Encore Careers

The Great Recession, which officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009, was hard on older workers. In the years following the financial crisis, people from all walks of life struggled to find work – and those lucky enough to have savings found them greatly depleted. The good news is that, on paper, the economy is on the mend. Read More

One of my biggest fears for the baby boomer generation is that we have taken the concept of retirement too seriously. Many of us still believe in the notion that retirement should be a time for living off your savings, relaxing and “aging gracefully.”

Now, a new study by The Pew Charitable Trusts, says that the majority of baby boomers may finally be rethinking retirement. Most people surveyed said that they didn’t plan on retiring, in a traditional sense. Instead, they said that they wanted to continue working, either in their existing job or in a new career.  Read More

In a recent US Senate hearing, Elizabeth Isele, co-founder of Senior Entrepreneurship Works and Conchy Bretos, the CEO of MIA Senior Living Solutions  outlined the opportunities and challenges facing older entrepreneurs. Presenting to a panel of senators and government officials, they explained that small businesses provide huge value to the economy. They also revealed that, in fact, individuals between 55 and 64 make up the largest percentage of new small business owners. Read More

For the first time in history, four generations are present side by side in the workplace. A great grandmother in her 70s can be working alongside the grandchild of a neighbour. Multi-generational workforce dynamics are becoming more complicated with longevity increasing and retirement being delayed – there are many aspects of working with people from other generations that are fun and refreshing, but there are also some potential challenges and pitfalls to keep in mind. Read More

As we reach our 60s, many women are finding that the careers that supported us for decades are coming to an end. This represents a challenge and an opportunity. On the one hand, letting go of what we have always done is scary. In addition, many of us worry about how we will support ourselves financially in the years ahead. On the other hand, leaving one job behind is an opportunity to start something new – an encore career that will give us meaning and, hopefully, a little extra money. Read More

Kerry Hannon is an expert on personal finance and careers for boomer women and is my special guest in this episode of the Sixty and Me Show. Kerry is a writer for Forbes magazine and Next Avenue and is AARP’s Jobs Expert. Kerry is also the author of the best-selling book Great Jobs for Everyone 50+. Read More

A few years ago, while I was working for a large corporation, I was asked to prepare a presentation on the concept of “trust” in selling. At best, I knew that I would only have a few seconds to capture the audience’s attention. So, I decided to take a highly visual approach to get my message across. I wanted a presentation filled with powerful images that would allow the audience to feel my message before they thought about it. Read More

Losing a job is always stressful. Many women over 60 have had careers filled with brilliant highs and terrifying lows, failures mixed with glowing achievements and recognition. But today, the impermanence of the workplace doesn’t linger on the positive but pushes employers and employees into a less connected and committed relationship. Read More