4 Tips on How to Find a Job After 60

Lots of Americans are choosing to work beyond the traditional retirement age. For some, it’s because they need to supplement their income, while others aren’t yet ready to retire. No matter your reason, or whether you want to be self-employed or not, here are some useful tips on how to find a job after the age of 60.

1. Evaluate

Around 50% of baby boomers have saved less than $10,000 for their retirement. Many who are already in their fifties will need to stay employed well into their later years. But, working past retirement age can actually be a great opportunity – you just need to consider what type of work you want to do.

Ask yourself, how long can you sustain your current lifestyle? How much will you need for the future? If you want to enter a new field of work consider that you might not make the rich salary that you are used to receiving, but you might gain more personal satisfaction. You should rethink your retirement age, and consider the best time to start collecting social security. There are many options ahead of you, so make sure you plan ahead and make the right decisions for your future.

2. Choose Your Path

Self-Employed

If you want to stay in your previous field, then you might want to consider consulting. Depending on how well you know the industry, you can solve industry issues and offer advice and help. To get started, there might be some lag time. So, it’s important to figure out how long you can live without paychecks and benefits. During this time, it’s a good idea to take on a part-time job to supplement your income.

Next, you’ll need a business plan. SCORE, a national non-profit organization affiliated with US Small Business Administrations, can offer assistance on issues like this. Blogs and podcasts are also a great way to test the market and find out exactly what your potential customers want. If this all sounds great, but you are clueless about where to start, take some college classes on entrepreneurship.

Finding a Job

If you choose to become employed, try to find a job at a smaller organization like a non-profit, start-up or small trade association. Usually, companies like this depend on the experience and expertise of older workers.

If you’re thinking about changing fields, enlist the help of a career coach. You should also get your LinkedIn page together, as this is the new resume. Networking is really important when you are looking for a new job, so you might consider joining a Rotary group, or volunteer for a board position.

3. Combat Ageism

Sadly, ageism is a fact of life in our society. But, instead of fearing that you won’t be employed due to your age, use it to your advantage. Researchers have proven that older workers are actually more loyal, and will stick with a company far longer than their younger counterparts. Millennials continually switch jobs in order to acquire new skills, making them less reliable in the eyes of the employer.

Another common misconception is that older workers are less productive and energetic. But, they are actually equally productive as any of the other age groups. To counter this belief, older workers who are physically fit can offer a lively, hard-working attitude. The only thing that could hold you back is social media. So, if you’re not already tweeting and blogging, start now.

Also, have faith in this post from a LinkedIn Member:

“I hired a person over 60. Should not be a big deal, but it was. ‘He will never work hard enough,’ ‘He will not fit into our culture,’ ‘He will be taking a lot of sick days,’ ‘He is overqualified,’ etc.

Nobody said he was too old. They were all ‘politically correct.’ He was one of the best hires I ever made. We all learned from him. He made a huge difference for the company.”

4. Use These Resources

• Workforce50.com: For job seekers aged 50 and over; formerly known as Senior Job Bank.
• Retired Brains: For seniors and retirees.
• Seniors4Hire: Nationwide online career center.
• Retireeworkforce.com: For retirees and mature workers.