Several months ago I heard about a workshop for Boomers who wanted to begin a new career. I asked my mom if she wanted to come along, even though she is just a little older than us Boomers. So, with tickets in hand, we found Lasell College in Newton, MA. There we spent an entire Saturday in a very eye-opening session talking about encore careers. There were over 225 people, all 50 and older, in attendance, and not a single person ducked out early!
One of the non-profit groups in the Boston area focuses on encore careers. They’ve done a tremendous job (no pun intended!) creating a venue for older workers, pre-retirees and retirees to:
- come together with others in similar situations,
- explore new options for viable work in your 50’s and beyond, and
- put a structure around a process for reinventing yourself.
Looking for Encore Careers for Boomers
Discovering What’s Next started in 2002 as a service to the local community in Newton, MA. The founders identified that there was a missing link for Boomers who were entering middle age. They recognized that it was challenging for older workers to break into new careers. Or frankly to scale back from their demanding jobs. Boomers simply didn’t know where to begin. As a result, the founders at DWN started to build a network of resources. They also created a process to “help midlife and older adults negotiate the new world order.” The transition we experience as we approach and journey through retirement is new. Ten+ years later, they are going gangbusters!
Mom and I saw first-hand what this idea of “encore careers” is all about. There were presentations, panels of academic experts, and folks from the Social Security Administration. Plus a few financial services companies with information about creating income in retirement had booths. The breakout sessions were informative. We had time to network and talk with other attendees about how to get started on a new path. Now that your 30-year career was coming to an end, what’s next? Speakers included Pulitzer Prize winning columnist, Ellen Goodman, and economist, Barry Bluestone. He gave us a terrific overview of the demographic trends. Turns out, older workers would actually be in short supply over the coming decade.
Four Key Areas for Encore Career Seekers
DWN focused on how to find opportunities in four key areas that would leverage Boomers’ experiences and help educate the younger generations of workers:
• Teaching – With a shortage of high-quality math and science teachers, workers with technical careers might consider switching to middle and high schools to teach.
• Service – Often a good route to employment is to start by volunteering. Find a not-for-profit organization that you love, volunteer, then look for paid opportunities.
• Health Care Support –Aging Boomers are in need of a variety of services to stay in-home. There are cottage industries popping up to help care for aging neighbors.
• Environmental – Not since the 1970’s has there been so much focus on “getting green.” Many new industries need experienced project managers and value experience as they ramp up.
It was a fascinating day. Both informative and shocking. As a lagging-edge Boomer in what is probably the height of my career, I have not given much thought as to what I might be doing at 60, 70 or 80. But, the people in attendance were highly motivated, and even a bit scared. They they faced the reality that they needed to find their inner strength and single-handedly recreate themselves. At least for leading-edge Boomers near Boston, there is a terrific group that can help with the process.
Other resources are available to help you find your encore career, including from:
AARP: Life Reimagined
Forbes: How Women Can Reinvent Their Careers After 50
