Employing ‘older’ workers
Discussion
Out of the blue, it looks like my company are shutting down the unit I am working at.
French-owned company but nothing to do with Brexit or Covid, plain mismanagement!
I reach retirement age next January, but plan (need) to continue working till I am 70. I am healthy enough (just) to do so, and really want to carry on working, if I don’t, I’m stuffed!
Are there any specialist agencies or recruitment consultancies who can place us old folk?
French-owned company but nothing to do with Brexit or Covid, plain mismanagement!
I reach retirement age next January, but plan (need) to continue working till I am 70. I am healthy enough (just) to do so, and really want to carry on working, if I don’t, I’m stuffed!
Are there any specialist agencies or recruitment consultancies who can place us old folk?
vaud said:
Which sector / product / service? (roughly)
I’ll keep it as short as I can! 
Originally an electronics engineer I have worked in :-
Military contracts (for EMI, as it was)
Technical support to European Space Agency.
Then worked as technical support manager for some of the world’s leading professional audio companies (recording, broadcast and live companies)
For the past 18 years I have worked in non-destructive testing. First 6 years as technical support manager, past 12 years as sales engineer/product specialist.
My work involves monitoring the market to watch how the industry evolves technically, liaising with suppliers to specify our product needs, writing manuals, supplying marketing and sales departments with the correct information to promote our products, supporting sales as the technical specialist, installing and commissioning equipment on site, training customers, sales representatives and operators.
Likes... Training, technical presentations, commissioning, travel.
Dislikes... being office-bound, repetitive work, bureaucracy.
For the past 40 years I have spent 30-50% of my working hours travelling abroad.
ETA, current industry is railways.
Edited by Ultra Sound Guy on Tuesday 2nd February 22:00
Contract work running qualification/certification testing.
Travel to test houses, set up product on shaker and/or in environmental test chamber, run test, get results, back to base, write report on why it broke or, miracle of miracles, how it passed.
If you're on contract and happy to do the driving and stay away if necessary, with your experience you shouldn't have too much trouble getting work. It also pays well!
Bigger products may require some lifting, but most test houses have personnel and equipment to assist.
Regarding agencies, get your CV out on as many of the job search engines as possible, then as many technical recruitment agencies as you can. I set myself a goal of 100 CVs sent out and usually got a contract before I'd managed to get 100 done.
Travel to test houses, set up product on shaker and/or in environmental test chamber, run test, get results, back to base, write report on why it broke or, miracle of miracles, how it passed.
If you're on contract and happy to do the driving and stay away if necessary, with your experience you shouldn't have too much trouble getting work. It also pays well!
Bigger products may require some lifting, but most test houses have personnel and equipment to assist.
Regarding agencies, get your CV out on as many of the job search engines as possible, then as many technical recruitment agencies as you can. I set myself a goal of 100 CVs sent out and usually got a contract before I'd managed to get 100 done.
Edited by GliderRider on Wednesday 3rd February 00:51
GliderRider said:
Contract work running qualification/certification testing.
Travel to test houses, set up product on shaker and/or in environmental test chamber, run test, get results, back to base, write report on why it broke or, miracle of miracles, how it passed.
If you're on contract and happy to do the driving and stay away if necessary, with your experience you shouldn't have too much trouble getting work. It also pays well!
Bigger products may require some lifting, but most test houses have personnel and equipment to assist.
Regarding agencies, get your CV out on as many of the job search engines as possible, then as many technical recruitment agencies as you can. I set myself a goal of 100 CVs sent out and usually got a contract before I'd managed to get 100 done.
Ooh Travel to test houses, set up product on shaker and/or in environmental test chamber, run test, get results, back to base, write report on why it broke or, miracle of miracles, how it passed.
If you're on contract and happy to do the driving and stay away if necessary, with your experience you shouldn't have too much trouble getting work. It also pays well!
Bigger products may require some lifting, but most test houses have personnel and equipment to assist.
Regarding agencies, get your CV out on as many of the job search engines as possible, then as many technical recruitment agencies as you can. I set myself a goal of 100 CVs sent out and usually got a contract before I'd managed to get 100 done.
Edited by GliderRider on Wednesday 3rd February 00:51
Reading between the lines 
I’m forecasting the outcome of the meeting!
Our unit’s lease runs out on 2nd December this year. Our design guys have a number if project to finish.
I believe we will be told that business (for us will en sometime between September and end of November.
