Retirement jobs - ideas, success or failure stories (55, pension, beach)

[Giesela]

My career job requires me to live somewhere I do not want to live. Technically I can retire Jan 2015 but FERS annuities are pretty small and I don't have enough saved to retire retire.
So at 60 I will need some other employment and I'm trying to figure out what to target. I don't think my 30 year old BA in Political Science is going to get me anything special Essentially I need enough money to live modestly on and not start drawing on my retirement savings yet.
I was wondering if I should try to get some sort of Microsoft certification (have no idea how much that costs or what those jobs go for) as it seems like IT is something everyone needs and I think there are some things you can do remotely. IDK, just an idea, looking for more ideas, inputs, stories (from friends or whatever)

[augiedogie]

I'm also planning on a working retirement, but it will be part-time. We can combine a small pension and our SS checks, and some work and should be able to get along fine. We also have savings, but I'd rather not dip into that more than I have to. You might find getting part time a whole lot easier. Full time after 60 in a new career? That's going to be tough, IMHO. My plan is to work retail, or some other minimum wage type job to supplement. I'll probably also check out temporary help type jobs like doing taxes or being a poll worker. In our area, I see quite a few retired folks working at the grocery store. I've seen the same thing in Florida. They even hire retired folks at Disney.

[keithhtt]

I would go with part-time . I retired very early and have done fine with my pension and part-time retail. I actually enjoy it more than the job I retired from,.I had never worked retail before. My favorite part is the interaction with people and the fact that I fit work into my schedule, not the other way around.

[StealthRabbit]

A nice / well paying, 'new' "Career" job post age 50 is pretty rare (except in niche skills).

Set your new found priorities / boundaries.
List what you do not WANT to do as employment.
List what you want to learn / benefit from employment.
Understand wage and time expectations.
Make a +/- checklist
Go find that perfect job.


I have done several, and the ones outside of your expertise require quite a bit of effort / incentive for a 'retiree'

I most enjoyed PT work when returning to previous type job.

The jobs that didn't work for me, had a device called a 'Time-Clock'

32 yrs of 'flex-hours' destroyed any prayer I could ever tell time again. (I never owned a watch, never intend to).

[ABQ2015]

If I were you, I would consider working to age 62 because your FERS annuity multiplier will increase from 1% to 1.1% and increase your pension a couple of thousand a year (in addition to adding to your years of service). You might try applying for federal jobs in some other location that you prefer to your current locale. Also if you have a security clearance, that makes you much more employable for both federal and contractor defense positions. I assume that DOD may be downsizing but it could be location specific. You could try applying for positions in locations that are not downsizing. I would also try Department of Energy (DOE) locations that require a clearance assuming that you have a clearance as it is easily transferrable. DOE has a large office and many contractors in the Richland, Washington area since you seem to perfer the northern area of the country. Also Idaho Falls although it is rather isolated. DOE is a much nicer place to work than DOD.

[oldsoldier1976]

Originally Posted by Giesela

My career job requires me to live somewhere I do not want to live. Technically I can retire Jan 2015 but FERS annuities are pretty small and I don't have enough saved to retire retire.
So at 60 I will need some other employment and I'm trying to figure out what to target. I don't think my 30 year old BA in Political Science is going to get me anything special Essentially I need enough money to live modestly on and not start drawing on my retirement savings yet.
I was wondering if I should try to get some sort of Microsoft certification (have no idea how much that costs or what those jobs go for) as it seems like IT is something everyone needs and I think there are some things you can do remotely. IDK, just an idea, looking for more ideas, inputs, stories (from friends or whatever)

As ABQ says you can apply to areas where you want. You can take that longevity with you. Also as he said working a bit longer will add to your retirement pension. I feel you on the annuity. I have sat in on retirement briefings and I am a FERS employee. I do hope you are putting away as much as you can afford to in TSP. That is the most crucial piece to any FERS employee retirement.

Originally Posted by ABQ2015

If I were you, I would consider working to age 62 because your FERS annuity multiplier will increase from 1% to 1.1% and increase your pension a couple of thousand a year (in addition to adding to your years of service). You might try applying for federal jobs in some other location that you prefer to your current locale. Also if you have a security clearance, that makes you much more employable for both federal and contractor defense positions. I assume that DOD may be downsizing but it could be location specific. You could try applying for positions in locations that are not downsizing. I would also try Department of Energy (DOE) locations that require a clearance assuming that you have a clearance as it is easily transferrable. DOE has a large office and many contractors in the Richland, Washington area since you seem to perfer the northern area of the country. Also Idaho Falls although it is rather isolated. DOE is a much nicer place to work than DOD.

