Some time ago I applied for quite a few Market Research, Mystery Shopping jobs etc.

Becuase of various commitments I haven’t really followed things up too much, so it came as quite a surprise to receive an Invitation Letter yesterday from a Company who were after Part-Time Researchers on smelling essences and discussing packaging etc.

The letter explained how, for three mornings a week I would be attending a Training morning for three month’s.
Sounded quite interesting as the Summer Job is about to end. £7.30 per hour through Training, then more upon completion.
The Course would be in a Hotel about 400 meters away from where I live.
My goodness, this is a foot lander I thought.

That is, until I came to the requirements which I ticked off one by one;

1. Clean and tidy (Yes, can be if I try)
2. Punctual (Yes, never had problems there)
3. No holidays booked for 3 month’s (OK – chance would be a fine thing)
4. Between 18 and 60 (Oh – rugger !!!)

Now this poses the question as to what happens to us on that dreaded night before our 60th. Birthday.
Do we lose our sense of smell, can’t find our way to work, dribble when we talk to people, our teeth drop out when we sneeze?

I mean, come on, fair’s fair, what’s an 18 year old know about smells of essences beside the by-daily 8 pints of Lager and the armpits they haven’t washed for two weeks.
When I was 18, it was Old Spice or nothing. Usually it was nothing, you were more interested in hanging loose listening to Moody Blues songs in a wood somewhere.

But it’s not only this kind of work which seems to be ageism prominant. Seems we are only good for clearing up Supermarket Trollies from a Car Park, working Part-Time in a Garden Centre or the occasional ‘look how we employ and look after old people’ job at the local DIY Centre (at £5.49 per hour).

It isn’t we’re going to work somewhere for six month’s then take Maternity Leave or take the odd sicky to have our hair done is it.

Maybe Companies don’t like us parking our Honda Mopeds and Bicycles with baskets on the back outside their posh premises, or maybe it’s the way, after hearing the Boss say “Think outside of the Box”, we reply with “Don’t be such a Prat”?

Luckily, Kent CCC don’t think like this and if they do say ‘Silly old so and so’ after I’ve gone out the door, I don’t mind, they’re good to me!