Can You Start a Career After 60?
Find A Job That Makes You Happy
Sometimes you have to change directions...
Making the decision to change a job is a bold move for people over 60. Is it the worst decision or the beginning of the best second fifty years of your life? It is a life changing event that may be worth the risk if one has specific plans to meet the new challenges of finding a new job. Whether you’re forced to change jobs because of layoffs, business closing, reorganization or personal choice, looking for a job at 60 requires calculated decision-making.
Decide what type of job you want and research companies that hire older workers. Take inventory of your skills. Compare your skills to the job skills in the job description. Take necessary steps to upgrade or learn any new skills required. Peruse the classified ads career section for job openings. Sign up with temporary agencies to earn money while checking out work environments at different companies. Visit or go online to find out what services are available to help with the job search.
Design a resume and compose a simple cover letter. Use job descriptions to create job directed resumes for specific jobs. Review your transferable skills inventory list to build a great resume that highlights skills based on the job description. Write your resume using the job description as a guide. Type your resume on a computer for fast editing and to produce mass copies easily. Personalize your cover letter. Print the resume and cover letter on quality paper.
Register and build a profile on online job banks. Find government job websites and apply online for federal, state, city and county jobs. Set up job alerts on all job bank websites to get daily, weekly or monthly updates on new jobs. Work as a volunteer 1 or 2 days a week with a company with jobs that fit your job criteria. Network with other job seekers and cultivate referrals.
You can also become an enterprising entrepreneur. Start a business and create your own job - one that compliments your interests. Research how to start a business. Evaluate the pros and cons of starting a business. Take a course on how to start your business. Collaborate with another person with similar interests and start a business together. Turn a hobby into a money-making venture or research and find franchise opportunities. Explore opportunities for home based businesses. Find work as an independent contractor and freelance your marketable skills.
Tips
Companies hiring older workers include: AARP, Home Depot, Borders, Walgreen's, Quest Diagnostics, Home Instead, Pitney Bowes, AT&T, MetLife and Avis
Temporary agencies provide testing to upgrade skills for better placement opportunities.
Government jobs have openings even with the furloughs and hiring freezes
Best social networks: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
Warnings
Watch out for scams on the work-at-home opportunities. Do not pay for job information that can be easily found on the Internet or at the local employment office.
Resources
Helping Employers connect with the over 50 talent pool: http://www.seniorjobbank.com/
The complete resource for retirees and those planning for retirement: http://retiredbrains.com/default.aspx
No pastures here: http://www.workforce50.com/
References
AARP National Employer Team: http://www.aarp.org/work/employee-benefits/info-04-2010/national_employer_team.html
Free course on how to start a business: http://myownbusiness.org/
