Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I will be 60 next year and, like a lot of women of my generation, I don’t look or feel my age. I have been working in the education sector for 10 years, mostly as a school librarian. Like many people working in a school, I feel undervalued and overworked for the salary I receive. I would love a change of direction, the opportunity to go back to the student travel industry – something I’m passionate about and an area I worked in more than 20 years ago.
Bearing in mind my age and what I perceive is an increasingly ageist society and workplace, do you think it’s worth putting myself out there? I have sent my CV to a couple of interesting student travel companies but have had no response, and this leads me to believe that I’m wasting my time.
I know I need to seek professional advice about revising my CV and covering letter (although I think both look great) but at my age, do I stay vaguely unfulfilled and demoralised for the next six or seven years working full-time, or go for it? By the way, I can’t take a cut in salary, so going part-time or doing fewer hours is not an option.
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
