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No clocking off

Meet the workers who are still coping with the ups and downs of the job market

The accountant

Five years ago Colin Skipton, 60, a qualified accountant, found himself jobless when the company he directed was taken over.

He hit the recruitment agencies, ploughed the Internet and went on several courses without success.

“Unless you are 35 and buzzing no one wants to know. You are interviewed by 25-year olds who, although they don’t say it in so many words, clearly think you are past it. One told me I’d been stuck in the same company for too long.

”Some are obviously ageist but mostly the discrimination is silent. You know your experience is exactly what they are looking for but they say things like “You’re too qualified”, “You don’t quite match our profile” or a post is suddenly filled.”

After 135 applications and five interviews Colin secured a job in a finance department but unfortunately that company also folded.

He then temped for a time before being offered his current job as second in command of another finance department.

The solicitor

Last year Felicity Pape, 58, gave up her job as a solicitor after a career spanning 20 years to try and achieve a better work-life balance.

“I made a list of things I could do ranging from the improbable such as becoming an actress to the less rewarding such as cleaning. At the end I was left with around half a dozen more or less realistic options.

“I didn’t want to do any expensive retraining so I opted for a three-month IT course and have since worked as a temp, most recently as a medical secretary. I have not been aware of any age discrimination but my ambitions have deliberately been quite modest.

“I have recently been offered a full-time clerical/admin job with the civil service. I will be on a lot less pay than before but some things are more important than money.”

The management lecturer

Sylvia Tuck, 62, found herself out of work after a career that included lecturing, running her own management training company and working as a quality manager in a software company.

Despite having an MSc in Public Sector Management she found it impossible to find a job that matched her qualifications and experience and is now working part-time at as a PA.

“In my experience once you hit 60 employers don’t want to know. Many young managers don’t realise that you have accumulated the very knowledge and skills that they’re trying pick up.

“The fact that so many older people are put out to grass on menial tasks is such a waste of talent.

”As for the anti-age discrimination law, there will be a lot of lip service and a few examples of good practice but in 10 years nothing much will have changed.”

The computer technician

Charles Drecksler, 61, was made redundant just before his 50th birthday after working for 27 years as a computer technician for Rolls Royce. He applied for over 70 jobs without success.

Finally after doing an Access Course, he applied for a job as a Phonebank Advisor with Lloyds TSB but was turned down on the grounds that his customer service was poor and that he lacked confidence.

He called the bank saying he was unhappy with this and threatened to contact the press and tell them he was refused because of his age. He was immediately invited for an interview.

“The first hour was torrid and hostile but eventually they seemed to warm to me and after a further hour I was offered another interview which went extremely well and I got the job.”

Although other employees were initially wary Charles was a great success. His picture was even used in recruitment adverts. He retired at the end of last year aged 60 and since then has been doing voluntary work.

“If there is one thing I’ve learned it is that people of our age have a lot to offer and if you can just get your head in the door you can make a big difference,” says Charles.

The personal assistant

Pam Barnett, 63, works in the photo lab of a large supermarket to make ends meet. A former PA on £1,300 a month, she now earns just £6 an hour and takes home £300.

“When I got made redundant I applied for 50 or 60 jobs advertised in the paper all of which I was more than qualified for but most didn’t even bother to reply.

“I also applied for at least 20 jobs over the Internet, of which only a couple had the manners to say, ‘Sorry but no thank you.’

“At one interview they told me I had an excellent CV but still didn’t offer me the job. I’ve learned not to mention my age but it is a shame because people over 60 have such a lot to offer.”

The engineer

Geoffrey Billings, 72, was made redundant at the age of 59 after a long career in engineering and management.

“I found the Job Centres useless. Unless you happened to be on the spot when jobs came in they didn’t put you forward.”

Eventually Geoffrey set up his own management consultancy company and worked until 66 when his wife became ill with cancer.

“Many agencies are staffed with people in their 20s and 30s who think anyone over 40 is past it.

“You’ve got to make it clear what you are capable of. Often working as a temp is the best way forward. I deliberately didn’t put dates on my CV and worked at making it informative.”

The research biologist

Bill Foster, 79, retired from his job as a researcher with the Department of Agriculture at 60. With few openings in his own field he decided to retrain to do Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

“I applied for several TEFL courses, at least one of which turned me down on the grounds of my age, saying that in their experience older people were less flexible.”

Bill persevered and eventually got on a course and has since taught all over Asia and Europe. In between teaching stints he trained and worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Today he works for the Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen and Families Association in a similar capacity.

“In all my jobs I have found age to be an asset. However it is important for older people not to be arrogant and recognise that there is another generation with different ways of doing things.”

The health and safety executive

Carol Younger discovered that she wasn’t entitled to her full pension for another seven years at age 58.

The company she was working for asked her to sort out their health and safety procedures. She embarked on an NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety and was offered a job as Group Health and Safety Adviser for the company six months before her 60th birthday. Today, at 64, she is head of department.

She says, “It’s not about age. It’s about grasping the opportunities that come your way. I have been lucky to be working for a company that is not blinded by a few grey hairs.

“I work with people of all ages and can honestly say that I have never felt discriminated against. In fact, quite the opposite is true. I believe my experience and maturity have tood me in good stead.”

The headteacher

When Stephen Smith, 58, a former primary school head teacher, applied for new work after taking early retirement he put in 80 applications.

“Some companies didn’t even bother to reply and about 30 sent polite refusal letters, some of which I suspect were on account of my age.”

On the advice of his local Job Centre Stephen did an NVQ in administration as part of the New Deal 50 plus.

While still at college he got a job as a part-time helper at a drop-in centre for people with mental health problems and was subsequently offered a job as a full-time support worker for a mental health charity.

“The work is satisfying and challenging and I love every minute of it. Although I now earn far less than before, with the help of my wife’s wages and my occupational pension, we get by. It’s the quality of life that counts,” he says.

Written by Patsy Westcott

New BBC2 Series

Are you aged 50-65, retired, or out of work, and fancy going back on the floor?

A new BBC2 series is looking for people to take part in a primetime series to see if age and experience is worth more than youthful enthusiasm.

If you, or someone you know, would like a challenge and has retired from one of the following professions - hairdressing, advertising, property sales, fashion, fitness or tourism - call: 020 7284 1441 or email: stuartfroude@twentytwenty.tv

Ex-teacher - new role?

This article was created: 25 July 2006.
This article was last edited: 16 February 2007.

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