There are lots of ways we can enjoy a post-retirement career.  We can become a freelancer, consultant, entrepreneur, or continue to work as an employee.  The last option is appealing because it involves no start-up costs, provides a steady paycheck, may provide amenities such as health insurance, and is simply less “hair-raising” than some of the other choices we could make.     

Besides, the employee model can be combined with others.  You might choose to work in a traditional job part time and start your own business on the side, thus making your transition to entrepreneur less risky.                   

Part time work as an employee is especially appealing to our age group because we like the flexibility it offers.  In addition, employers are more likely to hire an older worker on a part-time basis.

If you do choose to be an employee, be sure to choose the job and the employer carefully.  At this point in your life you should not be wasting precious hours at anything you don’t enjoy. Make sure that the job gives you a chance to learn new skills or provides new information that you can use later.       

If your financial situation dictates that you take a full time job or stick with the one you already have, try to shift gears. Try something new or something you’ve always wanted to do. Talk to your current employer to see if you can move into another department, location, or change your portfolio of duties to include more of the things you enjoy and do well. This may involve a pay cut or a step backwards on the career ladder but could prepare you for a satisfying post-retirement career.       

When looking for a part-time or full-time job, be sure to investigate opportunities in organizations that serve the mature market. Your experience and age will be more appreciated in these settings and you may enjoy working with your own age group.       

Use your job as a stepping stone toward more independence. Work where you will gain knowledge and skills that you can turn into a business or that will lead you to something better. Consider your job as continuing education that will help you fulfill your post-retirement plan.

Indulge yourself.  If you love books, look for work at a bookstore or a library. Love kids? Check out daycare centers or private and public schools. Even if you lack teaching credentials, schools may be looking for people to help with their after school programs, work in their library, be a playground monitor, or crossing guard. Like animals? Look for doggy daycare centers, check out veterinarian offices, the humane society, and pet shops. Handy with tools? Look at hardware stores, and places like Home Depot. Check out small businesses that do home repair. Like plants? Investigate nurseries and florist shops.   

Give up the need to be in charge for a while. Let everyone else worry while you indulge in the things you enjoy. Pick a job you don’t have to take home with you! Make sure that the environment you choose to work in is right for you. If you need to be stimulated by ideas and interesting conversations, don’t go to work at a MacDonald’s. If you never want to wear a suit again, don’t go to work in a bank.

There are jobs that are more like vacation than work. The concessionaries at our national Parks hire many mature adults for a variety of roles. They can be seen staffing the gift shop, serving as hosts in the dining rooms, working the cash register at the snack bar, and driving vans or buses as shuttles. These jobs are usually full time but seasonal. Employees are provided housing and meals for a nominal cost.  During off hours, you can explore whatever stunning place you’ve landed in.

Elderhostel, the largest provider of educational travel for mature adults, works with sponsors, usually colleges, who actually mount the programs. Those sponsors hire site coordinators who stay with the group for the length of the program (usually 5 or 6 days). The site coordinator stays in the same lodging, introduces speakers, herds hostelers on and off buses, sees that the schedule is adhered to, handles medical emergencies, and does everything possible to keep the participants comfortable and happy. Coordinators are usually paid for each program they coordinate and can do as few or as many as they like. Sponsors also hire teachers for the Elderhostel programs who teach everything from geology to opera appreciation.     

What makes a suitable job for the not yet retired?  We require more than just a job. We need both tangible and intangible rewards for “selling” our precious time at this point in our lives. We should look for qualities such as:

• Openness to all age levels
• Willingness to consider flexible arrangements
• Work must be dignified and engaging
• Provide the opportunity to learn new skills
• A workforce and workplace that enjoys good morale and happy employees
• Comfortable working conditions with all tools necessary to do the job provided
• Close to home with an easy commute
• Reasonable pay appropriate to the tasks and equal to what younger employees earn
• If commissions are involved, be sure there is a base pay and that you have a good chance of success earning the commissions.
• A dress code with which you feel comfortable and that won’t cost you extra money. If uniforms are required, they should be provided by the employer.
• Adequate sick and vacation leave.

When choosing a job, make sure it does not cost you more than you are receiving. We often forget to add in the cost of working such as commuting expenses, clothing expenses, personal upkeep, home expenses such as cleaning and yard services.

Try some non-traditional approaches to work such as job sharing or trading work for services or products. Be willing to experiment with something brand new that will cause you to stretch beyond your comfort zone or that allows you to try out parts of your personality that have gone unused. Someone who has always worked in production jobs might want to try out customer relations or sales. An executive could try out a service job.

Be willing to look at all sorts of organizations. A big company might have just the niche for you; a nonprofit might be a nice relief from corporate life; and a change to a small business where you can wear many hats rather than be specialized might work out well.    

The bottom line of a post-retirement job is that you must love going to work. If you don’t love it, don’t do it. Life is literally too short!

Joanne Fritz is publisher of www.notyetretired.com  and www.second50years.com