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Back To Work
Reasons such as a need for income or benefits, enjoyment of coworkers, or simply
the desire to continue being challenged are causing seniors to re-enter the
workforce. And with this transition comes new obstacles (and rewards) for seniors
going back to work — again.
“The hardest part for seniors re-entering the workforce is their mindset,” says Patrice
Blanchard, associate director of AARP in Kentucky. “Most of them never thought
about working during retirement,” she said. “Some seniors tell themselves ‘I’m too old
to learn anything new,’ or ‘Who would want me at my age?’”
Her suggestion is that seniors use the resources available to them and “think outside
the box” when it comes to choosing a second career. A great starting point is the
AARP website (http://www.aarp.org/states/ky/), which includes information about job
searching, senior-friendly companies, and training opportunities.
The website includes AARP’s “National Employer Team,” which compiles a list of
senior-friendly companies based on their practices for hiring, training, and retaining
seniors. The website also lists industries actively recruiting age 50-plus workers. The
big ones include health care, retail, customer service centers, trucking, education,
utilities, and government.
Blanchard is optimistic seniors can find a second career with just a little research and
effort. She reminds seniors that they don’t have to do the same thing post-retirement
as they did before. “Skills are very transferable in the workplace,” she says, “and
training is available as long as you are willing to learn.”
Pet School and Hotel owner Mary Perry is a perfect example of someone who turned
a hobby into a profession in the later part of life. Perry has a Ph.D. in Educational
Law and spent years working in nearly every level of education from Head Start to
universities.
After retiring from education in 1990, Perry knew she wanted to do something else,
so she packed up her 70 birds and moved to Louisville from Utah. After working with
a friend, Perry decided she wanted to open up her own pet company.
“I was going to do it out of my house,” she says, “but the planning and zoning people
quickly said ‘Oh, no, no, no!’ So I had to go a different route.”
While searching through ads in the paper, Perry came across the Pet School and
Hotel. “I didn’t expect to buy it,” she says, “I had good credit, but no money.”
With the help of an SBA loan, Perry bought the business and now says she works
much harder in this job than she ever did in her first career.
“It’s very labor intensive. I have had two very different careers. Really, they are 360
degrees apart!”
But not everyone has to make the 360 degree change. Others, such as Jim Cunigan,
have found more familiar territory during retirement.
For 25 years, Cunigan worked at General Electric. But not long after retiring in
December 2006, Cunigan was invited back to GE part-time as a senior consultant,
working mostly with their special products.
Cunigan says he enjoys his job because it is on his terms and he gets to maintain
relationships he has built over the years. “It’s really a great deal for both of us,” he
says. “I’m a value to them, and in return I get to do something I enjoy.”
Cunigan recommends working during retirement to other seniors because it has
allowed him to “stay involved at a much reduced pace.”
Working part-time has also given Cunigan the chance to keep up with his many
hobbies. He is an active golfer, walks four miles a day, volunteers with AARP, and
takes his friend (who suffered from a stroke) to speech therapy twice a week.
Jim Swartwood, who had been in the food industry his entire life, was also invited
back after retirement on an as-needed basis, usually three days a week. Swartwood
says his experience has been even more enjoyable the second time around.
“In management, you are always planning for tomorrow or the month ahead, or the
month after that. Now I don’t have to!” he says with a laugh. “When I retired I didn’t
miss the actual work, but I did miss the interaction part. It is good to be back with a
team and other people.”
In fact, Swartwood enjoys his flexible job so much he says it is “easier than staying at
home,” where his efforts are spent doing yard work, remodeling, and housework.
The popularity of seniors going back to work has led some companies to initiate
programs for senior involvement. One such program is in the works at Luckett &
Farley, a Louisville-based architect and engineering firm.
In the program, mature workers mentor younger talent and interns. “We simply want
to redefine the notion that top talent doesn’t necessarily need to be packaged in a
newly-minted graduate or a slightly more experienced mid-level career man or
woman,” says Ed Jerdonek, CEO of Luckett & Farley. “In many instances, we think
there may be a special fit for active retirees at Luckett & Farley — clearly top talent
isn’t set aside only for the younger workers. Top talent comes in a variety of
packages. It’s how you make the highest and best use of that talent that ultimately
matters.”
While Luckett & Farley’s approach to mature workers is new and somewhat
uncharted, it sets a precedent for what other companies might offer in the future.
Workers over 50 have a great opportunity in second careers to really make a
difference and perhaps finally spend time doing what they love to do. Opportunities
are all around for those who are passionate to search for them.