Good points and suggestions ABQ. All of those agencies are in need of good people.

One more point to the OP. The microsoft certification is good. Just remember you will be competing with a lot of younger professionals as well. I have my CompTIA Security+ cert and will probably do Network+ soon as well. Those certifications run a couple hundred or so.

No do not worry you wont have to compete against me. I plan on retiring out of the full time work force at 60 and I am almost 57. Best of luck to you.

[Escort Rider]

The idea of finding a job after a certain age is pretty daunting in general, although depending on our skill sets and previous experience there might be some niche jobs out there for us, as already posted. I was lucky that networking (having the right supervisor who had been impressed with some previous work I did while full time) led to my being asked back (I wasn't seeking work) to do two or three projects a year lasting from a week to about three weeks each.

But I gave up those projects three years ago so my experience is no longer "fresh". If I had to go out now and actually look for a job I would be totally dismayed at the prospects of finding anything that is both interesting and even half-way well paid. (I am 70).

Best of luck.

[augiedogie]

I'm starting to wonder if the whole retirement job thing might not work out long term, or I'd get very sick of it very fast, especially if I had to work for an abusive boss. I'm thinking maybe of something where I can work for myself. A small business or a small farm.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by augiedogie

I'm starting to wonder if the whole retirement job thing might not work out long term, or I'd get very sick of it very fast, especially if I had to work for an abusive boss. I'm thinking maybe of something where I can work for myself. A small business or a small farm.

I would never work for an abusive boss or in a job that was not providing me educational enrichment or perks that I desire. If I every felt I or the job wasn't valued... poof, gone. (benefit of retirement)

• keep several options available.
• have 4 registered businesses and different LLCs (there are tax and income advantages to this)
• keep engaged in various PT employment for friends / previous managers / locals that need a helping hand.
• work 'back-fill' for friends who have to find their own substitutes
• teach at 3 colleges PT (but not scheduled classes... weekends or seminars only) I haven't done this for the last 2 yrs due to Overseas assignment, but I still have office space and opportunity to teach.
• really enjoy working while traveling. (Taking a temp job to get to know the locals and a region)
• follow harvest crews (ez to get work, and work when you want)

At my age, I shy away from running a business that demands my personal time or skill to keep manageable.
When working for myself I really miss 'paid vacations'!

I have done the small 'retail' farm thing, and have found it is still ez'r to work on someone else's farm. It is very time consuming to do you own growing, marketing, maintenance, farm planning, ... especially if you sell from the farm. I helped start a local Mobile Farmer's Market, and they come and fetch the goods from the grower, then sell in different small towns each day. Excess goods go to Homeless or elderly home. Works great!

I don't like being 'tied-down', tho at some age may not have a choice but to stay home.

Always consider what your time is worth. The older we get... the more it is worth!

[Giesela]

I appreciate the suggestions on FERS etc. but I just can't stay here any longer than I have to which is 1 to 1.5 years. Its like living death.
As for applying for other govt employment......There are civil service jobs with the Army in Michigan but even if I were an engineer or acquisition person, which I am not, you have to be an Army employee to apply. That's pretty much standard in DoD (Air Force employee for an AF job, Army for Army etc.) and there are hiring freezes everywhere.
I would happily switch agencies but I don't know that its that easy. I do have a clearance but even so, if you're a security specialist you can't apply for a forestry technician job.
I'm not shutting down the idea, I will happily continue to work as civil service if I can find something, I just don't think its going to happen. I'd maybe be willing to relocate, remote Idaho doesn't sound bad, the PNW. Not interested in anything around DC or anywhere that is expensive. I could maybe get a job with what I'm doing on California's central coast which I think would be a great place to experience for a few years, beach, mountains, not a very populated area - but its soooo expensive at a time I would need to be saving. I would prefer to make one more move to where I think I can stay although I'm open to an intermediary move somewhere I would like to experience. I have very little family so theoretically the playing field is wide open which creates its own problem. What little family I have, till they die off (I'm the youngest) is in Michigan and that is where I grew up. So.....unemployment is what 11%? And not as tax friendly as some states although not the worst.

IT is still the only thing I can think of that is relatively in demand everywhere. Competing against youngsters would be tough.

Any suggestions which certifications I should go for vs. others?

Some retirees do some substitute teaching. Its 80.00 a day in Michigan, but you can only work 90 days a year (not sure why). Flexible which is nice but if you have to count on income not so great. An idea for others and later, after 62 or 67 or whenever I start drawing SS.