Chances of finding work at age 57

So I'm 57, a respiratory therapist, worked in the same hospital for 15 years. Nice retirement coming up. Not rich, but comfortable.

But I want to spend the rest of my life in Germany where I was born.

After reading many topics on this site, I get the impression that many of you are in Germany temporarily, so maybe you can't help me, but I think you still may have your "finger on the pulse" of what's going on "work-wise", so your input is appreciated.

Ohter pertinent info:

1. Even though I'm 57, I am in damn good health and cycle about 150 miles a week, so I am able to work

2. Met a very nice lady and we'd like to get married, but no way am I moving in with her and not working!

I realize I have a specialized job, but I am not looking for your responses as it relates to that job, just in general.

So thanks for your opinions!

Where there's a will there's a way.

Next.

Good luck. You're probably aware that 57 is already practically past retirement age in terms of looking for any kind of new work in Germany, right? People who get laid off at age 45 or over often have a hell of a time getting a new job.

But I'm with STB, you can do it, especially if you're not terribly picky about what kind of work, location, etc.

The current upwsing has seen some older people get jobs; however, I recall reading a few years ago that only about a quarter of Germans 55 and over were employed at all. Maybe your prospective bride has contacts that can get you a job.

With a little extra training, there are quite a few assisted living places needing competent help. You could also get a job being a drug courier for the pharmacies. In Munich, I know someone and could hook you up. However, I voted get married and live off her. It is the revenge of the sexes thing to do.

Eurovol, could you expand on this?

I'll be 57 in January and I'm voluntarily resigning from my current job at the end of this year in order to have more time for myself. I'll be looking for a part-time job in Hamburg.

I voted "live off her." Why not?

I'm a fan of work, so I get it. But do work that you love. Think about free-lancing and doing your own taxes etc rather than looking for a job-job.

Quasi sounds like he's in very good physical shape, which makes a huge difference in overcoming ageism. (Oh, except for in dating. Had a profile up on a cooking site a few years ago, and some 57-yr-old looking to heat up more than food sent me lots of pix proving he was fit ... the sport pix were fine - Norbert waterskis! Norbert bikes! Norbert plays soccer and scores a goal! Norbert swims and has washboard abs! - but the Norbert naked on the bed pic was more 411 than I needed.)

At 57 you have another 8 years to work there is a small chance and no chance at that age of getting a job.Short and simple

You would get a job much easier as a freelancer. You could always do a course and teach english if you really couldn't find anything in your field.

The guy is a trained Respiratory Therapist. It wouldn't take much to become a "Altenpflege/Pflegehelfer". Not many people like working with the elderly and it is a booming business so to speak.

Well he could relate to them better than those young whipper-snappers on Civildienst

I would just like to say "Danke Sehr" to everyone who has responded to me in this thread! Y'all have no idea how important Germany is to me, having had to leave at age 11 and leaving all my friends and German family to come to the USA.

Please don't think I'm knocking my adopted country, I am not, and I have been given a lot of opportunities here to be very successful in my career. I am very grateful for all of that. I just didn't wanna come here, dammit.

To the poster who offered the courier connection, thank you, but I think I 'd have to have a German driver's license for that, right? Big bucks to get one, from what I understand.

Anyway, heartfelt thanks to all of you from this ol' Half-Kraut!

Quasi, many US states have reciprocal agreements with Germany that will either allow you to exchange your US license for a German one, or just take either the theoretical or practical exam. Look into this.

Go across the border and get a South Carolina license. Georgia has no reciprocal agreement.

However, if you live in Hamburg, Hesse, Saxony-Anhalt, Schlesweig-Holstein or Saarland there seems to be new laws that say all holders of US DLs are exempt.
http://www.amcham.de/location-germany/driv...license.html#16

EDITED

Don't I have to show that I am actually a resident of SC to get a license there, guys?

Q

Just go to one of those dives that rents Suite # whatever that is actually a mailbox and that will forward your mail to Atlanta. Or just move to the beach for a week and then move back after the vacation you can't find a reason to stay any longer.

I know of people who work within the health profession who are employed on a contractual basis. Basically, one or two-year contracts which are then renewed up to a maximum of 3 times. That would keep you going for at least 6 years. You could then just change jobs. Hospitals here are desperate for staff, but be prepared for not such optimal conditions. That´s why they´re desperate because so many are leaving to go abroad. Otherwise, moving countries at your age is a brave move and not without its difficulties. My parents got it right so no reason why you can´t.

Reciprocal agreements between specific states and Germany mean you don't have to lay out the cash for taking the practical and/or written exams in Germany, possibly including taking the driver's ed course and/or first aid course.

But you still have to pay for the license itself, right? Which isn't peanuts?

The reciprocal agreements come in different flavors- not all exempt the US DL completely from tests here in DE. It is the classes that are expensive. If you can automatically exchange one license for another, it's not.

Have I mentioned how totally awesome y'all are???

I joined this site a couple of weeks ago thinking I could get a "feel" of how things are in Germany these days, and I have not been disappointed, so thanks editor bob for this great place!!!

Incidentally, in case y'all are wondering "Who IS this Dude???", here's my website: www.d2d4wetnoses.com

It pretty much tells the Bill Craig story regarding my love for animals, and I hope you won't think it's a solicitation, because it is not. Click on "Our Mission" to get the details...

Thanks again for all your help, and I wish I could meet some of you in Rothenburg in 3 weeks!!!

Bill

If you have an iota of charisma, are fit, speak German and are positive you'll find a job easily.

Hi there,

Newbie to all this. However, Have you considered working on some of the airbases within Germany?
Also, what about the Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre. That is about 15 minutes away from Ramstein AB.
Just a thought.

@Quasimodem: Am not suggesting that the jobs will suit you but here are some vacancies in the hospital that I can safely say is one of the best in the State of BW and know this from personal experience. Am posting just the link to the jobs but on the left is the button for the English version of the website. This might give you an idea of what they are currently looking for at various hospitals.

Here it is http://www.diakonie-klinikum.de/stellenmar...bote/index.html

Dear Ones

I am trying to find work in Nürnberg, if possible. That is where my Ursula lives, and yes, I can move in with her, but something ("Honor", maybe?) wants me to get over there become gainfully employed (even live in my own flat) so that I can show her (and myself) that I am not just using her. That is very important to me.

I thank everyone for all your suggestions (once again ) and let's see how this all plays out. I have something to do next April, but after that, I'm good to go and I hope to see some of y'all soon for a Bierchen oder two next year. Deal?

Quasi

I'm with Ulysses on this one, permanent employment is unlikely but i see no reason why your valuable experience would not be highly prized in a contract capacity. Go for it.

Post #21

If I weren't thinking "positive", I would not consider y'all's advice so valuable!

Thank you very much for seeing the "good" in me. It is appreciated.

Bill (Or just "Quasi" if you want)

Permanent employment actually could be highly likely because permanent in this case wouldn't be that long. It is not like they would be stuck for the next 40years with some semi-qualified malcontent. The up and coming managers have more worldly experience and aren't like the bigoted ones that rode the post war boom into the ground with their old stupid ageist sexist racist ways. Now if they will just abandon this two tier system that divides kids at age 7 then there will be a brighter future for the one size fits all mentality here.

Thank you, and really, I just want to add to the work-force and maybe bring some nice personality to it. (My patients here in Georgia love me!)

I don't know what else to do, but the information I have gained here has been priceless.

Thanks

Q