Finding a job in TV

[CharlieK]

My wife and I are in the process of buying a home in TV and plan to move there early next year. I will be retiring from a major communications company after 28 years. I will be 56 when I get there and would like a full time job for a few years at least.
How difficult is it to find full time employment there? I’ve seen the job postings on TV website but would be looking elsewhere too.

[Brwne]

My wife and I are in the process of buying a home in TV and plan to move there early next year. I will be retiring from a major communications company after 28 years. I will be 56 when I get there and would like a full time job for a few years at least.
How difficult is it to find full time employment there? I’ve seen the job postings on TV website but would be looking elsewhere too.

While there are many jobs available, you're going to find that the pay scale is less. My wife interviewed for a position that, as it turned out, was going to pay 60% less than if she continued working remotely. Fortunately, technology has facilitated remote work!!

[CharlieK]

While there are many jobs available, you're going to find that the pay scale is less. My wife interviewed for a position that, as it turned out, was going to pay 60% less than if she continued working remotely. Fortunately, technology has facilitated remote work!!

If my company allowed me to continue working remotely (which I’ve been doing for almost 15 years) I would stay. But policies are changing and that may not be an option for me in Florida

I’d be working more for health insurance - salary wouldn’t be the main concern

[Rainger99]

My wife wants me to go back to work - at least part time.

I have no interest in working at a store or restaurant but I was thinking about working at the golf courses either as an ambassador or at the starter shack. Any idea what it is like and what the pay is? How many hours can you work and are you always at the same course or do they rotate you? I live near Sawgrass and have no interest in working up north.

Any comments from people who are ambassadors or starters? How do you like it? Thanks.

[retiredguy123]

If my company allowed me to continue working remotely (which I’ve been doing for almost 15 years) I would stay. But policies are changing and that may not be an option for me in Florida

I’d be working more for health insurance - salary wouldn’t be the main concern
Unfortunately, most employers in The Villages are looking for people on Medicare so they don't need to pay for health insurance.
But, good luck in your search.

[MSchad]

My wife wants me to go back to work - at least part time.

I have no interest in working at a store or restaurant but I was thinking about working at the golf courses either as an ambassador or at the starter shack. Any idea what it is like and what the pay is? How many hours can you work and are you always at the same course or do they rotate you? I live near Sawgrass and have no interest in working up north.

Any comments from people who are ambassadors or starters? How do you like it? Thanks.

Pay is minimum wage, 2-3 days a week, 6+- hrs a day. Plus 50% off green fees at championship courses, discounts on merchandise at all golfing facilities, and discounts at many restaurants and retailers. If you need the income or insurance coverage, not the job you want. This is for filling time, meeting people, and golfing discounts. You work same course, same shifts unless you volunteer to fill in when someone wants a day off.

[npwalters]

Pay is minimum wage, 2-3 days a week, 6+- hrs a day. Plus 50% off green fees at championship courses, discounts on merchandise at all golfing facilities, and discounts at many restaurants and retailers. If you need the income or insurance coverage, not the job you want. This is for filling time, meeting people, and golfing discounts. You work same course, same shifts unless you volunteer to fill in when someone wants a day off.

Are they good about accommodating a few weeks off for vacations?

[villagetinker]

OP, you may want to expand your work location to Ocala, Leesburg, etc., I would NOT try for Orlando, I4 can be a disaster. It appears most of the jobs IN The Villages are service related jobs, not sure what you are after but keep this in mind. I do electrical consulting remotely, with all of the work out of state.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

My wife wants me to go back to work - at least part time.

I have no interest in working at a store or restaurant but I was thinking about working at the golf courses either as an ambassador or at the starter shack. Any idea what it is like and what the pay is? How many hours can you work and are you always at the same course or do they rotate you? I live near Sawgrass and have no interest in working up north.

Any comments from people who are ambassadors or starters? How do you like it? Thanks.

Ambassadors work 18 hours per week for minimum wage. No medical benefits, no paid days off, no sick time, no holiday bonus pay. You get a discount at the Pro Shop and a discount on Country Club golf. Polo shirts and employee badges/golf caps are provided. They have a company picnic and golf game every year. That's about it.

[retiredguy123]

Ambassadors work 18 hours per week for minimum wage. No medical benefits, no paid days off, no sick time, no holiday bonus pay. You get a discount at the Pro Shop and a discount on Country Club golf. Polo shirts and employee badges/golf caps are provided. They have a company picnic and golf game every year. That's about it.
But, they have a cool job title.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

But, they have a cool job title.

Plus they get to drive around in the company car all day :)

[tophcfa]

I have also met a few people who work less for the money or health insurance and more so their grandkids are eligible for the charter school. Their children and grandkids live outside the Villages and the parents don’t have jobs that make their children eligible.

[Rainger99]

Plus they get to drive around in the company car all day :)

Does the Villages supply the golf cart??

[Bogie Shooter]

Does the Villages supply the golf court??

Yes.

