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Many retirees must return to the workforce

Posted by admin On April - 12 - 2010
The value of retiree’s savings along with their homes has fallen and this coupled with inflation and the huge costs associated with health care** has resulted in many finding they must return to work if they are to live a lifestyle any where near what they planned. Unfortunately the current job market is such that it is particularly difficult to find employment regardless of age.
A number of retirees have found it is possible to get a part-time or temporary job or project assignment. These kinds of jobs generally do not pay benefits and it is less expensive for employers to off-board workers that are not working full-time. It is important that retirees update their resumes. There are many services available to assist you, including those which can be found at http://www.retiredbrains.com/JS/CareerResources/ResWriting/.
8 Tips for Seniors Seeking Employment:
  1. Register with temp firms in your local area as they don’t care about age but are more interested in your skills and experience. Also if you get work through a temp firm it helps build your resume for future work assignments.
  2. Try to get an interview with an employer you are not interested in working for to practice your interviewing skills. You don’t want to go to your first interview in a long time with the employer you are really interested in working for and make easily correctable mistakes.
  3. Consider having your resume re-written or updated by an expert as the resume you used years ago is no longer appropriate.
  4. Search for a job in areas that connect older workers with employers seeking to hire them. Go to http://retirementjobs.retiredbrains.com/c/search_results.cfm?site_id=9182 and choose your state in the “location” area and your job category in the “job type” area. Then enter your city location in the “keyword” box as well as other modifying criteria to narrow your job search. Consider putting the word temporary after some of these criteria so the system will return job postings often more appropriate for older workers as employers are more likely to hire older workers on a temporary basis than their younger counterparts.
  5. Look for temporary or project assignments as they are much more available than full-time jobs.
  6. When applying for a job tell the employer you are willing to work on a project or temporary basis; this often gives you a leg up on younger workers or are often unable to accept this kind of employment. Temporary employment can often lead to full-time work.
  7. Get information on employer prior to interview. For example contact someone who works for this employer who attended the same school you went to saying. “Hi. You and I went to the same school but graduated at different times. I’m interviewing for a position in your firm later this week and, before I meet with HR and the hiring manager, I would like to test out a couple questions I have about the firm on you and see what you think the answers might be.” (Later, ask if you can use their name as an employee referral)
  8. Volunteer with a charity or non-profit. Although in most cases there is little or no monetary compensation it is often excellent experience and can possibly lead to employment with a firm that is seeking that particular experience or appreciates your work effort. It is also easier to find employment while you are working as you have a better mind set. Looking for a job on a full-time basis is not a very rewarding experience.
Jobs most often filled by seniors
  • Executives and managers (project assignments)
  • Consultants
  • Pharmacists (part-time & temporary)
  • Nurses and health care professionals (part-time & temporary)
  • Accountants (for tax season)
  • Chemists
  • Researchers
  • Call center and help desk
  • Customer service
  • Inside sales/telemarketing
  • Cashiers
  • Retail sales clerks (during the holidays)
  • Fast food and restaurant help
  • Hotel/hospitality jobs such as front desk and concierge
  • Bookkeepers
  • School bus drivers
  • Guards/security
Many retirees are considering starting their own businesses. Although this has proven to be a good idea for some, it is not for everyone. Some retirees have lost their investment and ended up much worse off then before they started. Carefully check out any business investment or franchise prior to signing any agreements. Go to http://www.retiredbrains.com/companies/misc/retiredbrains/StartYourOwnBusiness.asp for more information as well as the pros and cons of owning your own business during retirement. This site also includes a list of franchises that cater to older Americans. As America ages there are more and more seniors with similar challenges. The chart below will give you an idea as to the numbers.
Only 48% of American workers plan to retire at age 67, with others planning to work longer, according to a survey released by Sun Life Financial. This means that the competition among older job seekers for the jobs that are available will continue to increase. It is important to prepare now for the eventuality that you may need to continue working well past the time you are planning to retire. Check out what others are doing. Ask them about their successes as well as their failures. If you are working, talk to your employer about continuing to work after your retirement age. See about flex-time, part-time or other programs your employer may have available. Start networking now. You can accumulate a good deal of information as well as contacts gradually as opposed to facing the problem in a narrow time frame a short time prior to your retirement.
(**In 2008 a couple retiring both at 65 will spend for Medicare insurance, and out-of pocket expenses between a low of $117,000 with small prescription drug usage and a high of $549,000 with high prescription drug usage during the combined remainder of their lifetimes.)
Older population by age group
60-64
65-74
75-84
85+
60 & older
65 & older
2010 16,757,689 21,462,599 13,014,814 5,751,299 56,986,401 40,228,712
2020 21,008,851 32,312,186 15,895,265 6,597,019 75,813,321 54,804,470
2030 20,079,650 38,784,325 24,562,604 8,744,986 92,171,565 72,091,915
2040 20,512,884 36,895,223 30,145,467 14,197,701 101,751,275 81,238,391
2050 23,490,423 40,112,637 29,393,295 19,041,041 112,037,396 88,546,973
Other resources for employment:
Become a Census Taker.  According to the Census Bureau’s Website these jobs are perfect for older or retired Americans. Check out http://www.census.gov/2010censusjobs/index.php Call 1-866-861-2010! Find a seasonal job at http://www.coolworks.com/older-bolder/ Work in a state park, campground or marine tour, etc.
About the author: Art Koff is a senior in his 70’s who founded RetiredBrains.com as a destination for retirees and people planning their retirement. The site includes a free job board connecting older workers with employers interested in hiring them.
Arthur Koff
www.retiredbrains.com
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