If you are at a point where you are reconsidering your work-life
and purpose, I have a few thoughts. This change may not be of your choosing, as
you may have lost a job, or you now need to be the primary breadwinner. Or it may be that this just feels like the
right time to re-think how you are spending your time at this age.
What is your intention at this juncture? Income – a specific income, or “a little
extra”, fulfillment, exploring a new passion?
Decide on your big picture first before you jump in. Your finances will greatly influence how you
approach this topic. And I’m sorry to
say, ageism is alive and well in the job market – just not addressed head on. But carry on!
My best advice: think
creatively and think beyond the 9-5.
Think strategically first. And before you stick your head under the
pillow, this really can be a huge opportunity. There is no pre-ordained path
for our encore years. We are all making
it up as we go.
So let’s outline some of those strategies. (Think big picture here.)
Finding a full time J.O.B.
Do you want to use your experience and skills to find
something similar to what you have been doing, or perhaps reposition them in a
new direction? Or do you want to branch out and explore new opportunities for
growth. So many skills are transferable from one industry to a completely new
one
Do you need new skills or to freshen up skills you have been
using forever? Technology moves pretty
quickly and you don’t want to appear dated.
There are plenty of online classes to help you. Do you need new or
additional certifications? Do you have a
very current resume and is your LinkedIn profile up to date and optimized? Try
contacting a career counselor to help you with all of this as event the process
of looking for work has changed dramatically in the last few years.
Part time work. Could
you take your job experience and all of your skills and dial them back? Your ability to find part time opportunities
might be far better than full time work and allow you more flexibility and time
to do other things.
Temp to perm. This
is not just for kids right out of college, or the new job seeker. This might be the ideal way to uncover new
areas where you don’t currently have experience, or get your foot in the door
for a company that you would like to work for.
Contract/project based. Find your niche, develop a network, projects
will lead to other projects. Here is a great article from nextavenue.org to spark some ideas.
Start your own business. This always sounds like a great solution. Work from home! Your time is your own! No more bosses! But be
honest with yourself. With the autonomy
and flexibility of entrepreneurship come the responsibility, energy
requirements, the potentially inconsistent income, and the risk. That said, it might be the perfect strategy
for your new direction, just be realistic.
Combination – multiple revenue streams. This may be a new way of thinking for those
who have been at a 9-5 job for quite some time.
You may find a part time job while you are developing your own
business. You may find 3 or 4 projects
that you can charge and have “legs” that you have be able to do at the same
time.
Volunteering. If income is not your main objective at
this stage, you have the opportunity to re-visit causes you may be passionate
about. What charities have you been donating to over the years? Is there a heart-felt issue that you would love
help? Identify those areas and or the
specific charities, inventory your own skills and call the local chapter.
Map out the big picture first before diving into the
details. In fact, the best place to start is at the beginning - with the right mindset. Take a look at our ebook - 5 Keys to Aging with Attitude to get you off on the right foot.
This is a major topic for the Aging with Attitude tribe, so
we will be revisiting this often.
Comments always welcome!
Question: If you have changed direction in your
work-life or your focus recently what has your experience been?
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