[John Mayes]

Ambassadors work 18 hours per week for minimum wage. No medical benefits, no paid days off, no sick time, no holiday bonus pay. You get a discount at the Pro Shop and a discount on Country Club golf. Polo shirts and employee badges/golf caps are provided. They have a company picnic and golf game every year. That's about it.

Just a slight correction. They receive double time for any holidays they are scheduled to work.

[MSchad]

Are they good about accommodating a few weeks off for vacations?

You can take as much as 20 consecutive days at a time, 20 days between two shifts. But you're suppose to find co-workers to cover your shifts, and you reciprocate.

[Papa_lecki]

While there are many jobs available, you're going to find that the pay scale is less. My wife interviewed for a position that, as it turned out, was going to pay 60% less than if she continued working remotely. Fortunately, technology has facilitated remote work!!

What did you do? Finance, accounting, sales, marketing, technology? You might get more opportunities if you provide details.
Between Leesburg and Ocala probably has openings, depending on skills

[Djean1981]

For higher pay, I would look for a remote job..

[vintageogauge]

There are a lot of high paying jobs available in the medical, service, and education sectors. For example there are currently 60 unfilled school superintendents available in central Florida and tons of medical jobs. You just have to think outside the box. Also the opportunity for starting your own business is great especially south of 44 where just about any business would be successful. You are young and if you ever thought you would like to be your own boss this is the place to do it.

[I'm Popeye!]

Moving to the Villages (A retirerment community) to WORK! :22yikes:

[Rainger99]

Moving to the Villages (A retirerment community) to WORK! :22yikes:

“Free” Medicare is a lot more expensive than I thought it would be! I am sure others feel the same!

The Dow was 34,584 in June 2021. Today it is 34,299.
That plus the highest inflation in 40 years is having some people reassess their retirement plans.

[LizzieBorden]

The other thing to keep in mind when you retire early, you will have salaries that are a lot less and I am not sure how that impacts your social security pay out. 12 years ago my friend did that and because he worked at a lower rate it impacted his SS quite a bit as he took his at 62. IF you dont plan to take it til full payout age, its a non issue. Not sure if the rules have changed, but I would Check into it and as along as you have the right information on the impact….enjoy the early retirement.

[bowlingal]

Since you were in communcation, what about the villages radio station? The Villages recreation dept? Movie theater worker? ALL part time. Don't get sticker shock about salary, No sick time, no vacation, no health ins. Try Indeed social media site or the Daily Sun for full time work.

[JoelJohnson]

The other thing to keep in mind when you retire early, you will have salaries that are a lot less and I am not sure how that impacts your social security pay out. 12 years ago my friend did that and because he worked at a lower rate it impacted his SS quite a bit as he took his at 62. IF you dont plan to take it til full payout age, its a non issue. Not sure if the rules have changed, but I would Check into it and as along as you have the right information on the impact….enjoy the early retirement.

You sure took a hatchet to to this question. :D (Sorry, I couldn't resist because of your id).

[Laurawilcox]

My husband and I both intended to work remotely in The Villages for 4 years or more as we came here a bit younger.

Both or our positions ended with the tech downsizing.

You mentioned major communications company so I presume something like Comcast/Cox etc. you will not find those here. The response that this is a services business area is correct. The average income tallied outside of Villagers was 17k. There aren’t “enterprise” grade employers here. The Villages as a company of 5k are but the income is half of outside.

Remote employers are seeing 100s of applicants apply so those are difficult as more are moving to hybrid.

You can message me if you like and i can share what we have learned, however , if you are counting on your past income streams being necessary to move here, I would consider your timing.

[Blueblaze]

Time for some tough love...

If you are actually wealthy enough to retire to the Villages at 56, you wouldn't need a job. Odd's are, you will live past 85, so you need to ask yourself if you've saved enough to see you through a retirement that will likely last longer than your career, over 10 years of which, you will be dependent on a part-time minimum wage job, Obamacare, and whatever you managed to save after paying off your kids' education.

My advice would be, tough it out. Quit eating out and start saving 20% of your salary. Invest it wisely. Ten years from now, your sentence will be up, and you'll be ready for the Villages.

[KsJayhawkers]

Pay is minimum wage, 2-3 days a week, 6+- hrs a day. Plus 50% off green fees at championship courses, discounts on merchandise at all golfing facilities, and discounts at many restaurants and retailers. If you need the income or insurance coverage, not the job you want. This is for filling time, meeting people, and golfing discounts. You work same course, same shifts unless you volunteer to fill in when someone wants a day off.
Don’t forget about getting stuck out in the heat without any air conditioning in the summer.

[KsJayhawkers]

Time for some tough love...

If you are actually wealthy enough to retire to the Villages at 56, you wouldn't need a job. Odd's are, you will live past 85, so you need to ask yourself if you've saved enough to see you through a retirement that will likely last longer than your career, over 10 years of which, you will be dependent on a part-time minimum wage job, Obamacare, and whatever you managed to save after paying off your kids' education.

My advice would be, tough it out. Quit eating out and start saving 20% of your salary. Invest it wisely. Ten years from now, your sentence will be up, and you'll be ready for the Villages.

