Post-Retirement IT Job Advice? (BEWARE: Crazy Question)

[Lindagerr]

I hate to admit it but I agree about ageism. That is part of the reason I have not really done much with my degree. I was fine with going into teaching but the only real teaching job I applied for picked a younger person, she did have more math and less science but they wanted the math because of testing.

When I moved up here to NY I decided starting over for alternate certification was not worth the time and money.

I have 35+ years experience in a bio/chem laboratory so I decided to try going back into that, I had a great phone interview and was excited about the in person one, I just felt a bad vibe and noticed everyone was young like 45 was old there. I don't put all of my experience on a resume so they had no idea how old I really was. I was 59 then but most people tell me I look at least 5 years younger than I am. I got just a form letter type email telling me they went with someone else. After that there were several jobs that opened at the lab and I applied for many, I never got any kind of reply. My feeling is they put some kind of mark on my file that said too old.

So I go down to SC in the winter and substitute teach there, when I am in the mood, they are desperate for subs and they take you whenever you are willing. I could work every day down there but I pick when I want to and which classes and/or teachers I like to work for.

I don't really work much and now I qualify for SS so I don't feel as much of a need to make more money.

So I would say think long and hard before you jump into going for IT, ageism is a large factor there plus once you decide to retire you might find you are enjoying life too much to need to work or do more schoolwork,

Maybe you could just try a straighterline class or the DSST computer exam, make sure you are really into this line of study.

My advice would still be sit back relax and enjoy retirement I read travel, watch TV, travel, make jewelry, travel, scrapbook, travel.... you get the idea.