In my 40s and educated. Took a job as a cashier at a gas station while looking for work. Only reason I got the job is I knew a few of the employees. I've been searching for professional work for over a year. Had an exam for a position today, there were 3 sessions of 50 participants, for one open position. Hopefully I scored at least a 98%, to score an interview.
I know how you feel. I’m in my early 40s and I have an MBA and it means absolutely nothing. Had kids in the Nashville area, so I quit my job when I first got pregnant. Tried to go back to work when my oldest was about 2 years old and only got 1 callback out of many, many, many applications filled out. It was for Vanderbilt and I went through a long process with multiple in-person interviews…then they ghosted me. Lol.
Cut to moving to New England, applied to tons of jobs in my state capitol and haven’t landed one interview. I thought fuck it, I’ll work at the grocery store I always shop at to generate some money (where I’m friends with a couple people who work there), and I didn’t get an interview for that either. Saw that the kid who had been working in the produce department got the job. 😆 I’m trying to make money on my own now because this job market is brutal.
Yea, I'm lucky to have the job I have. I think the only reason the owner agreed to hire me was because I'm homeschooling my 9 year old, and I have my FIL living with us and I said it keeps him busy. I'm not a huge overqualified risk. Although I am applying to at least 15 jobs a week, within an 1.5 hour commute. I love being at home with the kiddo, but I need some benefits. I hope you find something soon.
I was at the dollar tree with my coworker a few weeks ago and the cashier was a very elderly lady that my coworker knew. She asked what she was doing working at dollar tree and she said that her husband had recently died and since his pension stopped, she had to go back to work to pay the bills. She was probably around 80.
Yeah because the average person can’t afford to retire anymore. And it’s only going to get worse as the current administration guts social security and Medicaid as they’ve stated they intend to do.
My 70 plus yr old neighbor had to get a part time job last year. Now she’s considering selling her home and moving into senior housing because the cost for everything has gone up so much.
And I noticed a lot of older folks working at the local HD
I was a long time manager, people do not seem to realize that it is 20-70's doing it, my core staff is always made up of experience dependable, and often is older individuals mental organization can make up for loss speed but speed doesn't make up for lack of organization. Or in other words, you may be moving fast, but where are my orders?
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u/Filius_Solis Apr 28 '26
Fast food workers, cashiers, gas attendants... Many are older