I strongly disagree!! If the OP has the financial ability and good health to retire at age 56, then he should do it. Tomorrow is not promised for anyone!! Don’t live to work, work to live!! Move to TV and have fun, find a little P/T gig to give you some spending money and enjoy life while you are still on this earth to do so!! I retired at age 50 and don’t regret one minute of it.

[NotGolfer]

Working at the golf-courses in theory may sound like a lovely job but you start at the bottom (cart barn for cart rentals or Ambassador. The days and shifts aren't available for YOU to pick...they put you where you're needed. You can't pick the course to work in---they put you where there are openings. Seniority takes precidence for moving into other positions and time slots. Take in account of the weather too. Heat and humidity are the main factors and not so glamorous to ride/drive around in your golf-cart. Oh---the courses provide the carts for the ambassadors. Starters are better positions in that they have "air" conditioning to work in when they're not outside directing folks. You can take time off but there are restrictions---someone else posted those. Pay is low (minimum wage) but a cushion for "fun" money perhaps. Someone said you can get a discount at the CC restaurants but you have to be management, I think, for that to kick in. MIght have been something in the past but no longer. The Golf Management does have a "holiday" event for the families and employees but it's not like it once was as there are so many now to attend. As someone else stated there is a golf-outing for employees too. You might be better served by contacting the actual people in charge or look online (Villages sites) for better information.

[True Blue]

I strongly disagree!! If the OP has the financial ability and good health to retire at age 56, then he should do it. Tomorrow is not promised for anyone!! Don’t live to work, work to live!! Move to TV and have fun, find a little P/T gig to give you some spending money and enjoy life while you are still on this earth to do so!! I retired at age 50 and don’t regret one minute of it.

What did you do for health insurance retiring at age 50?

[Villagesgal]

Look at the Counties here and the many small towns in the area, they pay over 2x what the Villages does and offer full benefits including pensions with the State if Florida. I worked for one for years, moved to the Villages in my 40s. Don't wait, come on down and start enjoying your life here. Even working, you have evenings and weekends to enjoy your life here. Many small towns and the Counties here are 4 day, 10 hour work weeks. Wonderful. Don't put it off, life is too short.

[Egandi]

In reading the Charter School handbook, I don’t recall seeing anything about grandparents having the ability to make their grandchildren eligible for the Charter School.

[BlueStarAirlines]

I'm 56 and wife is 53 and moved to TV with remote jobs. If you need to continue to work this is the only way. If you want a job to fill time or a little extra spending money then finding a job once you get here is an option.

If I didn't have a remote job and I was here, I'd make the trek to Tampa. Wages in my field are lower than my former state, but at least somewhat competitive. Salaries for what I do in Ocala are entry level and at TV are below what we pay interns.

For my field.......its remote or Tampa or don't move.

[Keefelane66]

Boy you’ll be in for a shock. I too retired early from a large Communications company @ 45 with incentives, pension, medical for myself and wife continuing still today. Fortunately I got employment with another large Communication company and retired again @ 62. Good luck in your job search.

[mrf0151]

If you have a great personality and are a people person, then check out working for The Villages Golf Carts. You mentioned health insurance and for full time employees they have it. On top of that you can actually make decent money.

[airstreamingypsy]

OP, you may want to expand your work location to Ocala, Leesburg, etc., I would NOT try for Orlando, I4 can be a disaster. It appears most of the jobs IN The Villages are service related jobs, not sure what you are after but keep this in mind. I do electrical consulting remotely, with all of the work out of state.

He has no interest in going up North in TV, something tells me he isn't interested in driving to Ocala or Leesburg.

[MrFlorida]

Anywhere you look here there are help wanted signs.. Most are minium wage type jobs, but if you want to work go for it.

[RDulac]

Try UF Health. Plenty of openings and great benefits

[Berwin]

The local governments seem to be always looking to hire folks and probably have good benefits. I pass by a Lockheed Martin facility when I take the scenic route to my favorite Walmart in Silver Springs Shores in Marion County (only one around I know of that still sells guns). You didn't mention what your actual job was at that communications company so not sure whether you are looking for an electrical engineer or news anchor job.

[Larryjanem]

Does the Villages supply the golf cart??
Only at the golf course, not for personal use.

[Gulfcoast]

Boy you’ll be in for a shock. I too retired early from a large Communications company @ 45 with incentives, pension, medical for myself and wife continuing still today. Fortunately I got employment with another large Communication company and retired again @ 62. Good luck in your job search.

It's cool that you were able to retire at 45 and get another job in the same field that you were able to retire (for the second time) from at 62. You were at your second job for 17 years.

But 56 is a bit different than 45 - by over a decade. Getting another job at 56, working for 6 more years and retiring at 62 is going to look different.

I'm wondering if switching gears and going into insurance or financial advising would be on the table for Op. He would have to take and pass the required exams, of course. I would think that someone who has managed to retire early has some idea about finances and insurance and might have an aptitude for those industries.

I noticed there were some listings in those particular fields.