Many people spend years working towards their dream career, and when you retire, you may wonder whether that time was wasted. That’s why you may be wondering how you can use your skills once you stop working, and the good news is, there are lots of ways you can take what you’ve learned during working life and use it in retirement. Here are some things you can try.
- Look for part-time jobs
While you may not be able to stay on your career path, there may be part-time jobs available in a similar industry that’ll utilise your skills. For example, after federal firefighter retirement, some people go on to work as instructors, coaches, or even going into careers like security, where their skills at keeping calm under pressure can be used. It’s often a case of finding something that’s less physically demanding and gives you a bit more flexibility.
- Volunteer
If you’ve got a pension and don’t need additional income when retired, why not do some voluntary work? There are lots of voluntary roles suitable for older people, such as:
- Working with children
- Library work
- Charity shop jobs
- Working in an office for a charity
Charities often appreciate volunteers who have a specific set of skills, so why not contact some locally and see what you can do? Whether you used to work in marketing, sales or education, there’s bound to be a role to suit you.
- Start your own business
Running your own business doesn’t necessarily mean working full-time or being stressed. A lot of retired people start a small business so they can use their skills and keep their mind’s active. All you need to do is identify what you can offer, whether it’s doing some freelance work for people, or making something, then create a basic set-up. You can then set your own hours and enjoy a more relaxed pace of life.
Retirement doesn’t have to mean switching off your brain and never taking on new challenges. In fact, as you age, it’s more important than ever to use your skills and refresh your memory. That’s why many people who’ve retired will take on either voluntary or paid part-time work, as they can still use their skills and stay busy, without the grind of the 9-5. While you still get plenty of leisure time, you don’t feel like you’re completely out of the loop.
