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AIBU?

To think that anyone over 40 who gets made redundant and has very limited academic qualifications will never get a job that pays over £6.50 Per Hour.

18 replies

smokepole · 24/07/2014 20:47

There are people over 40 who have worked since 16 full time and through no fault of their own, have been made redundant and have little chance of finding employment that pays even a 'liveable wage'. The job centre and Government policy have no interest in helping these people get jobs that pay a living wage , all they want to do is get them 'off the books' and force people who have paid Tax and National Insurance in most cases for many years in to any employment regardless of whether it is suitable. I am a victim of this very unlikely to ever get a reasonable job despite working from 16 years of age to 40 . I am very lucky that I do not have to work for minimum wage and can be supported although I feel 'sick' that I am technically unemployable to do anything worthwhile.

I know my posts tend to annoy people, I am just a bit gutted this evening thinking about it.

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MrsWinnibago · 24/07/2014 21:01

Well...yabu and yanbu. The vast MAJORITY of over 40s with no qualifications would struggle for sure. But some would not.

My DH has no qualifications but continues to earn more than 6.50 per hour as a casual painter and decorator.

If he was laid off tomorrow I have no doubt he'd find more work within a week or two and earn more than 6.50 per hour.

But you're right....when I have curiously looked at jobs online, I find a LARGE proportion are low paid care work jobs etc.

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cailindana · 24/07/2014 21:04

Not necessarily. It depends on what experience they have behind them and what skills they've built up in the years of working. A lot of people will have the ability to set up their own business or transfer their skills to a new area. It's definitely hard, and not something everyone can do, but it's not impossible.

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flopsytherabbit · 24/07/2014 21:08

That is a generalisation. I accepted VR a year ago and took a few months off to rest and review my career path. I am the wrong side of 40, have no formal education after sixth form. I earn significantly more than minimum wage.

My previous role became my launch pad into my new career and maybe it depends on the experience you can bring to another job.

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TheBogQueen · 24/07/2014 21:10

You can earn considerably more than minimum wage if you work shifts, particularly if you work unsocial hours. I got a basic of around £8/hour but double time for 10-hr nightshift and time and three quarters for sat/sun. I knew some ft people with very few qualifications earning nearly £30,000 on permanent nightshift.

You need a good employer though... But the jobs are there if you are lucky

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MrsWinnibago · 24/07/2014 21:11

Aldi pay well.

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BabyMarmoset · 24/07/2014 21:12

I I would hope that someone made redundant could find a similar job in the same sector or take that experience and skills gained and use them in another sector.

I wouldn't expect it to be easy, and for sure it won't happen for some... But I see no reason to think you are on the scrap heap.

At 40 you have at least 25 working years ahead of you. There is plenty of time to work up a new ladder

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stagsden · 24/07/2014 21:15

Qualifications dont matter if you sell yourself and your experience in the right way.

My dad took voluntary redundancy from high power job at 55, he couldnt get a basic admin job (what he wanted), however he easily got offers to do the same as what hed been doing before in other companies. So he ended up going back into high powered role instead of stepping down like hed hoped.

So get your confidence up. Remember you dont need qualifications if you have the experience and get out there!

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ExitPursuedByAKoalaBear · 24/07/2014 21:18

That is really interesting stag.

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flopsytherabbit · 24/07/2014 21:22

I was also told several times that my experience was much more valuable than qualifications. You can't get a degree to gain 20+ years of experience!

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DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 24/07/2014 21:32

I drive HGVs for between £10-14ph, depending on the customer. If I wanted the overtime I could pull in £40K.

Some of my colleagues are functionally illiterate, but that doesn't mean a thing in our game. I've got a degree and I'm regarded as a pain in the arse who asks too many questions.

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smokepole · 24/07/2014 21:35

Thank you everybody. I am lucky as I have said that there is no need for me to work for poor wages, its just I want to do something worthwhile.
I have also registered for a Social Science Degree with the Open University In October, having done quite well with an Access course ,but assuming I go all the way through I will be 47 . My eldest Daughter who hopefully is off to Leicester University persuaded me to give it a go and I registered last week for DD102.

I worked for said company for 7 years( 16- 20 hours a week) It suited me with teenagers after previously working for Mum and Dads company ( Nobody takes you seriously when you have only previously worked in a family business) your CV is worthless and when you start employment elsewhere, you experience is worthless.

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Boaty · 24/07/2014 21:41

I'm still trying to get on the career ladder aged 47. Not made redundant but a 'return to worker' when I was 40. Educated to A level standard..no opportunity to get further when I was young. Now I've built up 'experience' I'm considered too good in present role to let go up.
I'm starting an OU degree in Oct in a relevant subject in the hope they will take me seriously, but I'm not hopeful. They prefer pushing forward less able younger staff members.

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Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 24/07/2014 21:42

My dh works in the nuclear industry. I wouldn't say his qualifications are academic but they are taken very seriously in the engineering sector and he can command over £50 an hour. It's not 'academic' work but it is very skilled and specialist.

You really need to make sure you find something that you enjoy. Don't slog yourself for four years doing a degree to just join the thousands of undergraduates that can't get a job.

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Boaty · 24/07/2014 21:55

To an extent my degree is for me too..to prove I can do it..if it helps me gain at work then I will be happy. I need to earn more but without relevant experience plus qualifications I can't go up but I can't get the experience above my present role..very frustrating. Particularly when I watch younger staff being promoted over me with less knowledge.
I screwed myself over by a mixture of poor decisions and unavoidable responsibilities when I was young.
If I try to get another job I will be starting over again trying to convince another employer I'm worth employing at above NMW!

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smokepole · 25/07/2014 20:29

Boaty. The Open University degree is the same for me, to prove or at least have a go at a challenge . It is also a huge step up for me because prior to doing an access course that I have just completed, I have not done anything educational since getting 4D grades and 1E GCSE in 1990. It is also not important to me whether I get a First, Second ,just as long as I pass even that to me would be equal to a first for some people.

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JourneyingAlong · 25/07/2014 20:31

This scares me. Both my husband and I are looking to/have to career change. It's tough.

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summerconcert · 25/07/2014 20:38

MIL had something similar.

She had worked since leaving school, and since the age of about 25 had worked with people with learning difficulties supporting them in their own homes. She took a lot of pride in this work and would work a full five days on then five days off (she would obviously sleep there and be there in emergencies but got a nights sleep) and because there were obviously a lot of hours in it, this paid well.

Then she was made redundant and works for a care agency now. Awful hours and working conditions, and she only gets one day off a week. She hates it.

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XiCi · 25/07/2014 20:49

I don't think that it's academic qualifications that matter once you get past a certain age, it's having relevant experience and contacts within your industry. DH is 45 and has no academic qualifications at all, he was made redundant this year and had a number of offers, and was able to walk straight into another job with an increased salary.

It is tough, I've been there myself in the last few years but you need to be really pushy and make use of any contacts you have.

It's great that you have the opportunity to retrain for something OP. My mum did the same when she was in her 50s and had a successful career until retirement in a job she really loved. Good luck with it.

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