General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAfter 6 years and hundreds of job applications I got a job!
When I took early retirement my intention was to heal up and then find something new. I had no idea it would take so long or that people would look at my age and dismiss my credentials almost immediately.
I got a job at a university in a grant sponsored position as a project manager! It is part-time but the pay is decent and it will go a long way to help our financial position. It is a 3 year grant so that takes me to a spot where I can get social security.
The job is perfect for me!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Mass
(27,315 posts)femmocrat
(28,394 posts)Sounds like a great job!
Squinch
(50,956 posts)WillowTree
(5,325 posts)1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)geardaddy
(24,931 posts)Matrosov
(1,098 posts)Moostache
(9,897 posts)I hope that you find lasting prosperity and fulfillment in this new endeavor!
RockaFowler
(7,429 posts)Congrats!
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)IronLionZion
(45,463 posts)Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Lars39
(26,109 posts)peace13
(11,076 posts)OMG we had that happen here in February and it is life changing! I am so happy for you! YES!!!
irisblue
(32,982 posts)calimary
(81,329 posts)Congratulations!
That's TERRIFIC!!!!
You've suffered enough. LONG in coming, and WELL-deserved!
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)DocMac
(1,628 posts)2naSalit
(86,650 posts)karynnj
(59,504 posts)TonyPDX
(962 posts)villager
(26,001 posts)niyad
(113,407 posts)BlueMTexpat
(15,370 posts)Congratulations!
jonno99
(2,620 posts)BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)and wonderful career at the university!
pkdu
(3,977 posts)cosmicone
(11,014 posts)Hekate
(90,719 posts)gademocrat7
(10,661 posts)shenmue
(38,506 posts)democrattotheend
(11,605 posts)Congratulations! I hope everything goes well.
Fla Dem
(23,694 posts)renate
(13,776 posts)That's wonderful! Enjoy!!
AwakeAtLast
(14,132 posts)So happy for you!
Mister K
(450 posts)redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)Yesterday when I found out I felt like that movie "Dave" where he says "everybody works on Monday" .
Thanks for all the support when I was insane the past few years, especially the last year.
underpants
(182,839 posts)Congrats
flying_wahini
(6,611 posts)And a clap on the back for being finished with the search!
EllieBC
(3,016 posts)Yo_Mama
(8,303 posts)onecaliberal
(32,865 posts)lark
(23,123 posts)Getting a job and getting sanity with your personal financial situation is gold. Hope the job is everything good you're hoping for.
Stellar
(5,644 posts)steve2470
(37,457 posts)raccoon
(31,111 posts)Silver_Witch
(1,820 posts)I hope it is perfect!
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)Ilsa
(61,695 posts)ashling
(25,771 posts)livetohike
(22,147 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)MarianJack
(10,237 posts)PEACE!
Warpy
(111,282 posts)Most people I know who took (were forced into) early retirement have had to settle for part time patchworks of dead end jobs so they don't have to deplete their savings before Medicare and Social Security kick in.
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)Our savings had gotten down to almost nothing so this is a blessing. The pressure on older workers in the workforce to take "early retirement" is strong. Academia has always been the one place where that behavior was not common but not any longer. If you have a chronic illness, even if it doesn't impact your job, you are not absent a great deal it doesn't matter, they want you out. You are a drain on their insurance.
This doesn't have benefits, but I am good with that. I am doing something valuable, and being paid a good wage to do it. They seem happy to have me actually .
I feel totally blessed, I know a lot of people who have given up.
frankieallen
(583 posts)IrishEyes
(3,275 posts)Congratulations! I'm happy for you.
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)seabeyond
(110,159 posts)sheshe2
(83,793 posts)yuiyoshida
(41,833 posts)congrats!
Phentex
(16,334 posts)Continued success to you!
allan01
(1,950 posts)rurallib
(62,427 posts)but at our age we don't want the hips to wear out too quickly so we won't do that again.
flpoljunkie
(26,184 posts)So pleased for you!
radhika
(1,008 posts)pshediack
(68 posts)Congratulations on the new job as a project manager. With a three-year grant funded position, you have time to build your experience as a project manager, apply for your project management professional certification and you'll never have a problem finding a job as a PM again.
(I've been a certified PM since 1999).
see www.pmi.org for details on the certification for project managers
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Happy for you!
brer cat
(24,579 posts)"Perfect for you" makes it even better!
FailureToCommunicate
(14,014 posts)BobTheSubgenius
(11,564 posts)beyond being part of DU, but I am very happy for you! Happier still because people in our demographic need a break!
ailsagirl
(22,897 posts)I'm delighted to read your news!!!
edbermac
(15,941 posts)raven mad
(4,940 posts)lillypaddle
(9,581 posts)k8conant
(3,030 posts)sueh
(1,826 posts)lavenderdiva
(10,726 posts)I'm so sorry that it took so long for a firm to recognize the experience and talent you will be bringing to this new company. I'm glad you will be doing something you enjoy-
herding cats
(19,565 posts)I'm very happy for your new position!
Bigredhunk
(1,351 posts)Great news!!
AntiBank
(1,339 posts)silvershadow
(10,336 posts)Loki
(3,825 posts)My cousin just got his grant approval from the VA and I know all the hard work that goes into applying for and implementing the work that is done. Good luck on this new journey.
R B Garr
(16,954 posts)Great news!
drm604
(16,230 posts)I've been looking for over a year and I'm at the end of my rope. I couldn't go for 6 years.
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)My search began in late 2010, I used all of my contacts, went to networking events even though I was the oldest person there looking for work. I carried my resume with me everywhere I went. The most difficult day was the day I got a no letter from a retail store because my doctor could not certify I could lift 40 pounds (I had back surgery a number of years ago).
Keep looking, don't lose hope! Come here for support, pm me if you want I'll help boost you up like some of the DU people did for me.
It can be very depressing I'll admit, some of the no letters I got were awful, reading between the lines "we don't want you old woman" . My mind works fine, my body is not what it was at 20, but I get around really well for someone who had fusion surgery.
Tell everyone you are looking, I know this is hard but tell them you will take anything! I got this because of volunteer work I had done with a STEM program. I was noticed and then they approached me.
Have someone you trust who is younger than you are retool your resume and cover letters. Mine was really stale and I didn't see it. I gave it to one of my former students and it came back ready to go! I got my first interviews after that exercise .
Keep your chin up! If I found something you will!!!
GummyBearz
(2,931 posts)That is some good advice at the end there. I had kind of the reverse problem coming out of college... my resume was erratic as hell. I got help from a friend in his later 20's and boy what a difference it made to have a well formatted resume that just pops out.
In one interview I had (for a 100,000+ employee company), the interviewer asked me if I was related to one of the VPs, because some how my resume made it all the way to his desk... I should have paid my friend for his help.
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)It has been a long haul but boy does this feel great! There have been a few times when I have come here for support and it came in the way of PMs and posts. Lots of help, lots of support!
Thanks! I'm buying a good bottle of wine for tonight!