Seen in “Your Life Choices” 7th April 2022
A fifty-year-old, today can reasonably expect to work at least part time for another twenty to twenty-five years. For some working will be out of choice, for others out of necessity.
Work is not just paid employment in a company. It includes meaningful tasks that contribute to well-being, either of self or others. Work can be volunteering, it can be education, it can be homemaking.
Leaving a work role is a major life transition and can mean a loss of social and intellectual connection, routine, and identity and replacing those losses can be challenging.
Identifying your aim in continuing to work and contributing your talents, assists in determining the level and type of involvement. Is the desire to work due to the need for additional income, to explore the development of an idea/product and or, contribute to a family need or community concern?
After years of being focused on a particular job or role, transferable strengths can be blurred. Therefore, objectively assess what you can, can’t and don’t want to do and which skills shine, by identifying.
– Your top 2-3 ‘hard’ skills, like marketing or mechanics and top 2-3 ‘soft skills’, like effective communication, administration.
– What is it that you do well, and feel energised doing it? For example: serving a customer, baking a cake, managing a community project.
Dwell on your strengths, tend them, magnify them, leverage them.
There are four major work options. Which one/ones meet your needs?
- Same Employer – changed relationship
A desire for greater work life balance, wishing to transition into retirement, tired of the commute, and family needs are amongst the reasons that can lead to seeking a changed employment relationship.
Baby Boomers are recognised as bringing a strong work ethic, with flexible employment practices being offered to encourage them to remain within the work force. Globally 29% of companies offer phased retirement or other transition programs.
Selling your experience as an asset is a key strategy. Highlight, your reliability, problem solving ability and work-related accomplishments. Work options can include contributing as a consultant, going part-time, undertaking project-based work, or filling in for those on leave.
- Side Hustle > Self – employment
The concept of a side hustle means continuing in your day job, while developing your own business through:
- Following a problem instead of a passion. Do you have a unique solution to a common problem? For instance, safe cleaning products for people with allergies.
- Seeking an industry that is underserved, perhaps locally where your expertise can add value.
- Turning your expertise, childhood desire, hobby e.g., cake decorating into a business?
Starting a business on-line or at a community market is relatively inexpensive, allowing the concept to be tested and feedback to be received.
Consider a business mentor through the local council, join a small business association to provide accountability and professional advice in for example developing a business plan.
- New Career
When considering a new career, it can be hard to know which skills and qualifications will lead to secure work. The Federal Governments Job Outlook website www.joboutlook.gov.au provides guidance, as does identifying local TAFE low fee or free courses. For instance, my local TAFE 2021 assisted fee course listings include, nurses and aged care, child careers and teacher’s aides, construction workers, accountants, and software programmers.
Websites such as SEEK provide excellent job search advice, regarding creating a resume, interviewing for a job, etc.
Ensure your up to date with technology/computer advancements. For free or low fee in-house or online programs try your local library, community house or University of the Third Age [U3A] which also offer fitness, language, history courses for the over 50’s.
When job searching it can be helpful to develop a network with others to provide mutual support, encouragement, and networking.
- Volunteering
By contributing your talents and time to a cause that resonates with your heart, you will gain different experiences, meet new friends, and assist in activities of concern.
Six million Australians do volunteer work each year [Census 2017]. About 35-40% are over 55 years and contribute 300 million hours mainly in community welfare, sport and recreation, education and training and religious activities.
Dependent on circumstances, some will combine paid and voluntary work to meet their needs, for others investing in study will enable future fulfillment.