Career Transformations: Shy & Retiring?

Here’s a transformation that will affect us all one day – the move from Career to Retirement. Whether you are a Baby-Boomer (born between 1946–1964) thinking of your own upcoming departure from the workforce, are working with those who will soon be retiring, or watching friends and family go through this phase in their work lives, here are some interesting tips and facts from this month’s Kiplinger’s magazine:

75% - Baby-boomers who expect to work, at least part-time, in retirement.
64 years old – Age when 76% of Boomers plan to retire from their current career.
42% - Boomers who expect to cycle between work and leisure during retirement.
Over 50% - Those who plan on starting a new career after leaving the first one.

Some tips to assist those planning a move to a new “retirement career”:
Contact age-friendly employers identified by RetirementJobs.com and AARP. The list includes: Best Buy, Borders, Quest Diagnostics, REI, and Wells Fargo.
Contact VocationVacations and test drive your dream job idea before taking the leap. A mentor and hands-on experience in the desired field is provided to help confirm that this is the right move.
Update that resume and references, research possible employers, cultivate your network, and be persistent.

Online Resources and Books for finding work after Retirement:
Retirementjobs.com
Retiredbrains.com
Yourencore.com
Don’t Retire, Rewire by Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners
Encore: Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life by Marc Freedman
Portfolio Life: The New Path to Work, Purpose and Passion after 50 by David Corbett and Richard Higgins
Age Power: How the 21st Century will be Ruled by the New Old by Ken Dychtwald

Among the Best places to find retirement jobs:
Albuquerque, NM Madison, WI
Durham/Raleigh/Cary, NC Nashua, NH
Fayetteville, AR San Antonio, TX
Joliet/Naperville, IL Sarasota, FL
Las Vegas, NV Seattle/Bellevue, WA

Valuable information for those planning their exit strategy. By the way, experts say that planning should begin 3 to 5 years before the actual departure date. Baby Boomers are redefining what “retirement” means and the majority have plans to stay engaged in work in some shape or form during those years. Please pass this along to anyone who’s talking about retirement and has plans for a big second act!

Your comments are always welcome.