Work-One Person's Odyssey is a Favorite of the Elderly

Oh my goodness! In the back of my mind, I never imagined that I'd have to hunt for work again. Incredibly, no one ever informed me that my funds would run out. I'm in a pickle, as they say. In addition to the fact that my finances are running out, working has made me feel better!

Those views are at odds with the American way of life. People of a certain age are urged to pursue hobbies and interests rather than slogging it out at a desk all day. "Work" is a bad word for most Americans! However, I want to be productive, generate money, be among younger people, and have some fun at work.

Honestly, I don't have the time to ponder the society that I live in! A job is a must for me at this point in my life.

What can I do in order to discover a career that interests me? I'm terrified that no one will employ me before I even begin searching for a job. As a result of the many reports I've read on ageism in the workplace, I'm wary of applying for jobs where I can be told that I'm overqualified just to get rid of me.

In order for me to get a job, I know that I only need to talk to one company rather than six all at once. However, this means I may be required to speak with many more employers than I originally anticipated. Do I have a solution?

Instead of dwelling on how difficult this is going to be, I'm going to focus on finding potential companies who will be interested in hiring me. The dread of being unemployed will only make my job hunt more difficult and make me feel worthless if I allow it to rule my actions.

I believe I should seek advice on how to go about looking for work. There are others I can chat with regarding finding a job, including Bob, my nephew, and Carol, my cousin. In the past, they've always been helpful and kind to me. I'll tell them as soon as I can. They also inspire me to be proud of my identity and age.

As long as I know what to do next, talking about it is a positive thing. Where can I find individuals with whom to share my concerns? First, I'll check the phone book.

The search for a job placement agency has led me to some results. Asking for information over the phone has provided me with their business hours. One or two of these locations will serve as my official sign-up locations.

In the end, I visited the two job placement services. A fee-based computer lesson was suggested to me by the people I met. That's not an option for me since I'm already worried about spending additional money. I was unable to get any support from the staff at these locations.

I couldn't identify anybody or any locations in the phone directory that would be able to assist me in my search for work. I'm going to check out the employment listings in my local newspaper. I'm sure I can get some work in the newspaper.

These adverts had me scratching my head. I can't find anything that fits. I've just worked on and off the farm for the last several years. I didn't think having a job was vital. By the time I graduated from high school, I already had a job. My ancestors took up every job they could get their hands on. So did I.

WorkSource was recommended to me by a neighbor. I'd never heard of it before.

When I eventually decided to go there, I wanted to learn more about how to get a job there. After I found someone to assist me, I was enrolled in an employment club for senior citizens. There were around 12 of us in the room where the job club met. My age ranged from young to elderly.

One of the agency's workers served as the job club's teacher. It was an eye-opening experience to be there. It seemed to me that there were a lot of people in the room, some of whom looked much older than I did; others who looked much younger than I did; and yet others who looked much younger than I did. So I hoped to be one of those people.

I made a decision right then and there to get a new haircut, go through my closet, and attempt to slim down. That might make me seem younger than the other members of this group. I could have a greater chance of landing a job if I can get my health back on track.

This work club teacher was curious about why we were there. Everyone was required to tell their own story. That didn't make any sense to me at all. I found it interesting to learn about some of the other people's stories. One of them was a former teacher who believed she knew it all but couldn't find work.

The teacher also provided a bundle of information on other people in the community who may be able to assist me and others in finding work. It dawns on me that I may need the support of others.

As long as I can find work, I'm OK with relying on others. I didn't imagine the job hunt was going to be this hard. It took a lot of guts for me to approach the teacher and ask for advice on how to look for work.

She enquired about my qualifications and goals. I had no idea what my strengths and weaknesses were, so I worked hard at anything I could get my hands on.

She did provide me with a questionnaire to answer questions about my career goals. According to this exam, I'd do my best in an agricultural context. I couldn't help but chuckle, since I've worked on farms and canneries my whole life.

She did inquire as to whether or not I was aware of my unique set of abilities. Even after taking this exam, I wasn't quite sure what I was capable of doing. In light of this, I decided to try my hand at working in a nursery, where I could sell plants or anything. But even though I'd never sold anything before, the prospect of working with plants seemed akin to what I'd done in the past.

It was only an intuition that I could get a job selling plants at a nursery, so I asked the teacher how I might do that again. She advised that I first write a CV. If an employer were to look at my CV, they would learn a few things about me and what I was capable of. I explained to her that I needed assistance in putting together a résumé. I'd never had the need for one before. If I had a decent one, I could see how it might help me get a job or at least get me an interview.

We did create a CV for ourselves. Even after all these years, I was astonished to learn that resumes are really simply pieces of paper that list a person's skills. This was a fun activity that gave me confidence in my abilities. As a cannery worker, I'm not really sure what I'm excellent at, despite my ability to filter through materials and keep up with a constantly moving conveyor belt of canned goods.

My next job club step was to make contact with a potential employer. Until I quit, this was the most I'd ever had to put up with since seasonal employment was always available and employers just sent out a request for workers. With the support of the government and a tiny pension, I'm able to make ends meet. A rapid depletion of the nest egg has occurred.

I rechecked the phone book, to no avail. Plants for sale were the focus of my search this time around. The fact that I'd have to learn how to sell plants or take care of them didn't bother me in the least.

I was able to make a few phone calls thanks to the other members of the work club and my teacher. I didn't call to beg for a job. I set up a meeting with the manager or owner to discuss their work. Although I was initially reluctant, after making a few calls, I became more comfortable approaching complete strangers.

Two appointments were made for me to meet with the manager of a local wholesale nursery to discuss my concerns.

I didn't have anything spectacular on when I went to the nursery; I was just dressed for the occasion. I wore a jacket, though, since I believed it helped me seem more professional.

My first few moments at this establishment were unpleasant until I struck up a conversation with the manager about strawberry growing and cultivation. I was aware that we could produce strawberries in our own backyard.

Upon my departure, the plant manager surprised me by asking whether or not I was searching for a job. I explained to him that I wanted to visit this strawberry farm, not a nursery, up close and personal.

As a result, I finally had the foresight to notify him that I would be seeking a new job at some point in the future. In order to meet with him and the business's owner, we set up a time for me to drop by. I was unsure at the time, but I decided to return.

After this experience, I knew I wanted to work, and this job looked like a good match for my skills and expertise. Even though I didn't believe anything had occurred while I was there, I was determined to return and beg for a job.

To summarize what I've learnt, I'll say: