Suit & Tie
– Justin Timberlake Featuring Jay Z, 2013
Many recent retirees are yearning for something – anything – that reminds them of their past suit & tie work lives; they imagine a more fulfilling life that what retirement has provided. The retired life, while enjoyable for some, isn’t quite the draw it used to be.
Thwacking the ball down the fairway with a 9-iron golf club has seemingly become a mundane affair for many. Work – at a leisurely pace – can lack that special spark of nerve-shattering deadlines, friends and coworkers bringing out the best in you, and the flurry of a creative and invigorating work environment.
So, if the sense of accomplishment after birdying the 3rd hole at your local golf course doesn’t quite measure up to the highs of your former work life, what can you do? Well, many retirees are heading back to the work place – quite literally – in droves.
Why Head Back to the 9-to-5 Grind?
There are many reasons retirees decide to abandon the aforementioned “easy life” in an attempt to regain former 9-to-5 glory: some miss the mental stimulation of work, others do it for the money. Many simply enjoy working around others, having structured days, and the fulfillment from accomplishing things and helping others.
So, what are the best positions available for returning workers, you ask? Many will look to enter into part-time work, consulting positions, work-from home opportunities, or other such job options with flexible scheduling.
Consulting fits the bill as it can be both a profitable and enjoyable endeavor with flexibility to boot. Retired accountants with a knowledge of tax returns, former teachers available to tutor new students, and researchers who can take a side gig writing reports, among others, can all earn monetary compensation by hiring themselves out directly to clients.
Many recently retired Canadians are using their retirement to start a new career: namely, starting a small business. More than half of those surveyed in a recent poll said they are considering starting – or have already started – a new small business, according to Huffington Post.
What about Retirees in the IT Sector?
In Canada’s information and communications technology sector (ICT), there will be about 106,000 ICT jobs created by 2016. And an aging crop of IT workers isn’t exactly helping the cause. Due to an aging labour pool, some IT positions in the near future may not have enough qualified workers to fill them.
Resources for the Newly Un-Retired Masses
Job opportunities do abound for retired individuals in the U.S. and Greater Canada. You just have to know where to look. A great place to start is your own employer or staffing agency. For questions related to retirement and beyond, CARP offers insights into the aging process for Canadians.
Retirement can be whatever you want it to be. Retirement planning requires you to think not just about money but also how to use your time and how you are going to maintain active, healthy living.
According to Newsweek and research done by the OECD, those who work longer tend to live longer as well. So, head back with confidence and reap the benefits of overcoming new and difficult challenges. Perhaps you’ll find happiness, fulfillment and purpose once again.
