This week we’re talking about finding work in today’s world later in life. Alison Barker, 51, from Frodsham, contacted me suggesting I write a feature about women who may be finding ‘the change of life’ challenging in some way.
Although now working in full-time employment as a business development manager for a building society, when Alison relocated to Spain when her husband’s retirement, she had to completely re-establish her life in another country.
She managed to set up her own mortgage company over there but after 15 years, was forced to return to the UK in 2009 after the property market collapsed and people no longer required mortgages.
She said: “I came back into the UK jobs market at the age of 47 and despite my husband having a pension, it was not comfortable enough for us to live on.
“I was not entitled to any financial assistance whilst I searched for work. I worked part time for a friend’s company but found the commute was too long.
“Despite always finding job searching relatively easy in the past, this time I spent seven months searching – registering with agencies, sending speculative letters and emails before I was offered work.”
Alison admits that although it is still possible for older people to find jobs, it can be more difficult although there are advantages.
“At 50-something you are not ‘old’, but your mature outlook can add immense value to an organisation.
“Whereas when you were young you may have ‘jumped’ into a situation without thinking, you are now much better at looking at something from both sides, possibly diffusing a difficult situation or adding value to a project .
“Fifty-somethings are usually able to put themselves into the shoes of a client or colleague and use their life experiences to deal with a complaint or a situation request – which will end up benefiting their employer or client.”
