An Encore Career: Finding Meaningful Work after Retirement

By Joni Burton, CPCC and CEO of JVS Careers

Until recently, most people have associated the end of a successful career with the beginning of retirement. However, with advancements in modern medicine, people are living longer, healthier lives, and as Baby Boomers near retirement, many find that they either can’t afford to or don’t want to retire.

According to a recent study by Career Builder, nearly 60 percent of workers who are 60 or older anticipate looking for a new job after they retire. Baby Boomers are looking for a second professional act that combines continued income, greater personal meaning, and social impact. They are looking for an encore career.

An encore career allows you to use your expertise in a different way or make a difference for others. While some people seek an encore career as an unpaid volunteer, others look for a new source of income. Encore careers can include full-time work in a nonprofit, part-time work in a new field, or starting a new business.

To start developing an encore career plan, answer the following questions:
• What are you interested in or passionate about?
• What skills do you enjoy using?
• What is the market demand for those skills?
• How much do you want to work?
• What are your income requirements?

Then what? How do you actually find an encore career?

Network: In order to accelerate your encore career search, you need to network. Speak with co-workers, people in your target field, family members, and friends. You need to learn how to cultivate new relationships with organizations that you are interested in. Also, make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated.

Volunteer: Volunteer for a charity or organization you are interested in before jumping in. Experimenting before you retire will help prepare you for the next chapter in your life.

Go back to school: Once you have decided on an encore career, take courses to fill in gaps in your experience, and if need be, update your computer skills.

Work with a Career Coach: Work with a Career Coach to help you evaluate your new career options, construct a strategy to get there, update your resume and LinkedIn profile, and support you through the interview process.

JVS Careers offers Career Coaching and has the knowledge, the experience, the expertise, and the community network to help propel you to success. Looking forward with purpose and planning ahead for your retirement will help you enjoy your post-career life and find meaning in your next act.

Joni Burton, CPCC and CEO of JVS Careers, is a seasoned Senior Management Executive with decades of experience in recruiting, staffing and management. In her role as CEO, Burton is focused on growing the agency and significantly expanding both types of services offered to job seekers and employers, and the number of clients served. To contact Joni Burton by phone, please call (513) 745-2902, or email her at [email protected].