The Encore Career Handbook How to Make a Living and a Difference In the Second Half of Your Life

Written by Africaine Starters Équipe Africaine on No Comments  minutes read

There are many potential challenges of an encore career - including ageism, adjusting to a lower status, getting back to learning, and taking orders from a younger boss.

The challenges can seem daunting…but there are also opportunities galore.

 

Discovering What You Want to Do

  • Consider why you want an encore career. Is it to earn  money,  have  fun, add fulfillment, create mental stimulation, stay active and healthy, make your mark or leave a legacy?
  • Consider aspects of your persona. Are you a doer, a campaigner, a teacher, a leader, a communicator, a researcher, a fund-raiser? Where are you most comfortable?
  • Analyze your skills and interests. Consider what you've  done  and enjoyed in the past  - both inside and outside of work.
  • Finally, ask yourself what matters most in your day-to-day work. Like the people you work with, the location, the hours and, of course, the income you need to generate.

 

Gaining Employment

  • Networking by connecting yourself to new people, organizations and ideas is fundamental to finding employment.
  • Override age anxieties by focusing on things you can control - your attitude (positive) and your qualifications (strong). Also make  sure  you're  knowledgeable about  the organization.
  • Realize that younger workers prefer collaboration and crave positive feedback.
  • Although you may feel like a novice in a new job, eventually your skills and experience will shine through.

 

Just Do It

  • Invest time in unpaid  or low-paid "experiments" to gain a real-world taste of what's involved. Make visits to organizations you're  interested in, volunteer, try pro bono consulting or teaching, serve on a board, join a related association or learn new skills by going back to school.
  • Or consider entrepreneurship. Working for yourself can be both challenging and rewarding. If you take the time to identify what you truly want to do, research, prepare and educate yourself for the change, you too can have a rewarding encore career.

 

By Marci Alboher