Lessons learned from a job search at 77

By Taya Jackson

I’m female, 77 years old and, so far, retired. For the past couple of years, my finances have been going backward, thanks to some expensive decisions, i.e., concierge medical services, along with the rising prices everyone is facing.

Maybe it was the residual effect of the pandemic, but it was clear something had to change. I nagged myself daily that I needed more order in my life. I needed a job.

I searched the websites of major retail stores, restaurants and retirement homes for employment: positions offered, salaries, how to apply, etc. But each site was less “intuitive” than the one before.

My work history as an advertising/marketing writer made posting my resume nearly impossible, and my fill-in-the-blank answers did not jibe with the potential employers’ systems.

Red lines questioned my unexpected numbers and work history. This would go on for hours into the night. Was AI at fault? Who knows?

Getting face to face

The advice I had given others over the years haunted me: “Just go in and speak with a manager.” How could I think my approach would work if I didn’t attempt it myself?

But first, I did a bit of in-store reconnaissance, asking both the oldest and youngest employees questions about how they got hired. While willing to talk, their recall was not impressive.

When asked how to mention unwelcome dates and work history, one of them suggested that I “make up answers. ‘They’ never check.” Really? I hit the bricks.

Dressed in neat, casual attire, I entered my favorite suburban supermarket and asked to speak with a manager. He quickly emerged from a one-way glass office, steps away.

I stated my case and after a hurried sitdown at a backroom computer, where I struggled with yet another employment program alongside an assistant manager, I was “in the system.” I had arrived with my Social Security card and ID in hand. I was hired.

Time to get oriented

Orientation took place at another supermarket location. It began at 5 p.m., but I arrived early, as did a few others. We were ushered upstairs to a break room to wait for the tardy orientation leader. As others trickled in, we sat silently, staring at our phones.

The core group: a painfully shy 17-yearold boy; a visibly energetic young woman with ornate braids; an overweight woman who sought a cigarette break; a very rumpled, stringy-haired middle-aged woman; and a handsome 20-year-old man who would, by his demeanor, definitely go places.

In the end, 16 diverse individuals made up the crew. I admired all of us simply for being there.

Mike, our enthusiastic leader, introduced himself and explained his career trajectory, from a local radio and TV personality to supermarket stocker who worked hard to become a manager.

We played orientation games as we read through our training sheets. We were split into two teams to play more games, revealing what we had learned.

Ultimately, I crushed the tie-breaking team competition question, and our group erupted into cheers. And now, it was time to start the job.

A week on the job

Monday: Five hours of video training and testing at my store. I learned every step of the way that keeping customers happy and returning to the store are our priorities. No matter how wrong or rude a customer is, you should say, “I’m sorry.”

Tuesday: Up at 5:30 a.m. for my 8 a.m. shift. My first day at the cash register was guided by a solidly built, long-haired, youthful 50-year-old woman who had worked there for 30 years.

She told me she was “too smart” for the job and had a B.A. in psychology. After college and several volunteer positions, though, she became disillusioned with her

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