Its hard being 57

[Splitpin]

If you really want to feel like an old fart ... with no future , try looking for work via one of the many employment agencies on offer at the moment.
I have been out of work for the last 4 months as of today. (Thank God for forward thinking financial planning)



Its a bloody nightmare , fill in this form , fill in that form (online of course) .... and nothing!..... and i mean NOTHING ! these people don't even have the the good grace to acknowledge the fact you took the time.
And when you pull them up on the fact (they didn't reply) you get some half arsed reply ...and i quote " oh sorry "mate", didnt check my email machine, the jobs gone " WTH. DONT call me mate!

I'm tired (and finished) with presenting myself to 30 or so year old little gits , who know nothing about me , and don't even bother too ask .

If i appear a little pissed off , i apologize , its just .... that.. I AM !.

[Ian Warren]

Matey , I approach it the other way , there is a pretty little girly in the local shop , tell you the truth I must ask here what she is studying at UNI , you have bus driving skills .. the big coach's surly you would be well in demand for that .. I could then join you with the tourist and draw a portrait as you drive .. ... now what an idea

[Ian Warren]

Funny I got thrown out off a job were even today I still break the record and complete a target another 50% higher simply just filling box's off cable , one who is around your age simply said to me ... I'd love to have the time off , I would not want to have the repeat accident .. but something RSI just to have six months off ... I bump into the guys regular here in Upper Riccarton during there lunch shopping .. and tell them to say to the twit Steve , I'm still on holiday ! just to really to TRUCK him off!

[gojozoom]

Guys, I'm "happy" to report that the BS you're experiencing has nothing to do with your age... I've got the same thing - although from a "luxury" of being employed at the moment. I just thought I'd have a look on the market. Well, one of the agent ladies cancelled 4 appointments (!!!!) so far... These agents are the same spineless b@st@rds I know from real estate... their words worth nothing...

The crazy thing is - they get money if they find me a job - so what's the effing holdback? Oh wait...I know....they have to put in the actual effort of talking to me for 20 minutes....jeez

Yes, I'm pissed off too...

Dan

[Ian Warren]

Yes, I'm pissed off too...

Dan ... I'll start drawing War Comics I'll get Marty to paint them in .... it all positive thoughts

[Ian Warren]

Dan .. When I get the business going you can become the company IT management market department guy ... you have to make the machine gun noises on the phone tho and all the war deal just to excite the customers .. well ya know were I'm going with this .. course have to pick Rob up on this for all those realistic hilly things and we would be racing ! and Marty with his Girls Japanese historical knowledge .. ... least just to bring the girls in with the deal .. make it a family bsiness

[Ian Warren]

Its funny I look back on it , even eight/nine years back I was training peoples simply for/on second operation , repetitive work, I did this when 18/20 old , the last was a chap at 54, that one guy understood where I was coming from and really appreciated what i could do for him, cripes I'm now his age always I had something to say back then .. frankly I do understand now , been there done that .

I also look at my skill base ... simply to make tool bits, tap , jigs fixtures , plung tools , spade drills , old hand engineering ... seriously that art is dead and I do not want to return to it unless returning to my realm of design and model build .

Every day .. well I was up 3.30/400 this morning .. had an idea in my brain case and start drawing planning , one thing that hits me ..... had this been a normal working week that would not have happened .. thinking all the time ..

[Splitpin]

Thanks guys ..... probably shouldn't have vented my feelings here .
Anyway .... something will come up.
Cheers.

[toprob]

Another post I've missed, I dunno why some don't appear on my 'new post' list...

I can entirely relate, I've been looking for a job since January, and don't even get interviews now. I'll be 59 this month, so I'm not looking for a career, I'd be happy to clean up after slobs, or sweep streets. Well, I did have an interview last week, this was a job where I was 110% experienced (copy centre), totally charming during the interview, but didn't make it even close to stage 2.

I panicked a bit yesterday because my flatmate has been paying the rent recently, but is having her own financial issues, so she's insisting I go on the dole. I rang a couple of agencies, just to get some advice on where to go to improve my prospects, but ended up leaving messages on machines, none of which got a reply.

At the end of this month I stop selling subscriptions, as I really need to have zero income -- and no business -- to even apply for the dole. All along I was pretty sure I'd find a job by then -- I gave myself 6 months -- but here I am with three weeks to go before I have to live under a bridge. Luckily I don't need to worry about air conditioning, as there's plenty of cool airflow at the moment...

I'm well-aware that Godzone can support me, once I have a couple of products selling, but being knocked back to zero by health problems means that I can't get ahead of the mounting debt. It's frustrating having a job you love, but can just see it all going away for want of a single new product.

Sorry, got carried away there.

