“How can I get back into the workforce?”
It is the old ‘I’m not worthy’ or ‘they won’t hire me, I’m too old’ mentality that defeats you even before you begin your quest to reenter the workforce. Assumptions like these are the main ingredient to self-defeat when it comes to a senior job search.
Redefining your job expectations when reentering the workforce
Once you’ve committed yourself to reenter the workforce, you need to decide several things:
- What kind of job am I seeking?
- Do I want to work full-time or part-time?
- What are my pay requirements?
- Do I want to work only weekdays, or are weekends, evenings, or overnight acceptable?
These may seem like rudimentary questions but remember you are starting all over again, so you need to build your new job profile.
A reality check about ‘consulting’
When some go through this process, they immediately want to plug back into the career from where they came from. (That ship has probably sailed.) The time to connect with that strategy was when you were putting together your exit plan at your last workplace. You would have seen a higher level of success shifting to a consulting role than you would now, two or three years later.
Be honest with yourself
Your past experience is important, but what is more important is that you define your personal job profile and then begin to try and match your profile to what’s out there. The key here is to be honest with yourself about what you want to do when you reenter the workforce.
Exploring new vocations
Seek out the islands of opportunity in that vast ocean of vocations and be open to start thinking of the world of work in a whole different way.
Consider this: according to a 2022 report by Pew Research, it is estimated that 30% of workers – nearly 50 million – switched jobs. It’s safe to conclude that those 50 million jobs were open for a period.
Don’t you think there might be one for you?
Don’t be afraid to go back to school and acquire some new skills that will lead to a whole new career. Just remember that you are not old, just adjusting to a different state of your life. You had value before you retired. Now reengage and find your new personal value proposition again as you seek to reenter the workforce.
Marketing yourself
Finally, once you have found it and are ready to reengage, put together your elevator speech to sell yourself to the people you want to work for. Market yourself. Isn’t that what you have always done?
Don’t take no for an answer. A ‘yes’ is just around the next corner. This time of life is all about adjustments, especially if you are looking to reenter the workforce. And if you don’t walk that last mile, you will never reach YES!
Get a customized roadmap for reaching your retirement goals
If you’re age 55 or over and are feeling at odds with how to achieve the retirement lifestyle goals you desire, you’re not alone. Many high-achieving, driven career professionals of retirement age feel suddenly rudderless and adrift at this time of life.
At Retirement Lifestyle Coaching, we go deeper, to really understand what motivates you and lights you up. Because life isn’t over at retirement—it’s your chance for an exciting new beginning!
We’ll start by guiding you through completing your personalized Retirement Lifestyle Assessment. This in-depth assessment dives deep into discovering your personal feelings, thoughts, and needs regarding your ideal retirement. The vital information gathered through this metric will provide the essential framework for your customized MeLife Blueprint, designed to meet you exactly where you are in your retirement journey, and help you reach your ideal destination. It’s all possible, with Retirement Lifestyle Coaching on your team.
About Bob Foley
Bob Foley is your Retirement Lifestyle Coach and you can reach him by email at bob@retirementlifestylecoach.com or simply by scheduling time on his calendar.
