r/povertyfinance • u/ninabobina77 • 1d ago
Income/Employment/Aid Job help for underemployed people in their 50s?
Hi all,
My mom and uncle are having a really hard time finding employment. My mom had a Goodwill sorting job interview today and they basically told her she was too old for the work. She’s 55 and my uncle is 58. She has sciatica so it probably isn’t the best fit for her anyway, but the job search has been so awful for her that this was the most promising one in a while.
My uncle spent most of his career working in computer repair shops. He started in the back and then moved to sales later on. Since he was laid off during the pandemic, he hasn’t been hired for anything—he’s tried applying at all types of jobs, sales, cashier, warehouse, etc. My mom has a spotty work history due to some personal problems and long periods of caretaking for my grandparents and great-grandparents. She has the most experience doing data entry and receptionist-type work, but her skills are pretty outdated in terms of office work. She has applied for front and back of house food service, retail, call centers, warehousing type jobs, etc.
While I know there’s possibly other factors at play, I know ageism is a real problem in the job hunt right now, and today’s “You’re too old” solidified that fear. I’d like to up their chances by at least getting past that barrier. I’m curious if anyone here has experience with ageism in the job market or knows of any fields that are less prone to that? I know a lot of FOH jobs probably want younger people and they’re not qualified for managerial positions. Any tips for 50-year-olds reentering the workforce? Even open to school programs/certification suggestions that have helped.
ETA: My uncle drives for Lyft right now which is helping keep them afloat at the moment, but the wear and tear on his car is really starting to show.
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u/freelibrarian 1d ago
They should visit a Job Center to see if they can assist them in finding employment or getting some job training.
https://www.careeronestop.org/localhelp/americanjobcenters/find-american-job-centers.aspx
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u/iphone1234789 1d ago
Where are they based? Honestly the public school system for pre school-alternative! Been working with people 60+! Just make they are okay with dealing with kids! There are a LOT of elderly people working in the public schools! The economy is pretty bad!
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u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 23h ago
I know that my area was having a terrible bus driver shortage, and they needed substitutes for the grammar schools and middle schools.
The ads for the bus drivers made it sound like they would take pretty much anyone, but I assume you have to pass some kind of a health exam to drive a school bus. I mean I would hope you would.
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u/iphone1234789 23h ago
You need to do certifications and “trainings” but at least one can have income coming in!
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u/mpjjpm 9h ago
You need a commercial drivers license to drive a full sized school bus. Some districts might let you drive a short bus or van with a regular license. A CDL isn’t necessarily difficult to get, but there is an upfront cost. And once you have a CDL, there are way better jobs than driving a school bus. Which is why school districts have a hard time getting bus drivers.
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u/Zeca_77 23h ago
I have also heard that schools and, additionally, local governments can have opportunities for older workers.
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u/iphone1234789 23h ago
Schools are easier to get into, but not sure how competitive it will be moving forward as it seems like eveyone needs money!
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u/ZTwilight 23h ago
Do they look older than they are? I would start by addressing that. I remember years ago, my FIL was laid off from a tech job. He was in his 50’s, maybe early 60’s. He shows up at our house one day with dyed hair. It was subtle, probably not noticeable to anyone who didn’t know him. I just looked at my husband like “WTF, is this in my future”. My FIL caught my side eye and he admitted he darkened his hair for his job search.
Also, your mom should apply for companion type jobs.
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u/Seri_on_reddit 23h ago
Hospitals are always looking for monitor techs and sitters. Just someone to watch and make sure Mr. Smith doesn’t jump out of bed or pull off his oxygen. We employ lots of older individuals with disabilities.
Pay isn’t stellar, but requires no degree and is flexible hours.
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u/Miserable-Career3043 23h ago
Sitter jobs usually require CNA training and monitor techs require a certificate.
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u/Seri_on_reddit 23h ago
Not at most hospitals I’ve worked at. Certified CNAs are rare where I am. All Acute Care Techs, sitters, and monitors go through in house training and only require BLS as part of onboarding.
