Halfpreneur has a new look and a new focus: working during retirement.
In recent memory, retirement was a one-day event when you ended your full-time job and no longer worked. Often retirement at 65 was mandatory, but you had a pension and social security along with savings to fall back on.
Today a mandatory retirement age is rare, and retirement is viewed as the transition from ending your full-time career or job to no longer working for an income. Perhaps retirement needs a new name as an increasing number of individuals for various reasons are deciding to work during retirement years. We now live longer, healthier lives, but pensions have become rare and many of us have not saved enough for full retirement. Among Americans ages 65 and older, 40% rely on Social Security for half or more of their income, and it appears that Social Security faces insolvency in 2032, at which point beneficiaries will see a 22% cut in benefits. Continuing to work during retirement allows for more time to put money aside for later retirement, since we may be spending 30 or more years in our post full-time career life.
But during ages 55 to 70 plus, it may be time to enjoy the work that we do. So, with my background as a resume writer, career coach, more than 20 years teaching Self-assessment and Career Planning at a community college, and a recent certification as a Retirement Coach, I decided to refocus this blog on part-time work for those old enough to retire and offer Retirement Career Coaching.
What does a Retirement Career Coach do?
A retirement career coach helps people figure out what they want to do with their working life as they approach retirement or return to the workforce. The goal is to find work that provides identity and structure, if needed, and is meaningful, flexible, enjoyable, or financially useful.
They typically help with:
- Clarifying goals: What do you actually want your next chapter to look like?
- Exploring options: Part-time work, consulting, freelancing, teaching, volunteering, entrepreneurship, or an entirely new career.
- Translating experience: Identifying skills and knowledge from your previous career or volunteer life that can be valuable in a new role.
- Creating a transition plan: Deciding when and how to reduce hours, change careers, leave a traditional job or return to work.
- Addressing identity changes: Helping with the psychological transition from a long-term professional identity to a different lifestyle.
- Finding purpose: Exploring interests, relationships, contribution, learning, and activities beyond employment.
- Job-search support: Resumes, LinkedIn profiles, networking, interviewing, and positioning yourself for age-friendly opportunities.
- Balancing work and retirement: Designing a mix of income, leisure, family time, travel, and meaningful activity. ChatGPT
If you are considering working during your retirement transition years, please keep reading this blog and if you can’t decide what type of work will be meaningful, flexible, enjoyable and/or financially useful for you, consider taking advantage of the Halfpreneur’s coaching services.
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