[Ian Warren]

Thanks guys ..... probably shouldn't have vented my feelings here .
Anyway .... something will come up.
Cheers.

I think its the best place .. remember .. its ideas and people that lead you to a specific direction .. I'm close but just need to hit my head ..... AGAIN! ... on that bumper bar , off all the weird things I have been invited to teach art, bunch off people , very much Hummed and Harrred , but tonight I bit the bullet !

[Splitpin]

Good news This morning i had an email from a company i applied to work for , with an invitation to an interview on monday .

This was a direct application , not via any bloody agent . In fact i applied 2 days ago ... and here is the result.
Several others i tried for via agents .... still no response after 2 weeks.

I feel this whole recruitment company thing , is a giant rip off (just my opinion) .... i know big companies don't have the time , and in some cases , the resources to deal with applications . But after all this time looking ... i have formed , what i consider to be , a fairly accurate picture of the recruitment business , and its not good.

I may well miss this opportunity , but , i will never again resort to (or trust) an agency to find me work.
I really believe in the face to face approach ..... not the "ageist" or whatever profiling system used by those people.
This interview has been offered with no CV , JUST me being honest , and some great referees .... and i 110% appreciate that , win or lose.

The thing is (I've just discovered) is being yourself , don't try and fit yourself into some predefined profile ... and in some cases pay to do so .
Im sure , there are many out there who can shoot me down very quickly ..... go ahead, it wont change my opinion.

Mr X , from company X ..... thank you for seeing past the bs.

NZFF ....I'll be in touch.

[Ian Warren]

Matey , good luck on your mission , funny a couple years back I got scooped up , simply no one can set up the specific machines I did ... after finally walking away from the industry 'engineering' due to idiots , enough was enough ... Get a great job and kicked out job due to accident - that was a corporation thing - I look at it this way and say .. HEY YOUR LOSS ,

My next Monday is going to be a good one , lead into something SPECIAL maybe , one thing I have done was lecture to a group , with me hit a switch .. well you know me ... in front a couple hundred people and a fave topic .. and this was not aircraft .. Crikey !

[Splitpin]

Thanks Skinman ....... Im so nervous
I haven't had to endure an interview for almost 35 years .
The company is very well established in CHC , been here since 1918 ..... so they know what they want.
Just hope i don't blow it .... nerves aside , i feel confident.
I think the thing is , to picture yourself in a role that suits you , and then look back and see how you got there .... a bit philosophical i know .
Anyway .... 1030hrs on monday I'll be on the mat.

[johnkiwi]

I know the feeling, did my second interview in 25 years last month and managed to get the job... and i'm only a few years younger than you
Go for it Marty!

[Splitpin]

I know the feeling, did my second interview in 25 years last month and managed to get the job... and i'm only a few years younger than you
Go for it Marty!

Thanks JK

[emfrat]

Marty -
In the past 20 years I have scored 5 interviews from hundreds of applications. Three resulted in employment, and I ended two others by telling the prospective employer he had failed his interview to be my boss.
All the finding and applying was by my own efforts. Agencies which were meant to provide intensive support to long-term (> 6 months) unemployed did nothing to help. Of course they were being paid $4k/skull/quarter to 'help' me, so there was a strong disincentive to finding me a job. Here in Qld, and the rest of Oz, if you are over 55 and looking for work no-one wants to know. But the last job I had, I won when I was 60

No surrender!

ATB
Mike

[Ian Warren]

Thanks Skinman ....... Im so nervous

I think getting nervous is a good thing ... that is were we really shine , I did my first Cinema/chat to a whole bunch off ... air force boys , US Brass staff and Admirals , funny I nailed it , little hesitation .. then puked it out , great thing everyone got in on the deal and it was so easy to do.

[Ian Warren]

Marty -
But the last job I had, I won when I was 60
No surrender!

I do like that ... ATTITUDE ! strike hard and fast .. I will see how I go this coming Monday

[Ian Warren]

Looking across the entire spectrum , it is funny how much one knows without them or the one knowing it , today I spent a good three ta four hours reading one specific book "Raiding the Reich" by Roger A Freeman , the detail and the study off photos .. many NZ historical based , .. one photo showed a 21 year old ... a New Zealand chap , the youngest taken command off No.75 squadron in 1944 till the end off the war ... I seriously look and think how different times are , Its funny my knowledge and how I apply it , .....

.... BE looking forward to hear the results off your Monday !

[Fozzer]

"Hard being 57"

Blimey!... ...!

I wish I was 57 again....

...and just getting ready for my new 'Bus Pass, free TV Licence, a new Harley Street Glide Motorbike, and an up-coming future life extension of 24+ years! ..... ...!

It must be nice being "Young", Marty!... ...!

Paul... ...!

.....just missing the Harley Street Glide at the moment!... ...!