see if they need anyone to help in their Spanish classes?

Sorry to hear that Sam.
DB may well have some suggestions....
Good luck.

Nomme

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
Thanks for everything up to now, keep 'em coming! I'm taking notes and will follow up every possiblity.

I can look out for you SM, will PM you with any I get off the council Job Shop sheets, there's more in there than in the star for the council and some good jobs too.

Funke88, i'll work over in the sates, i'm in florida in four weeks.

Try asda... They don't discriminate on age, so long as you're the right person for the job.

Yes, supermarkets. I will try that one. Markham, Andy, they really do ask for qualifications for college jobs, I went in to that a few years ago.

I don't have a degree in Spanish, just IOL standard.

I just want something to keep me off the dole and then build up from that. I'll stack shelves, whatever for now.

Sorry SM, didn't explain properly. I meant attending college.

Just a thought, but I appreciate you are wanting to get back on the work ladder. Good on ya!!:thumbsup:

Sorry, Mark: Yes, I see what you mean now. I always do a college course anyway. I am doing psychology at the moment, but we'll see next year.

Ladbrokes and William Hills are looking for staff if that takes yer fancy??? Hills call centre is too.

Freeserve are always looking for staff at the call centre.

Royal Mail might be looking, worth giving 'em a bell - phone customer services and ask for recruitment line :)

Theyre always looking for health care assistants or porters at the hospitals if youre a patient person and dont mind working with a) people who whinge even though theyre not even that ill or b) mad people.

kitty an Fnky: thanks; yes, I am already up already this morning. I will explore these avenues too.

I need to get the Star at 11:00 or whatever time it comes out.

Originally posted by fnkysknky
Ladbrokes and William Hills are looking for staff if that takes yer fancy??? Hills call centre is too.

Freeserve are always looking for staff at the call centre.

Royal Mail might be looking, worth giving 'em a bell - phone customer services and ask for recruitment line :)


What do they pay? And where are they based?

good man S Miguel - up at 6am the day after being made redundant and actively seeking another

good luck fella

Thanks for the support, Bedhead.

Can I get paid for posting: say 1p a word?

Good Luck... & Keep Smiling xxx

hey SM, sorry to hear the bad news, how bout tesco, they are looking for drivers, think for home shopping and theres no age barrier there, the one at abbeydale at the store, and also the petrol station, think theyre recruiting, not sure what job.
i know how hard it is, im looking too at the moment.
good luck
linds
x

That sucks SM, sorry to hear that.

I'd opt for Hospital Portering or something similar, as opposed to retail work. The pay seems to be about the same, but the rewards are far better.
Helping people feels much more worthwhile than serving people, IMO.

Good luck man.

For the teaching thing - you need a one year pgce but I'm not sure you would need a first degree if you can prove that you have experience of a subject. It might be worth checking out?

Hi, if you fancy a driving job (non agency) I may be able to help, PM if you are intersted.

For the teaching thing - you need a one year pgce but I'm not sure you would need a first degree if you can prove that you have experience of a subject. It might be worth checking out?

PGCE = Post Graduate Certificate of Education so yes you need a first degree or the equivalent level qualification.

I'm really sorry I can't offer anything constructive that other people haven't already suggested Sam but goodluck with the job hunting.

Originally posted by duffman
I can look out for you SM, will PM you with any I get off the council Job Shop sheets, there's more in there than in the star for the council and some good jobs too.

Funke88, i'll work over in the sates, i'm in florida in four weeks.

I live in Florida but work in Alabama. You got to speak redneck to work there.

an update -

how is your job search going?

Sit down with a piece of paper and make a list of your attributes (good and bad!), skills, strengths and weaknesses, achievements (not just work-related), personal qualities, likes and dislikes as they may affect your employment preferences/prospects, be brutally honest, this is for your own eyes only. Just see if any ideas come up. Look at the list as if you were an employer - would you employ you! For what kind of job? You don't necessarily have to be an employee. Could you go self employed? Is there anything you can do without the intermediary of an employer? There's plenty of opportunity in trade skills - plasterer, plumber, electrician, decorator etc paying good money if you can deliver the goods reliably. It may not feel like it just now but redundancy can be a good thing in the long run, it stops you being complacent about your job (!), gives you a chance to try something new. If you want to stay in the same line of work, write to all similar employers in the area with a brief summary of why you are just the guy they need (without sounding that arrogant!) - bringing your experience from a competitor, fully trained... Be brutally honest with yourself, suppose your last employer had to make a choice about who goes and who stays then why choose you to go? Even if it was something like "personality clash" or "he never liked me", it matters, understand why there was a personality clash and even if all the fault was on his side, think about how you could have responded differently and been the guy he chose to keep.

The boss may have her head up her bum but she's the boss and "right" by definition (my choice of her/she does tell you something about my past!). A friend of mine got fired because he disobeyed orders and implemented an improvement to working practices (while the boss was on holiday) so the company could deliver better, faster and using fewer people. He was right , they found they no longer needed him.

From your postings you seem to have an active mind and creative imagination - is there a book in there? Not a guaranteed route to untold riches but if there's a bit more time on your hands you might run writing in parallel with more reliable/conventional job-search - or with a job that falls short of your aspirations but pays the bills.

Depending on the kind of work... Write a CV now rather than wait 'till you are asked for one. Brush up on your job interview skills. Especially be in a good position to give the right kind of answer to "why did your last job end". "I was made redundant" doesn't tell them anything useful. "I was made redundant because the company went bust" is better (but still not ideal, did it go bust because you never did a stroke of work?!).

Something like 80% of jobs are found through the grapevine rather than agencies and adverts so get to work on your friends and family, contacts at the Psychology course you're doing etc.

I am absoloutely overwhelmed and so grateful by the response I have received in this thread, I really mean that.

What a great forum this is.

As for an update: I am almost certain that I will get at least two interviews, and one of the jobs is at my sister-in-laws place and that looks a real possibility. I don't want to get too carried away, though!

Another job I applied for looks fairly good for at least an interview. I have registered with two agencies and one of them phoned up this morning and said they thought they could get me an interview for a job late next week.

I'll keep you all updated, no worries.

Thanks again everyone.