ENCORE CAREERS

Purposeful Work in the Second Half of Life?

If you find yourself approaching retirement age or have already reached it and are not prepared to disengage from the workforce, you're not alone. A significant number of individuals aged 55 and above are embarking on what is often referred to as "encore careers." Coined by Marc Freeman in his book Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life, this term signifies a new phase of employment between the middle years and true old age. Surprisingly, over 80 percent of Americans aged 50 and above express the belief that work will continue to be a significant part of their lives during what was traditionally considered retirement years. This information is based on a 2013 survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

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With improved health and extended life expectancy compared to earlier generations, coupled with higher levels of education, individuals today are more likely to remain active in the workforce. The two main factors driving this trend are financial stability and a heightened sense of well-being.

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The evolution of Social Security benefits and the diminishing prevalence of defined pension plans have established financial motives for prolonging one's career. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66, gradually extending to 67 for those born between 1955 and 1960. Due to increased life expectancy—where the average 65-year-old today is expected to live until age 85, with over a third reaching age 90—opting to defer the receipt of retirement benefits until age 70 is financially prudent. Doing so results in a monthly benefit increase of 20 percent or more.

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Addressing the healthcare coverage gap between early retirement and Medicare eligibility at 65, along with the additional expenses of Medicare Part B, supplementary insurance, and prescription drug plans, along with concerns about prospective healthcare costs (the typical 65-year-old couple retiring this year might incur around $245,000 in medical expenses not covered by Medicare), amplifies the need for additional income. Compounding this need to remain in the workforce is the rising trend of Baby Boomers providing financial support to their "adult" children into their late 20s or 30s, as well as taking on the role of primary caretakers for grandchildren or aging parents.

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Nevertheless, motivations for continuing to work extend beyond financial necessity. For Traditionalists (born in 1945 and earlier) and Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), work has been a defining aspect of their identity for decades. A 2012 report from the Sloan Center on Aging & Work underscores the significance of maintaining connections and a sense of purpose to sustain both physical and mental well-being. When AARP explored the reasons why older workers choose to stay in the labor force, around 70 percent expressed that they continue working, at least in part, because they find enjoyment in it.

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Many individuals are repurposing their corporate skills to contribute to nonprofit organizations. Some are taking on part-time roles to pursue new or long-standing interests. Moreover, there's a growing trend of individuals pursuing their passions, simultaneously addressing market needs, by establishing small businesses.

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Is Age a Concern?

Let’s address the elephant in the room: age discrimination is real. Two out of three workers between the ages of 45 and 74 say they have seen — or experienced — age discrimination at work, and surprisingly, jobseekers over age 35 cite age as a top obstacle to getting hired.

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No doubt some employers can’t look past a candidate’s age. However, there are many traits associated with “old” that are within your control. These include:

• Being inflexible and unable to manage change
• Resistance to new ideas and business approaches
• Being unwilling to accept new challenges
• Ceasing to learn and upgrade knowledge and skills
• Resistance to computers, smartphones, email, social media, and other technology
• A belief that they deserve special consideration because of their status in life

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How you present yourself on paper, during the interview, and on the job, can help sway a prospective employer’s perceptions about your age.

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So, instead of hanging your head — certain that your age will be a barrier to attaining an encore career — market your age as a plus. Get up to speed on the latest technology. Fight ageism by being physically fit, energetic, and positive in attitude. And don’t be a know-it-all with a chip on your shoulder. Stay at the top of your game through effective brand management.

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Discovering Your Ideal Career

The most popular encore career fields are found in education, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations. A MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures New Face of Work Survey revealed that the desire to do work that enhances the well-being of others is widespread.

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“Fully half of all adults aged 50 to 70 (and 58 percent of those 50 to 59) aspire to work in seven areas that combine the seriousness, income, and other benefits associated with work with the desire to contribute to the greater good. Indeed, when asked specifically to name the kind of work they would prefer to do in the future, those surveyed named education and social services as two of their three top choices. Both finished just behind retail work — an area where much recruitment of aging Americans is underway. Healthcare jobs also finish high on the priority list.”

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If you always wanted to be your boss, self-employment is an attractive option for an encore career, as is freelance or “gig work” (independent contractors, on-call workers, and workers provided by temporary help agencies or contract firms). Knowledge and resources gained through years of experience may also put older workers in a position to work for themselves.

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In her book, What’s Next? Follow Your Passion and Find Your Dream Job, Kerry Hannon offers the following advice on finding a successful encore career:

• Get your life in order. Get physically and financially fit. Change is stressful. When you’re physically fit, you have more energy. Lowering debt will allow you to have more choices. Debt is a dream killer. When you have your finances in order, it gives you options.
• Research. Check out websites to get an idea of what others are doing and what jobs are out there now. Some examples include cogenerate.org, RetiredBrains.com, Workforce50.com, and aarp.org/workresources. Investigate fields that have a growing demand for workers.
• Have a mental picture of where you want to go. Tape a photograph on your office wall of what it might look like. Journal about your goals. Stay focused.
• Get things moving by taking small steps. That might mean making a phone call to ask for advice or reaching out with an email each day to make a lunch date to discuss possibilities.
• Be practical. You may need to upgrade your skills and education, but take one class at a time. You can add more classes as your direction and motivation become clear.
• Don’t lock yourself into a must-have salary. Chances are you’ll need to take a pay cut, at least initially. Understand the tradeoffs.