This will also explain why somone at the main French factory sent us a group email saying they wanted to carry out an audit of our unit requiring us to let them know how our work was done, what skills, experience and qualifications we all had, what specialist equipment and software we all use!.
When I was speaking with the MD recently about ages and retirement he noticeably winced when I told him that I had absolutely no intention of retiring at the permitted age, next January, to which he replied “oh really! Why not?”
Let’s see how close I am to this, meeting is at 10
If I’m right, it gives me some time for a job search!
I’m forecasting the outcome of the meeting!Our unit’s lease runs out on 2nd December this year. Our design guys have a number if project to finish.
I believe we will be told that business (for us will en sometime between September and end of November.
This will also explain why somone at the main French factory sent us a group email saying they wanted to carry out an audit of our unit requiring us to let them know how our work was done, what skills, experience and qualifications we all had, what specialist equipment and software we all use!.
When I was speaking with the MD recently about ages and retirement he noticeably winced when I told him that I had absolutely no intention of retiring at the permitted age, next January, to which he replied “oh really! Why not?”
Let’s see how close I am to this, meeting is at 10
If I’m right, it gives me some time for a job search!
TCX said:
Plenty of contract roles in rail industry specially with hs2 rolling out
Unfortunately my experience is required fo existing systems, not used so much for new rail!Ultrasonic and eddy current testing rail for defects!
I’ll be starting by sending off some speculative letters to our competitors.
Well we had our 'At risk' meeting today.
4 people out of 10 being retained, including me.
Our premises is being closed down but no timescales announced for anything. (lease runs out 2nd December).
Those of us being retained will be working from home and reporting to the main factory in Northampton (We are all in Hampshire).
They will be holding 1-to-1 meetings 'soon' where questions will be answered, should be interesting for me as I'm working in Thailand from next Tuesday for 4 weeks!
It's only a slight reprieve though, there was some indication that they expect me to retire at my retirement age, my long-term finances won't allow that!
So, the job search is underway!
4 people out of 10 being retained, including me.
Our premises is being closed down but no timescales announced for anything. (lease runs out 2nd December).
Those of us being retained will be working from home and reporting to the main factory in Northampton (We are all in Hampshire).
They will be holding 1-to-1 meetings 'soon' where questions will be answered, should be interesting for me as I'm working in Thailand from next Tuesday for 4 weeks!
It's only a slight reprieve though, there was some indication that they expect me to retire at my retirement age, my long-term finances won't allow that!
So, the job search is underway!
Won’t you have to quarantine for 2 of those weekend in Thailand upon arrival?
Some of the quarantine arrangements there are excellent
https://www.anantara.com/en/siam-bangkok/offers/go...
Can even use the poolside around day 7 if you.test negative. Great food, too - but no alcohol.
Some of the quarantine arrangements there are excellent
https://www.anantara.com/en/siam-bangkok/offers/go...
Can even use the poolside around day 7 if you.test negative. Great food, too - but no alcohol.
klan8456 said:
Won’t you have to quarantine for 2 of those weekend in Thailand upon arrival?
Some of the quarantine arrangements there are excellent
https://www.anantara.com/en/siam-bangkok/offers/go...
Can even use the poolside around day 7 if you.test negative. Great food, too - but no alcohol.
Yes, 2 weeks quarantine prior to work. Stuck in 1 room for 1st week then by the pool for an hour per day for week 2. I hope their WiFi works!Some of the quarantine arrangements there are excellent
https://www.anantara.com/en/siam-bangkok/offers/go...
Can even use the poolside around day 7 if you.test negative. Great food, too - but no alcohol.
ETA, the hardest part is the 'no alcohol' clause!
Edited by Ultra Sound Guy on Wednesday 3rd February 13:22
Redundancy package is government minimum. I need to look at stable income until January 2026. There is scope for voluntary redundancy, so best scenario is I find a job while that window of opportunity is open then I can get a lump sum and move into a new job. Not sure of the likelihood of that, given the current climate and my age. My only hope is that I have a "unique set of skills"!
NDT testing will continue. - someone has to do it so I would be looking at the competition, even if it meant a contract role.
Wife left B&Q two years ago when it became obvious that their new store manager wanted all young people......not sure if they have dropped the “policy”
Neither agencies nor recruiters can use age as a reason either way, they can cite the amount of experience required.
Wife left B&Q two years ago when it became obvious that their new store manager wanted all young people......not sure if they have dropped the “policy”
Neither agencies nor recruiters can use age as a reason either way, they can cite the amount of experience required.
Someone has even put a convenient list together for you...
https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/
https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/
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