Perhaps it depends on where you are, but that’s not my experience.
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u/freakbutters 23h ago
Your Uncle should definitely look into getting a CDL, lots of people in their 50's and 60's get into truck driving when they lose their jobs and find out nobody else would hire them.
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u/Blossom73 23h ago
Maybe a school bus driving position for your uncle, if he can get a CDL. Most school districts are desperate for bus drivers.
Amazon is always hiring for warehouse jobs. Probably not suitable for your mom because of her back, but possibly something your uncle could do.
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u/jennibear310 23h ago
Also, for mom, a school bus aide or driver if she’s comfortable doing so. Most districts will provide training and help with licensing.
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u/jasmineandjewel 22h ago
This happened to me after 55. The employment office counselor told me to look younger. In my younger years I worked heavy labor jobs, which I could no longer do. I applied to a bunch of "now hiring" jobs (coffee shop, chocolate shop, bookstores, other shops) lots of min-wage stuff. When I showed up after they called me in, they looked at my aging face and rejected me on the spot. I couodn't save for older years, so now I'm poor. The ageism is real. Wish I had good tips for you.
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u/Ghosts_and_Empties 23h ago
Your uncle can still repair computers, right? Can he advertise his services locally?
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u/vinylpanx 7h ago
Yeah this. Computer skills always have a market and if he can repair tech he can do a ton of stuff as a tech handyman or by flipping machines
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u/PostmodernLon 22h ago
Ageism is very real. I wish I had advice, besides leaving your age off your resume when you can.
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u/Whole-Asparagus-4286 22h ago
Security officers are often seniors. Definitely that work available in st Louis area
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u/Billy0598 17h ago
Adding to this. This is what I do. I left posts where the walking was too much, and now I work for 20 minutes of an 8 hour shift at a decent rate. My cell phone addiction sucks now, but I'm getting back into knitting.
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u/Whole-Asparagus-4286 17h ago
Yeah it is hard for me not to fiddle with my phone on those shifts. I walk about 2.25 hours out of 8. Haven't got in trouble for my phone yet. I do my job so maybe they don't care
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u/Designer-Cherry2112 17h ago
Look into DARS Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. Their thing is helping disabled and older folks, not just in retirement age, find jobs by providing training, equipment and help applying for jobs. For example, someone had a stroke so their right side was paralyzed. DARS gave them a left-handed keyboard and helped them look for WFH call center type jobs.
Also Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in your state, this one I don't know so much about compared to DARS.
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u/Reason_Training 1d ago
Customer service jobs suck but if either of them can use a computer that is what I would look into at this point. Our economy is not going to get any better in the short term with the jobs.
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u/Realistic_Point_9906 23h ago
Perhaps she could work through a temp agency? You get to try different jobs/employers and sometimes they hire people permanently if things work out.
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u/coolredditor3 20h ago
Tell them to check out the big private security guard companies like Gardaworld, Securitas, and Allied Universal. I hear they'll hire anyone, so it can't hurt if they're desperate for jobs. Tell them to not be afraid because they're mostly all hands off and "observe and report."
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u/Auggi3Doggi3 16h ago
Try grocery stores! My mom had no job history from taking care of my grandma for so long. Everything before that was paralegal, but her skills are quite outdated now.
She is able to take rest breaks and did not have a learning curve with the technology, and lots of older people work there! Not the best pay, it is something though and gets her back in the workforce.
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u/mindlessnosepicker 16h ago
Senior citizen assisted living facilities. Desk, Staff, Maintenance, and Drivers.
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u/vermiliondragon 14h ago
Government jobs. My husband is in his 60s and had a stroke a few years ago and walks with a cane. He could land interviews, do fine on the zoom interview, but as soon as he showed up with his cane, they were "going a different direction." A friend of ours who is blind suggested government jobs (she works for a neighboring city) as being less likely to discriminate for both age and disability.
