Job Prospects? I just got off the phone with a friend...

[edhopper]

We are both in our early/mid fifties and both have been freelance artist for most of our careers. With freelance work drying up, we need to do what many freelances do from time to time, get a regular job. But there are no jobs for us. Given our work experience and training (or lack of) there are very few jobs we can even apply for. Our age also works against us, many companies do not want to higher older workers. We are facing competition from so many newly laid off people with better resumes and better employment records. It seems hopeless.
I just thought I'd put this out there and see what others say. I can't help thinking "You're screwed, get use to it."

[no_hypocrisy]

1. When I was "between jobs," I was a substitute teacher.

The teaching plans are always prepared and you go over work with the kids at the most and watch them at the least.

Have you considered that? It pays and keeps you out of the house and you can keep looking for another job.

[edhopper]

4. I live in NYC

the ranks of applications for substitutes has swelled with laid off workers, even laid off teachers, that I would probably not get an assignment. My work history betrays me again.

[Catshrink]

10. Our district isn't even accepting any more apps for subs

we have so many already registered and so many applications that our sub coffers are brimming. It's that way with many districts.

[raccoon]

14. In my school district, you have to have a teaching certificate to even SUBSTITUTE. nt

[nilram]

24. a friend is subbing at a couple private schools, they don't

require a teaching certificate. Probably varies considerably from state to state. Not to be contradictory, I just think the OP could still look into this, given the situation.

[edhopper]

27. Thanks.

I don't think any idea is bad. I think I am just feeling that this is not "normal times" and many of the things that usually work are much more difficult.

[SoCalDem]

2. "Catch-55"

Older workers get their retirement money stolen from them, their homes made worthless, and now are faced with working longer...at the same time there are no jobs to be had:(

[graywarrior]

3. I hear you

People our age are really screwed in the job market. I'm envisioning working as a WamMart greeter if I don't find something soon.

[monmouth]

5. Friend in her mid 40s, salesperson in the building trades (AC), top

seller awards, etc. Can't get a job, out for 6 weeks and no prospects.

[flamin lib]

6. A few months back Fortune magazine did an article on

retired people seeking work for what ever reason.

The advice?

Lower your expectations. Nobody will hire you for what you used to make. Expect to make $10/hour and punch a time clock.

Look into retail. Behind the counter sales help offers the best opportunity for employment and often have part time jobs available.

Don't expect to get benefits in the jobs that will be available to you, particularly part time work.

But mostly, lower your expectations to the $8-10 range regardless of background, experience and education.

Personally I can tell you that every bit of that is true.

[edhopper]

7. It's worse than that

here in New York there are stories each day about fast food and janitor jobs that get 50, 100 even 200 applicants.
My problem is that a part time job at $8 per hour doesn't cover my rent, and I'm in a low rent apt.
Screwed left and right.

[CrispyQ]

8. For the past 4 years, my husband has been saying

the best way to prepare for the boosh economy is to be able to live on an $8 an hour job, get yourself in the best health you possibly can, & hope for the best.

[raccoon]

15. Just one little problem.

"Look into retail. Behind the counter sales help offers the best opportunity for employment and often have part time jobs available."

Lots of times people who are older can't stand for hours due to back problems or foot problems (like plantar fasciitis). I can't.

But from my experience and observation, I agree with everything in your post.

[Lisa0825]

9. IMO, 50s are no longer considered to be "older."

I am in HR for a manufacturer and worked at a major hospital last year, and that's how it is at both places. With people living into their 80s, and many people not intending to retire on time, I am seeing a lot of "older workers" interviewing here, and age has not held them back. In fact, the hiring managers I work with tend to favor them to those under 30, because so many in that age group seem to have an attitude that the employer is there to serve them. They think that with little or no experience they can still negotiate salary, perks, etc, when we could hire someone way more qualified if we were to pay what the young person is asking for.

In addition, every company I have done HR for have also brought back retirees for part time positions.

I think this will be a trend that grows as the baby boomers retire, and fewer younger workers are there to fill their positions.

[RebelOne]

26. Well, I am 70 and still working full time.

I was one of three copy editors, and just before Xmas, the other two were laid off. They were both younger than me.

