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Scrapheap at 50?

Crawley

Crawley

Board Legend
Looks like I may be joining the ranks of the great un-washed in April.

The airline I've specialised in at Gatwick for the last 12 years have decided to pull the plug on April 18th.

There is every chance I'll be made redundant as a result (although I do not work for them directly........I work for the contractor).

I know nothing else, have no skills to fall back on other than what I've been doing for the last 16 years etc.
Same job I do now with other companies attracts a starting wage of some 50% less than my current wage, and I can NOT afford any sort of drop.

Anyone else been in similar position?....how did you cope?

N.B. There is a lot more detail to the story, but wouldn't want to bore you with the politics.
 
Sorry to hear that Crawley, best of luck with whatever the outcome. Just out of curiosity, which airline is that?

Unfortunately I can't help you regarding the issue, but I'm sure someone else can offer some words of wisdom.
 
Sorry to hear that Crawley.

I have been made redundant before, so can help you out there if you need. (I was also the empoyee rep too - so i know a decent amount).
Feel free to PM me if you dont want to post anything "in public".

You have been there a long time havnt you? If so, you should get a decent redundancy package; if you are saying wages for similar roles are less, how would a similar role + the redundancy look spread over say, a year? What im getting at there is, treat the redundancy pay as salary and spread it over as long as possible, then hopefully you can work for less but not have to feel the pinch quite so bad.

If you find another job that pays similarly - take it. Do no wait for the redundancy package - unless its huge. Again, look at it as salary (as essentially thats what it is - a form of compensation to ensure you can carry on living)

From what I gather yours is a skilled mechanic type role?
It may be worth looking in other industries to see where your transferable skills can go.

Also ask your current company about training to add to your skill set so you become more attractive to employers.

MOST IMPORTANT;
This can very stressful.
Finf whatever ways you can to try and relax and stay unstressed - you'll be far better at job apps etc with a clear head
Get the support of the people around you
 
Some very good advice there.

Being made redundant was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I enjoyed my job but always looked enviously at those who worked for themselves and got paid accordingly.

I know you're a little older than me, but trust me - your age is not an issue. Average length of time in a job was down to 4 or 5 years last time I checked. If I employ someone with 20 years left that's plenty - we usually don't expect more than 10 years at best out of someone.

Just make sure you're the best man for the job and your experience will work in your favour - times are hard and nobody wants to go through the cost of employment only to have to do it again in 6 months.
 
Sorry to hear that, was it malev that going bust was the problem?

I give up working on building sites as a jointer and dry liner when i was 28 because i was getting back problems and did not want to make it worse. I was worried as i had no skills really and did not know what to do. A white collar proffesion was never going to suite someone like me so i looked into franchising.

After looking through i settled on a locksmith franchise and did well running it for 8 years before selling up a few of years ago i had no experince of the industry and never made less then ?ú35,000 a year and did well when selling up. My point is you can change and do something you have never done before and it does not matter if you do not have much in the way of skills.

Franchising is a good way to go because you have the support of the master franchise behind you and if they take a percentage of your contracts then they want yu to do well. A lot of franchises are good for older people because they need people with experince and the actual business can be taught. I would recommend you have a look at it mate.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for all the above.

Answers.....it is Delta airlines that are pulling out, and taking all their flights through Heathrow. Although the malev contract was ours too, just not as big/specialised.

No, I'm not a skilled worker as such.....def not a mechanic. My knowledge is all clerical based.......specialising in aircraft performance data. But the job has been eroded over the years and does not enjoy the respect it once did, hence the lower wages now being paid.
 
scaramanga said:
Some very good advice there.

Being made redundant was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I enjoyed my job but always looked enviously at those who worked for themselves and got paid accordingly.

I know you're a little older than me, but trust me - your age is not an issue. Average length of time in a job was down to 4 or 5 years last time I checked. If I employ someone with 20 years left that's plenty - we usually don't expect more than 10 years at best out of someone.

Just make sure you're the best man for the job and your experience will work in your favour - times are hard and nobody wants to go through the cost of employment only to have to do it again in 6 months.
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Age might not be a problem, but the lack of skills could be. Experience is fine if he goes for a similar job, but from reading the post it doesnt look like that is an option anymore.

No job is going to pay well unless there is some sort of qualification / experience required, which the OP doesnt have here. The best thing to do is start training on something else now, or be prepared to work 2 jobs while experience is being gained.

Locksmith sounds like the perfect job, I paid a couple of hundred for a guy to fix the locking system on my door. Didn't take him that long to fit it all or put the temp lock on while we waited for the part (it happened late at night). I managed to google the problem and answer and was sure I could do it myself but paid out just in case it wasnt that simple. Turns out when the same thing happened on a neighbours door, it was that simple and we sorted it fairly easily. Maybe chich can say if the job really is that easy to learn.
 
Crawley said:
Thanks for all the above.

Answers.....it is Delta airlines that are pulling out, and taking all their flights through Heathrow. Although the malev contract was ours too, just not as big/specialised.

No, I'm not a skilled worker as such.....def not a mechanic. My knowledge is all clerical based.......specialising in aircraft performance data. But the job has been eroded over the years and does not enjoy the respect it once did, hence the lower wages now being paid.
Click to expand...

are we talking analysis here Crawley?
can you elaborate a little?
i have a mate that does something similar to what you describe and i know how much of a mindfield the market is at present.

if you can elaborate (here or PM), maybe there is another angle to take on the skill set and expereince you have
 
monkeybarry said:
are we talking analysis here Crawley?
can you elaborate a little?
i have a mate that does something similar to what you describe and i know how much of a mindfield the market is at present.

if you can elaborate (here or PM), maybe there is another angle to take on the skill set and expereince you have
Click to expand...



