This past November 2021, 4.5 million workers quit their jobs, according to the Labor Department. And, most of these people who left the labor force since the start of the pandemic are over 55 and retired – early or naturally. This is being called The Great Resignation.*
The following are 5 examples of how the 55+ audience can use their career and life skills, passions, and talents to transition to a new, enriching, and rewarding next chapter during retirement!
Use your Career Skills for Volunteering and Philanthropy:
Volunteering in retirement for a cause that is near and dear to your heart can be the place where you will put the most effort and where the results will be the most fulfilling and meaningful for you. If you have financial, legal, or organizational skills, there are so many not-for-profit organizations that could use your talents and experience. You can support a cause that you care about, and the organization will benefit from your knowledge and expertise.
Use your Numbers’ Skills for Teaching Math:
Teaching math is one of the most rewarding things that you can do while in retirement; and for many people, it is a very challenging subject to master. For me, personally, I was given the opportunity to teach 5th grade Common Core Math, which was totally new to me. However, my financial and operational background enabled me to learn Common Core on my own; and I felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment when I was able to get in front of the class and teach. For those of you who do have a strong background in finance and math, this could be the start of a new second career!
Use your Organizational Skills to Help New Retirees Plan their Time:
Retirement gives most of us more flexible time than we had while we were working; and for many of us, it can be difficult, at first to figure out how to plan your time, in a new, unstructured environment. If your areas of expertise are in time and process management, you are in a great position to help others who are struggling to figure out how to plan their new retirement life.
Use your subject-specific skills and talents to tutor students:
Tutoring individual students not only requires expertise in a specific subject; it also requires a tremendous amount of patience and understanding on the part of the tutor. If you possess these qualities, you are in a position to help a student who will benefit from your individualized attention, as well as your knowledge in a specific subject.
Use your Love of History and the Arts and become a Museum Docent:
If you are a history buff and love the arts, being a Museum Docent could be a great opportunity to meet new people and provide the education and insights to groups that are touring various museums. And, during the pandemic, virtual docents are also becoming popular with certain museums in the United States, as well.
This is a short list of some very specific ideas as you start to think about your new life in retirement. If you would like some additional perspectives on this topic, as well as how to navigate the workplace to retirement journey, please contact me at https://pivotandretire.com.
*”Great Resignation: The number of people quitting jobs hit an all-time high in November as openings stayed near record. “ USA Today. Paul Davidson, January 4, 2022.
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