Working and volunteering can help you build and maintain a successful retirement. The added structure and opportunities to meet new people and develop new skills are just a few of the benefits. It should also be noted that many successful retirees work at paid jobs out of necessity. Please don’t let concerns over such work “looking bad” keep you from earning needed money.

Use these tips as you consider working for pay or volunteering. You can also use the material as a tool to help guide you through your experiences. Although working for pay is covered separately from volunteering, there are two shared issues:

1. Be mindful of the time commitments involved as you consider working at paid and/or volunteer jobs. Be sure to include the time you are likely to spend commuting as well as engaging in activities such as chatting after volunteer event meetings or after working hours.

2. Avoid thinking that the work or volunteer activity and environment will be enough to create a successful retirement. They won’t. Even those who work or volunteer full-time report that their lives are significantly different from what they were before retirement. It’s still vital to plan, implement, and maintain a balanced retired life. Indeed, achieving such balance is desirable whether you’re retired or not.

Looking for and Working at Paid Employment

When researching your options, you might need to search both online job boards and classified ads. Don’t let lack of Internet savvy hold you back! In addition, speak with local business owners. Let them know you’re looking, and ask about the kinds of jobs they might have open at some point. Be sure to stay in touch. Extend similar networking efforts to your friends and acquaintances as well.

The Job Interview

• If it’s been quite a while since you interviewed for a job, prepare yourself. Be ready to interview no matter how “menial” the job might be. Practice responses to the following questions:

1. What work experience do you have that will apply in this job?

2. Which of your personal attributes will you use and/or will provide value?

• Be sure to ask the interviewer your own questions. Some questions you can prepare in advance might include the following:

1. Questions that help you put your best foot forward.

For example: “I’m told I’m very patient. How might this help me be a good service representative for your organization?”

2. Questions exploring concerns. For example: “If I’m hired, I’ll report to someone quite a bit younger than me. I believe I’ll find this invigorating. Are there potential issues we should discuss?”

• Learn a bit about what employers may and may not ask in interviews. Educate yourself, not because you need be on the lookout for discrimination, but to help set your expectations and guide your conduct.

• Be ready to address the reason you’re looking for paid work. Honesty is usually the best policy, but take care in how you describe the situation and your objectives. Avoid sounding desperate, dismissive, or arrogant. Telling potential employers you’re broke or bored won’t be helpful. Practice talking about this issue in advance with someone still in the workforce. The ideal practice partner is someone in a position that includes interviewing potential employees (because they are well-informed, not necessarily because they might hire you).

• Determine whether you need a resume and references to apply. This is something that might have changed since you last looked for work, and it will vary company to company. Create a generic resume, but be prepared to customize both your resume and cover letter for each position you apply for. Create an electronic version of your resume and learn how to submit resumes online, including via email.

Unfortunately, I must also note another change that’s taken place in recent years: the lack of response from potential employers. Don’t expect a timely confirmation of receipt of your resume, nor a response after interviewing beyond a much belated “You were not selected.”

Most government employment departments offer free services to help you find and land a job, including support for older persons. The websites for Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the United States Department of Labor have lots of information and contacts.

Working a Paid Job As an Employee

Goals: 

• Receive professional advice and guidance on how paid work will affect taxes and finances in general.  By:_____________________________________________________________
• If applicable: Set employment income maximum or range: By:__________________________
• Schedule time devoted to job search in my calendar.   By:  _________________________
• Land a job.  By:    ___________________________________________________

Additional:

• Determine positions for which I’m qualified and that are generally available in my area. By:______________
• Identify job-listing resources.   By: _____________
• Resume(s) and cover letter(s) (including electronic versions) ready.  By:   ___________
• Ready for interviews. By: ____________
• Networking begun.     By: ____________

EXAMPLE

Action Items: 

Find out if Joe knows enough about Social Security to advise me. If not, find a tax person who can.