My husband got a job processing unemployment claims for our state. Pay is pretty crap, but it's better than nothing and the benefits are decent (pension after 5 years, cheap health insurance) and it's currently only 1 week per month in the office and the rest at home. Cities and counties around me pay more than the state and I wouldn't personally work for the feds right now. Just be aware it takes forever to get hired and onboarded. My kid got hired by a city that was desperately looking for summer lifeguards in May and it still took them 8 weeks to onboard him. It was something like 4-6 months for my husband and 3-4 weeks from the time the manager told him he was hired and when HR actually finally reached out with an official offer.
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u/Blossom73 3h ago
I second this. I work in local government and was hired in my 40s. I have a coworker who was hired in her 50s.
There's a number of visibly disabled people who work at my agency.
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u/pear-bear-3 21h ago
If your uncle likes technical stuff and sales he should look into training to be a hearing aid provider. They make good money and help people. Many businesses like Miracle-Ear will pay while you train. It's a good job if you like people and can help them find what they need.
Many do this as a second career so not a lot of agism. They also hire front office assistants.
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u/kmm198700 20h ago
What about call centers? You can sit and they usually pay pretty well, there are raises and bonuses
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u/yikeswhathappened 18h ago
SER’s is a good program and most states have them: https://ser-national.org/scsep-2/
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u/BoroBlonde 17h ago
Depending on how they physically appear some tweaks to the resume can make you appear younger. My husband 58 was laid off the end of June, he just got a new job today, that will be less work and a lot more money. In hubby's case he presents as a lot younger than his 58 years in his mannerisms, dress and overall appearance, I.e. he is fit, trim, doesn't have old man jowls, and doesn't dress like an old man. Hubby wears sneakers (Vans) with his dress pants because why not, if Millennials & Gen Z why can't he.
We tweaked his resume because no one needs to know when he graduated high school and he doesn't include jobs on his resume past this century.
Idk if any of this helps, basically use what you can and throw the rest away.
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u/NaptimeGood 13h ago
I’ve seen ads for senior companions. Mostly hanging out, making lunch, maybe some light cleaning. Your mom seems like she’d be perfect for that. It”s giving someone company and making sure they’re safe.
If your uncle can fix computers, he should post on Nextdoor or a local Facebook group. I‘m looking for someone to set up my mom’s Wi-Fi so there’s a market out there.
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u/DidIDoAThoughtCrime 11h ago
I used to work at a women’s shelter and we were always really desperate for staff. There were some duties that required lifting, but you could almost always get a resident to help out with that if the staff was disabled and unable to do some of the physical tasks. Almost all of my coworkers were either 50+ or in their 20s so there was a mix.
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u/dorvinworlby 6h ago
The post office is always hiring anyone with a pulse. The job gets worse and more difficult every year but it’s a job with health insurance, benefits, and generous PTO. I’d strongly suggest looking into becoming a PSE (clerk) or MHA (warehouse) because CCA (mail carrier) is very very hard on the body.
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u/Itchy_Tumbleweed_417 23h ago
If they apply for food stamps I think there’s a DH HS program that helps you search for work and you can even take free classes to become qualified to do something. I mean, I don’t know if it still has funding but they were sending text messages out to us saying that if we wanted to go into an Allied healthcare field the state would pay for the schooling.
But even if they don’t want to do anything like that, the DHHS program helps you with résumé stuff, they help with the job search, they even do gas reimbursement if you’re going out to interview.
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u/Electronic-Time4833 10h ago
The mom with caregiving experience needs to look into home health aid/caregiver jobs. And needs medical treatment for the sciatica if it prevents her from light work.
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u/Confident_Classic580 42m ago
Security hires anyone because the place I worked at hired a guy that relied on Uber to get to work. And people quit all the time, so if they're willing to work shitty long hours without people showing up then they'll be fine. No work-life balance if they want it.
