Are my working days behind me ?
I'm just about to turn 60, I was self employed for most of my working life in the building trade then 3 years ago I had to cease doing my job due to long term exposure to my working enviroment.
After 18 months of dealing with my new health condition I decided I will try and get a job like driving a bus as well as a few other types of jobs.
I have the skills etc but in all the interviews I was turned down due to not being able to provide adequate references and the main reason I was told was companies don't like hiring people that were previously self employed now.
The reason I cannot provide adequate references is the previous nature of my work was extremely mobile only being on a site for 1 day to several months at a time. Over the years my contacts came & went left the Industry etc etc so I never really had a long standing relationship with a company or onsite managers.
I sought the help from employment councilors in which they told me yes this is very common now and I will find it extremly hard now even after the age of 45.
I turned to Centrelink in which they said yes you have nearly zero chances of getting a job now. Problem is I'm too young to get a pension being a baby boomer.
I eventully got a job for approx 6 months but had to leave as it required me to be kneeling on my knees nearly all day.
I did aslo do doing some manual work for several months for some friends only to find it made my health condition a lot worse so that was the worst thing I could have done.
I haven't given up but I am starting to think I may be retired??
Only other thought is buy yourself a job like a courier etc but honestly I treid that in my early twentys and financially it wasn't worth it.
Im not keen on starting a new business either those days are behind me.
Now in this covid situation jobs will be even harder to come by.
Should I just accept that I'm retired?
Thoughts?
Advrider
Are you on a Disabilities pension ?
Have you thought of doing a training course in Tafe ??
Have you put any money into Superannuation ??
Bunnings do employ elderly staff with experience in the building industry.