For more and more people, retirement doesn’t mean putting your feet up and dozing off in front of the TV.
There are lots of reasons why many choose to continue working – often part time – after they “retire” from their current careers.
Many people simply don’t have enough money to retire comfortably. In fact, 12 percent of respondents in a CareerBuilder survey said they don’t think they’ll ever be able to retire.
For others, staying mentally active is the main reason to keep working.
Seventy-two percent of adults 50 and older say they plan to keep working after they retire, MarketWatch reported, citing a Merrill Lynch Bank of America survey.
Some employers like to hire mature workers, whose life experiences as well as work-related skills are suited to many positions. And older workers can be valuable mentors for younger employees in the early stages of their careers.
Some part-time or temporary jobs considered among the best for older workers include:
- Teaching – adjunct professor, tutor and substitute teacher
- Seasonal – tax preparation in the first quarter of the year, Christmas season retail positions, working in a park during the summer
- Consulting – use your expertise to land short-term projects related to your career
- Accounting/bookkeeping – jobs in this field – many of which are part time – are expected to grow by 11 percent in the next five years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A good approach is to talk with people you know at places you’ve worked, contacts in service clubs or professional associations, people you attend church with.
Make it known (use your social media skills too) that you want to apply your knowledge and experience on a part-time basis.
Dennis A. LeFevre, CFP®, is a Trust and Financial Advisor in the Everence Direct West Region, working from Woodland Park, Colorado.