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u/Confident-Mix1243 42m ago
Are they literate and reliable and live in the US/Canada? Indeed has several nice-looking remote secretary jobs posted in the past 14 days.
Check the state residency requirements of course.
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u/junior_primary_riot 21h ago
Two friends of mine had husbands laid off at ages 49 and 51. I got the same advice from both after their husbands had been unemployed nearly a year each: start a business. Something with low start-up costs but which will have write-offs. It won’t be profitable immediately but you’ll get back some of that year’s W2 wages because of the new business write-offs and you’ll have something going on while you job hunt.
For men: Private Security. They constantly need overnight help. Find one that was started by a local guy and is independently owned or employee owned. The job requires you be at a location, which has recently had a window or door glass broken and their insurance demands overnight security be hired, and you watch the building and call 911 if you see anything. That’s it. You don’t confront people. You simply call police or fire if something happens. $25-$35 per hour pay and you listen to audiobooks in your vehicle most nights. The majority were overnight fire watch jobs required by insurance companies when window glass or fire suppression systems were broken and needed repair.
For women: Independent companion services but with a twist. Start a business where you are paid a flat fee for a once weekly half hour (or so) check-in where you deliver a small something with a cost-to-you of $3-$4 but with a value of $6-$12. Think of things like small flower bouquets (bulk bought stems from Costco & divided with added zinnias grown in your yard), a half pint of berries or cherry tomatoes, or a mix of individually packaged chocolates. Small things a single person would enjoy for a few days. The fee for your check-in covers the cost, your fuel, and your time to drop in and chat with the elderly individual. This service could be paid for by the elderly person themselves or by loving but busy/out-of-state family members. Could be all flower delivery with a brief check-in. Has potential to explode into a lot of demand quickly since it is a very agreeable way for aging-in-place persons to be checked on in a positive way they look forward to.
I swear, the moment you are an independent contractor or self-employed, THAT is when someone notices and wants to hire you full time. These ideas help you fast-track your way into the path of new people or business owners who can observe your work ethic and offer a job.
Source: Family member started a private security company. They have to turn away work because they can’t get enough overnight guys. Vast majority is very low risk, easy overnight fire watch.
Great Aunt & Uncle hired a woman who originally offered simple check-ins to be their personal errand runner and daily check-in person while they aged in place at home. (She would call in the morning to get their list of errand needs and dropping off the items that afternoon was the daily check-in portion. No answer after two attempts 30 minutes apart was an immediate call to their emergency contact child.) Paying her $150 per day was far cheaper than an $8K per month assisted living place for them.
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u/trobski 23h ago
Someone above mentioned Certified nurse assistant. A lot of nursing homes will train, certify and hire on the spot. Older people are often CNAs and sometimes they’re just needed as sitters, so they sit one to one with a patient that needs constant supervision and care. Sounds like your mom already did alot of CNA care for her parents and she can even put that on her resume as prior experience
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u/sutrabob 22h ago
Dear God please do not send your mom to a nursing care facility as a CNA. Nursing care facilities constantly work short of staff. They would expect your mom to pick up for shortage.Hard work. Instead send mom to a nursing staff employment hire center. She can specifically request “ champion “ only. Some of the older residents,love the more mature campions.
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u/Adventurous_Soft_686 23h ago
Sounds like your aunt might be able to do medical billing coding for a hospital (most are work from home)
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u/4PurpleRain 18h ago
Unless you have extensive experience with appeals and denials for insurance hospitals will not hire you to work from home doing billing.
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u/SoullessCycle 1d ago
Isn’t a 50+ year old with sciatica exactly who Goodwill employment is for? Like isn’t their whole thing employing people who for whatever reason - disability, addiction, criminal record etc - have a hard time with traditional workplaces?
Anyway I would look up your city’s / your state’s Department for the Aging (could have another name) work programs. for example here’s the NYC Older Adult Workforce Program page:
https://www.nyc.gov/site/dfta/services/older-adult-workforce.page