The idea of the 'job for life' has almost been obliterated due to today’s employment market. Retirement, whether it's forced, voluntary or a result of redundancy, can be the perfect opportunity to try something new and have a change of career.
Finding a suitable retirement job can be a full time job in itself. If you wish to continue working in later life there are a few different avenues you could try that should bring successful results.
There is a massive barrier that older professionals can face - overcoming ageism. Age has tended to blind potential employers from the range of skills and experience that these professionals can bring to an organisation.
New legislation has been passed over the last few years to help to combat discriminatory practices and open up doors for workers to carry on working past the usual retirement age.
Although these acts have been put into place, in some cases there are invisible barriers that some employers put up that you will need to overcome. There are many things you can do to get past this.
Facing unemployment later in life can be a daunting and incredibly stressful prospect but this is often the perfect time to consider changing careers and moving forward. Research has shown that older people who continue to work are healthier. Not only that but it is a great way of earning extra cash and a great way of keeping active in a wider social circle.
There is a whole world of employment opportunities for those that have reached retirement age or lost a job through redundancy. This could be a time to slow down or to move forward into a really rewarding and enjoyable job that you could have only ever dreamed of.
Updating your CV is probably the first task for those looking for retirement jobs but this is also a great opportunity to step back and weigh up your options. Do not limit the job search to the same old work you have done before. Branch out and consider passing on your experience and knowledge via areas such as teaching or consulting. Search for jobs by keywords such as skills rather than job titles.
This could even be an ideal time to realise a dream of opening up a small business. Perhaps you could invest part of a redundancy payment or pension lump sum that the business can pay off in the long run.
There are new employment initiatives in place that are designed for older works. Government agencies can advise on the financial benefits and grants available for those who perhaps wish to retrain. You can get further information on this from Job Centres. It's also worth investigating agencies that have been specifically set up for older workers such as Wise Owls and Forties People.
The good news is that a lot of employers are now actively looking to hire older workers and there are more part time jobs being created for them. Many employers do favour older workers for the experience they can bring to a work place and they are often viewed by many employers as being more reliable.
Do not just sit and wait for an opportunity to turn up in your inbox, go out there and make it happen. Below is a list of ways that can help you find a new role:
This article was written by the career coaching experts at Renovo.