Semi-retire reality check

I'm hoping some of you with lots of wood/woodsman experience can help me with a reality check here.

I'm recently unemployed from a corporate IT job, early sixties, decent shape for my age(weight lift). I'm not able to retire full time but hoping to find something that doesn't involve a computer in a cubicle. One thought I've had is to try working for a local urban tree service company as a grounds man – drag branches, clean up, general gopher for the crew and/or learn how to operate the ground machinery.

My woods experience only spans the last 6 mos and includes some bucking, brush cleaning and manual splitting. I've put in a few hard days but never strung a week's worth together.

My question is – is this an unreasonable consideration given age and almost no experience? Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

 

Most ground guys i see are 300lbs+. I'm thinking you'd do just fine.

 

If you know of any places, give them a call and see if they need any manual labor.

Be honest and give them a fair expectation of what you feel your limits would be. Go from there.

I was laid off several years ago from corporate IT. I was fortunate to land a couple of contracts, before retiring.

 

Not at all ! Go for it

 

If you show up to work everyday, you’ll be one of the best workers on the crew!

 

Buy some ibuprofen and go for it!

 

If I were the owner of a tree company, I would hesitate based on your age but I would also think you'd be more reliable than a young guy so whether I hired you or not would be based more off of a gut feeling after meeting you which is how interviews should go in my opinion. Good luck!

 

Not allowed to make a hiring decision on age.

Age Discrimination

 

I have yet to meet a tree service owner, operator, salesman that doesn’t complain about lack of help and I’ve been in the industry over 25yrs. The bigger companies are mostly mechanized with cranes, aerial lifts, wood trucks, chipper trucks and articulating loader’s feeding the chipper. There’s always a need for someone that can think quick and jump in where help is needed. Go for it! There’s no age limit on good help. I bet most would love to have someone with a valid DL to drive equipment to the job site.

 

Not allowed to use it as an official reason but a company can unofficially use any reason they please not to hire someone as long as they play the game right.

 

Bernie where in Michigan are you? I know several tree services in the Flint area.

 

I am 59 and will be retiring from educational administration in the next 1-2 years. I have been approached by several places about whether I would have an interest in lawn maintenance, light labor, etc. I have no blue-collar skills, just enjoy that type of work and do it for myself as a hobby. Word I'm hearing is people with good work ethic are difficult to find, employers are willing to put up with us older guys that my not go as fast but will keep going!!

 

Precisely ..............................

 

Good luck trying to prove it. There are so many excuses on why someone did or didn't get hired.

 

Thanks Redneck. I'm down by Detroit.

 

Go for it. Work hard but watch your self. I think it would be enjoyable. May not be the easiest job but very rewarding. Like everyone else has said show up and work till the job is done and I believe you'll be golden. Never know might be the thing you were meant to do all along

 

Gents, thank you all for the responses and encouragement. Made an initial contact this afternoon. I'll definitely be pursuing this. Thank you again!

 

Good to hear.

Enjoy yourself

 

Just think of all the nice wood you’d/you’ll be able to haul home too...

 

I have been thinking about getting this book. Not looking to join a crew, but will surely utilize their tricks of the trade in my adventures.

GROUNDIE by Jeff Jepson