No, not analysis. Planning.

As in weight distribution planning, combined with flight plan and met briefing.
Some of it basic common sense, some of it more involved.
 
so, from a transferable skills point of view, maybe something along the project management lines?

you obviously have the ability to plan from start finish with precision (unless you need to tell us something about plane crashes ;-) ) and more than likely review and replan en-route

if that is of interest, maybe look at doing something like Prince 2 ?

or something in logisitics?
sounds like there has to be some kind of data analysis and understanding to perform the role too - so maybe draw on that?

common sense can go along way - and what is common sense and second nature to you may not be to someone else.
 
monkeybarry said:
so, from a transferable skills point of view, maybe something along the project management lines?

you obviously have the ability to plan from start finish with precision (unless you need to tell us something about plane crashes ;-) ) and more than likely review and replan en-route

if that is of interest, maybe look at doing something like Prince 2 ?

or something in logisitics?
sounds like there has to be some kind of data analysis and understanding to perform the role too - so maybe draw on that?

common sense can go along way - and what is common sense and second nature to you may not be to someone else.
Click to expand...

Funny stuff MB, I was going to say exactly the same.

Prince 2 sounds perfect and presumably, Crawley, you'll have some redundancy money that you may be able to redirect to a little training/exams?

I've got friends that contract in Prince 2 and if you don't mind contracting you can get into a good few hundred pounds a day category payment. Best bit is, nobody gives a stuff how old a contractor is.
 
WookieD said:
Funny stuff MB, I was going to say exactly the same.

Prince 2 sounds perfect and presumably, Crawley, you'll have some redundancy money that you may be able to redirect to a little training/exams?

I've got friends that contract in Prince 2 and if you don't mind contracting you can get into a good few hundred pounds a day category payment. Best bit is, nobody gives a stuff how old a contractor is.
Click to expand...

I sell PRINCE2 training, amongst other things, I can get you mates rates if you're interested, probably around ?ú300 + VAT for the Practitioner, (the course RRP's at ?ú1600 + VAT)
 
WookieD said:
Funny stuff MB, I was going to say exactly the same.

Prince 2 sounds perfect and presumably, Crawley, you'll have some redundancy money that you may be able to redirect to a little training/exams?

I've got friends that contract in Prince 2 and if you don't mind contracting you can get into a good few hundred pounds a day category payment. Best bit is, nobody gives a stuff how old a contractor is.
Click to expand...

i really need to get round to doing my Prince 2
 
Sorry to hear what you are going through Crawley, sounds bloody terrible, but without wishing to be too blas?® perhaps this could be thr start of a new beginning for you in a new and better remunerated career, monkeybarry and wookied's ideas sound promising.8)
 
I too got made redundant at 50, and frankly - it scared the crap out of me.

You will suffer all of the agonies and "why me" angst, but you will get through it.

Keep focussed, keep working on your CV and push your maturity and experience when applying for jobs in your professional boundary.

From a personal standpoint, I would also recommend that you look abroad, it certainly worked for me - there are opportunities out there.

I'm happy to share any deeper insights personally, you have my e-mail.

Don't despair - the solution to your future stands in your shoes, just keep believing in yourself.

Mick
 
Hope it all works out, Crawley, best of luck.

Out of curiosity, some of you here have chosen to go through with starting your own companies and succeeded. What business are you currently in, how much do you work and how much are you enjoying it? I'd love to be the master of my working self, but don't have a clue what I could do about it. Driving school perhaps? Sounds pretty easy..
 
Golfball said:
Age might not be a problem, but the lack of skills could be. Experience is fine if he goes for a similar job, but from reading the post it doesnt look like that is an option anymore.

No job is going to pay well unless there is some sort of qualification / experience required, which the OP doesnt have here. The best thing to do is start training on something else now, or be prepared to work 2 jobs while experience is being gained.

Locksmith sounds like the perfect job, I paid a couple of hundred for a guy to fix the locking system on my door. Didn't take him that long to fit it all or put the temp lock on while we waited for the part (it happened late at night). I managed to google the problem and answer and was sure I could do it myself but paid out just in case it wasnt that simple. Turns out when the same thing happened on a neighbours door, it was that simple and we sorted it fairly easily. Maybe chich can say if the job really is that easy to learn.
Click to expand...

Yep an absolute tinkle of tinkle puting new locks in the picking of locks is a little harder if you learn to do it properly but it took me about 2 weeks!!! i because of my background working on building sites went to house builders i sub contracted for sunleys for years(they use to have a box at selhurst and i went a few times to see palace and wimbledon) anyway i apporached the contracts manager and got the contracts for all their new builds in east sussex. These gave me confidence to go after others and i did Westbury as well, it was the main part of my business.

With locksmithing you can they move towards doing electronic locks and also the security side of the industry and looking after buildings. The best thing you can do is to build up as many contracts as possible and then sell the company, i did this and made a nice amount.

The are franchises in so many different areas and i enjoyed it so much, the only reason i sold up was i got such a good offer for the business and i basically won the lottery on some property that i decided to give it all up.

I would recommend running your own business i get the impression leedspurs does the same and i can say it is very good way to go but you have to have the discpline to make sure you work hard, for me it was easy to do because i was so determined to make some money.

You will not get sick pay and holiday pay and if you take on sub contractors because the workload gets so much then that has its own stresses but being your own boss is so liberating i can not recommend it highly enough.
 
Look on the bright side. You have two months to get yourself buff for your new job as a gigolo.

Can't see what you're worried about, actually. 8)
 
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