Serious Question...

[nailedit]

Have you ever tried getting a job at aged 57, with addiction issues and a police/prison record?
The answer is most likely NO!
So try, just for a moment, putting yourself in someone elses shoes who tries to contribute
but is unable.
No feeling sorry for oneself, no excuses.
Just simply trying to to make a difference and to earn an honest living?
And its denied. Again & Again?
Every door shut in your face.

[KristalBee]

Plenty of jobs picking fruit. We have two businesses in our area that only employ ex offenders. The highest hurdles we climb are those we put up ourselves.

[barry1010]

Have you tried Timpsons?

[bednobs]

in all honesty, you dont sound like a good candidate for successfully getting a job. when did you last work? what happened to your last job?

[Neveracrossword]

I know quite a few people with no addiction issues, no police/prison record, who have really struggled - many of them unsuccessfully - to get a job. The feeling of having every door shut in your face is a very common one, I'm afraid.

[nailedit]

//what happened to your last job?//
Bednobs, I was going through a tough time mentaly.
I was on medication that was knocking me out for days at a time.
It was a catch 22. I didnt take it and I was awake for days at a time which knackered me. I took it and I was asleep for days at a time.
Either way I wasnt capable of work.
That doesnt translate to 'I dont want to work'

[bednobs]

so is that situation over? are you still taking that med? if not, why not go back and see if theyll take you back

[ToraToraTora]

One question, be honest, would you hire you?

[nailedit]

//One question, be honest, would you hire you? //
If I was an employer, I would give anyone a chance.

[jourdain2]

I was going to suggest Timpson's and fruit-picking.
You could start with voluntary work and get yourself a steady record. This would help immeasurably. I'm glad that you are trying to see forwards. If you find any opening at all - go for it. Maybe no-one gives you an opening..... make one.

Mr. J2 was 62 when he was widowed. He and his late wife had just moved to France. She was a bit older than him and had her pensions so they reckoned that they could sell-up in UK, restore something to live in and survive. Reason they did that - he'd been made redundant aged 60. Jobs? No chance, no chance at all.

So there he was, on his own in France, no money coming in, no chance of a job and mourning a dearly loved wife.

Not everyone has it hard in just the way you have, Nailedit, but that was pretty hard, I think you'll agree. No real savings to speak of. French property values are low and he managed to sell and move to Wales (values also low) where, because he had no ties, he did antisocial-hours rescue-truck driving, until his pension kicked in. Even so, found it hard to manage and moved to France where he survived by restoring houses whilst living in them and selling them on. Then we met and joined forces.

Things CAN change. MrJ2 didn't think he had a chance.

[nailedit]

//If I was an employer, I would give anyone a chance//
Particularly the down and outs, the undesirables, those with a criminal record, the homeless, tramps etc.

[jazzgirl]

There are some gardners groups who have taken people on who are in your position and it has helped them get back to somewhere near normal

[Neveracrossword]

Nailedit, although it's good that you would be willing to give 'anyone' a chance, there could be half a dozen people with addiction issues, police/prison records,mental health issues ... how would you choose which one to employ?

[bednobs]

i think that some people can ignore/look beyond what people have done in their past (after all which one of us wouldnt go back and do something differently) However, even those people appreciate consistency and stability in their staff.
Until you get yourself stable, it's a pointless exercise looking for a job. Its less about what you have done in the past and more about what you are like now. People who are currently having psychiatric crises, state they want to kill themselves every other day and are either always drunk or hungover aren't people that employers appreciate generally. You really need to stabilise that first and THEN look for work

[Tuvok]

How about starting your own business?

Man with a van
Window cleaner

etc.

[andres]

How about working with animals? Animal sanctuaries need workers to look after the kennels ,walk and exercise the dogs. Stables need people to care for the horses. I don't mean voluntary work but a proper paid job. If you like it you could branch out on your own as a dog walker or a dog fosterer .Animals wouldn't ask awkward questions nor would they judge you.

[Old_Geezer]

At 57 I was hoping not to have a job much longer.

[douglas9401]

"Animals wouldn't ask awkward questions nor would they judge you."

They would though need someone dependable who wouldn't cave at every bump in the road.

Maybe start with the fruit gig.

[DarceyK123]

We seem to be on a merry go round with Nails i remember him asking to same questions and getting the same answers a while back.

But then he started out voluntarily at the food bank and worked his way to employed staff and appeared to be much more stable and happy, but now thats gone down the tubes.

And here we are again, he's pushed the self destruct button AGAIN.

[fiveleaves]

An employer probably wants someone who can a) Do the job and b) actually wants the job. Things to show at an interview are reliability, you have to convince them you will turn up every day and that you are a teamworker, you will be able to jog along with the other employees and not be a source of conflict