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Does It Pay To Go Back to School?

If you have determined that upgrading your skills is an essential step toward beginning an encore career, you will want to choose wisely. Although you have decades of workplace experience, you have fewer years in which to undertake lengthy (and often costly) additional schooling. Set your sights on finding a career in a growing field that will continue to add jobs and offers pay that will justify the cost of your education.

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You don’t necessarily have to pursue a college degree to train for a new career. Consider taking online and in-person classes and workshops to fill the knowledge gap or to earn a certification or credential. Look at your local community college’s continuing education offerings as well as trade groups/industry associations that offer coursework leading to certification.

Your Résumé and Job Search

It’s quite possible you never had a résumé — or the one you do have might not be up to date. Career document standards and formats have changed significantly, and not adhering to these changes may raise red flags about your age.

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Does the content and format of your résumé shout, “I’m old and want to retire,” or “I’m alive, have a lot to offer, and am ready to take on new challenges.” Whether you hire an expert to write your résumé (highly recommended) or DIY, the following are a few recommendations for writing? your résumé:

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Pay attention to 21st century standards for résumé content and design:

• Avoid using the template that came with your computer — it’s outdated and effective.
• Don’t tell your life history. An effective résumé is not an obituary of your career, it is a marketing brochure that sells your unique brand.
• Focus on the last 10-15 years of your career — and eliminate age-revealing information, such as serving in the Vietnam War or graduating from college in 1973.
• Use words that portray energy and enthusiasm. Instead of “seasoned professional” (aka “Old Guy”), substitute “dynamic change agent” who “transformed operations, ignited sales, pushed through new initiatives…”
• Begin with a strong professional summary that gives the reader an overview of your experience and all you have to offer.
• Summarize your job responsibilities in two or three sentences and hit hard with bulleted achievement statements that illustrate how you saved companies time and money and positively impacted the bottom line.
• Show your reader that you are flexible, manage change, and accept challenges. Highlight projects you initiated, problems you tackled and resolved, and cross-functional teams you collaborated with.

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Show your reader that you embrace technology:

• Include your email address (not your family’s or spouse’s) and don’t use silly account names such as “[email protected]” or “[email protected].”
• Include your cell phone number. Don’t have a cell phone? Get one!
• List your computer skills (at a minimum Microsoft Word, Excel, and/or PowerPoint). Don’t have any computer skills? Learn some!
• Include the vanity URL to your LinkedIn profile. Don’t have a LinkedIn profile? Get one!

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Prove that you are committed to continuing learning:

• Include a section for professional training and development — and list things that are current and relevant to your targeted job: credit and noncredit classes, company-sponsored training, conferences and workshops, e-learning modules — even industry journals to which you subscribe, or industry-recognized authors whose books you have read.
• List the professional associations of which you are a member. Don’t belong to any associations? Join some!
• Include links to articles you have published or to your professional blog. What, you don’t have any? It is never too late to start writing them.

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Prepare for interviews by researching the company before the interview. Visit their website and learn more about their products and services, their customers and clients, and their culture and the people who work there. Look through their social media accounts (LinkedIn and Facebook) and see if you are connected to someone who works there — or who has worked there — who can provide you with some insight into the company.

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Anticipate interview questions about your age and future goals and prepare appropriate responses. Do a practice run by interviewing for jobs or companies for which you may be overqualified or that are too long of a commute. If you start by interviewing with employers at the top of your list, you may have too much riding on it to manage your emotions well.

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Consider starting on a project basis or as a consultant. This often gives you a leg up on younger workers who are often unable to accept these kinds of employment positions — and these can often lead to full-time work. Another way to get your foot in the door is by volunteering with a charity or nonprofit. This often leads to employment down the road with an employer who recognizes your knowledge and skills and appreciates your work ethic.

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Additional Resources

CoGenerate.org provides access to multiple programs for “encore jobseekers,” including The Encore Fellowship and others.

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Coming of Age helps people 50+ explore their future as well as connect and contribute through opportunities — both paid and unpaid — in their communities and provides training to nonprofits.

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Life Planning Network is a community of professionals and organizations from diverse disciplines dedicated to helping people navigate the second half of life.

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New Solutions connects professionals, age 55+, with part-time and full-time opportunities throughout the country by providing skilled and experienced workers to government agencies.

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Retirement Jobs features jobs for people over 50 (including volunteer opportunities).

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Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). The National Council on Aging (NCOA) manages 27 SCSEP offices under a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. SCSEP helps adults aged 55+ return to or remain active in the workforce by providing job training, job search services, and on-the-job experience.

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The traditional three-stage life cycle comprised of full-time education, full-time work, and full-time retirement is rapidly fading, and in its place is a unique workforce model where professionals from five generations work side-by-side. And, as changes continue, more and more encore career opportunities will unfold, and age stereotypes and discrimination will increasingly become outdated.

Brought to you by Market-Connections Resume Services (https://www.market-connections.net)

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