[MrBC]

11. Start another business

Paint addresses on curbs, lawn care, or start your own environmental star wars research and get a trillion dollar research grant from the White House.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. .

:eyes:

[progressoid]

19. He disrupted poorly.

RIP.

[1776Forever]

12. Check out GURU - It is a freelance website - Hope it helps!

http://www.guru.com/

Why Guru -

For those in need of a service and looking to hire:

Use Guru.com's free service to search for and find Freelancers. Post your project. Get free quotes within hours. Outsource your contract work today.

Free service. No obligation to hire.

Pay Freelancers risk-free. With the SafePay Escrow service, your satisfaction is completely guaranteed.

Escrow guarantee

Get up to 2% money back and a chance to win $100 when you pay Freelancers via SafePay.

No tax form hassles. We issue 1099 tax forms for you for free.

AND for freelancers it is a place to find projects to bid on!

...........

Best of luck to you! I am in my 60's and believe me it is tough out there. I finally just said make the best of what you have but I know I still could have worked rings around a lot of other people. It shouldn't be age that determines a persons "worth" in the work place. We should be viewed as a solid asset with great work ethics if that is what our tests and references show.



:fistbump:

[edhopper]

21. I am on Guru

read post 18, that is where a lot of Guru jobs are going.

[1776Forever]

25. Sorry - that was my only idea - good luck!

:fistbump:

[KittyWampus]

13. Well, people ALWAYS buy art and crafts. You want of list of stuff I've made with little money

invested?

[crispini]

16. I'd like that list!

You think people are still buying arts and crafts in THIS economy?

[KittyWampus]

22. YUP! Earrings. If women (like me) do not have money for a new outfit, they will spend on earrings.

There is a whole subculture of people who wear up-cycled or re-purposed clothing. You take clothing from the dump or Salvation Army and rework it. See Etsy

There is a whole subculture of people who are into industrial/victorian aesthetics (Steampunk). Old watch parts combined with old paper scraps and rhinestone jewelry and small scale hardware supplies. Search Etsy for words like Steampunk and NeoVictorian.

Also, if people can't afford new furniture, they go for reupholstering their stuff.

So if you have a sewing machine and good skills, upholstering is there.

Pillows, people will buy really nice pillows. Pillows are a way for people spruce up a room when they aren't going to spend on an entire re-do.

Taking furniture out of the garbage and reworking it. Collaging on it.

I made a LOT of money for several Christmases making fresh evergreen wreaths and selling them on the side of the road. All that took was my pruning shears and a roll of wire and one roll of red ribbon. I twisted bittersweet vines into bases and cut the greens into handfulls that got wire onto the base.

Primitive looking cloth dolls. They sell for a lot on Ebay. Basically making them out of Muslin in the right aesthetic and "aging" it with a box of tan Rit dye.

In a lot of cities, artists work outside and sell their work right there to passers-by.

[nichomachus]

18. Graphic art is the latest to be outsourced to India

A friend who has been an art director at a big magazine company for 25 years was told yesterday that the company is looking into shipping all its art work to India. If they're "looking into it" you know they're going to do it.

Bean counters don't know good art from bad - -they just look at the bottom line.

[progressoid]

20. I know the feeling.

I quit a regular job almost 10 years ago to become self-employed in the arts. You may be right about "You're screwed, get use to it."

I can't offer much more than commiseration. :hug:

[northernlights]

23. welcome to my world

You're not qualified for anything, overqualified for everything, etc., etc., etc. I've been living this nightmare for the last 6 years.

I tried going back to school for med lab tech, because there is a worldwide shortage of them. At the time I started, they barely were filling the program -- in fact the northern branch of the university couldn't fill the slots.

Now I am through all the requisite pre-med science courses and waiting to get into the MLT lab sciences and clinicals. But in the last year, the "first come-first serve" policy has changed to "a selection process" with 30+ applicants...for 15 slots.

One the one hand, I have a 4.0 average. On the other, I *don't* have friends or family-members working in a local hospital, nor am I a veteran, or some other special interest group.

And already the games have begun. My program was mysteriously switched to biology major *right* before the selection process started. Had I not caught the "error," the program director would not have even had me on her list of candidates!