Post-Retirement Careers: A Future You Can Look Forward To by Nina Bingham

Who Wants to Work After Retirement? Although retirement is traditionally defined as the end of a career and the withdrawal of the worker from the workforce, a significant percentage of retirees want or need to continue working after retirement. How many people choose to go on working after retirement? One third (33%) of the retirees who responded to a survey conducted by the AARP (1993) indicating that they would prefer to work. People have many reasons for wanting to extend their careers, the largest of which may be the need to feel involved and to give back. "As retirees face the developmental tasks of generativity vs. self-absorption and integrity vs. despair, they encounter the challenge of maintaining vital involvement during retirement (Erickson, Erickson, & Kivnick, 1986).

Developing a Post-Retirement Career Plan: "Planning and appraising of one's capacities can help the individual find creative outlet and possibly new work identity" (Harper, Shoffner, 2004). In order to formulate a plan, the individual must have a thorough understanding of their capabilities and aspirations. Assessing a senior's professional capacity could include the following:
1. Physical limitations
2. Psychological limitations
3. Availability for work
4. Compensation: Does the individual expect to be paid or prefer to volunteer?
5. Work environment: Achieving congruence between the individual's values and job environment is of utmost importance.

Post-Retirement Assessment: "With many retirees deciding to continue working after retirement, counselors must be ready to assist retirees in developing poet-retirement career plans" (Harper, Shoffner, 2004). The process of post-retirement assessment is to inventory skills, needs, values, interests and personality style. Some of the tasks included could be:
1. Write a professional biography in timeline form, noting career positions and responsibilities.
2. Take a personality test, or other career-oriented tests to better understand your strengths and areas for growth.
3. Review the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (U.S. Department of Labor, 1991).

Conclusion: Developing a post-retirement career plan now can facilitate a smooth and successful transition to a volunteer or compensated position that will enable you to revitalize your future.

References:

Erikson, E. H., Erikson, J. M., & Kivnick, H. Q. (1986). Vital involvement in old age. New York: Norton.

Harper, M.C., Shoffner, M.F. (2004). Counseling for continued career development after retirement: An application of the theory of work adjustment. The Career Development Quarterly. 52.3

U.S. Department of Labor. (1991). Dictionary of occupational titles (4th Rev. ed.). Retrieved December 13, 2001, from http://www.oalj.dol.gov/libdot.htm