Reasons such as a need for income or benefits, enjoyment of coworkers, or simply
the desire to continue being challenged are causing seniors to re-enter the
workforce. And with this transition comes new obstacles (and rewards) for seniors
going back to work — again.
“The hardest part for seniors re-entering the workforce is their mindset,” says Patrice
Blanchard, associate director of AARP in Kentucky. “Most of them never thought
about working during retirement,” she said. “Some seniors tell themselves ‘I’m too old
to learn anything new,’ or ‘Who would want me at my age?’”
Her suggestion is that seniors use the resources available to them and “think outside
the box” when it comes to choosing a second career. A great starting point is the
AARP website (http://www.aarp.org/states/ky/), which includes information about job
searching, senior-friendly companies, and training opportunities.
The website includes AARP’s “National Employer Team,” which compiles a list of
senior-friendly companies based on their practices for hiring, training, and retaining
seniors. The website also lists industries actively recruiting age 50-plus workers. The
big ones include health care, retail, customer service centers, trucking, education,
utilities, and government.
Blanchard is optimistic seniors can find a second career with just a little research and
effort. She reminds seniors that they don’t have to do the same thing post-retirement
as they did before. “Skills are very transferable in the workplace,” she says, “and
training is available as long as you are willing to learn.”
Pet School and Hotel owner Mary Perry is a perfect example of someone who turned
a hobby into a profession in the later part of life. Perry has a Ph.D. in Educational
Law and spent years working in nearly every level of education from Head Start to
universities.
After retiring from education in 1990, Perry knew she wanted to do something else,
so she packed up her 70 birds and moved to Louisville from Utah. After working with
a friend, Perry decided she wanted to open up her own pet company.
“I was going to do it out of my house,” she says, “but the planning and zoning people
quickly said ‘Oh, no, no, no!’ So I had to go a different route.”
While searching through ads in the paper, Perry came across the Pet School and
Hotel. “I didn’t expect to buy it,” she says, “I had good credit, but no money.”
With the help of an SBA loan, Perry bought the business and now says she works
much harder in this job than she ever did in her first career.
“It’s very labor intensive. I have had two very different careers. Really, they are 360
degrees apart!”
But not everyone has to make the 360 degree change. Others, such as Jim Cunigan,
have found more familiar territory during retirement.
For 25 years, Cunigan worked at General Electric. But not long after retiring in
December 2006, Cunigan was invited back to GE part-time as a senior consultant,
working mostly with their special products.
Cunigan says he enjoys his job because it is on his terms and he gets to maintain
relationships he has built over the years. “It’s really a great deal for both of us,” he
says. “I’m a value to them, and in return I get to do something I enjoy.”
Cunigan recommends working during retirement to other seniors because it has
allowed him to “stay involved at a much reduced pace.”
Working part-time has also given Cunigan the chance to keep up with his many
hobbies. He is an active golfer, walks four miles a day, volunteers with AARP, and
takes his friend (who suffered from a stroke) to speech therapy twice a week.
Jim Swartwood, who had been in the food industry his entire life, was also invited
back after retirement on an as-needed basis, usually three days a week. Swartwood
says his experience has been even more enjoyable the second time around.
“In management, you are always planning for tomorrow or the month ahead, or the
month after that. Now I don’t have to!” he says with a laugh. “When I retired I didn’t
miss the actual work, but I did miss the interaction part. It is good to be back with a
team and other people.”
In fact, Swartwood enjoys his flexible job so much he says it is “easier than staying at
home,” where his efforts are spent doing yard work, remodeling, and housework.
The popularity of seniors going back to work has led some companies to initiate
programs for senior involvement. One such program is in the works at Luckett &
Farley, a Louisville-based architect and engineering firm.
In the program, mature workers mentor younger talent and interns. “We simply want
to redefine the notion that top talent doesn’t necessarily need to be packaged in a
newly-minted graduate or a slightly more experienced mid-level career man or
woman,” says Ed Jerdonek, CEO of Luckett & Farley. “In many instances, we think
there may be a special fit for active retirees at Luckett & Farley — clearly top talent
isn’t set aside only for the younger workers. Top talent comes in a variety of
packages. It’s how you make the highest and best use of that talent that ultimately
matters.”
While Luckett & Farley’s approach to mature workers is new and somewhat
uncharted, it sets a precedent for what other companies might offer in the future.
Workers over 50 have a great opportunity in second careers to really make a
difference and perhaps finally spend time doing what they love to do. Opportunities
are all around for those who are passionate to search for them.