Change is the only constant in our lives. Fortunately, in most situations, as one door closes, another one opens. This is also very true of our careers, which change many times throughout our workings lives. By the time we reach our 60s, we have a pretty good grasp of who we are, what’s important to us, and what brings us joy.
Equipped with that knowledge, choosing a second career should be pretty straight forward. We’ve come up with a few suggestions for interesting jobs after retirement. See what you think, and share an idea of your own in the comments section at the end of this article. If you’re looking for interesting jobs after 60, here are a few places to start.
Teaching is an ideal option for the woman who has come to the end of her career and is ready to give back through higher education. If you can afford to volunteer, you could become an OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes) instructor. They are retired professors and experts who volunteer to teach adults over 50 in more than 120 colleges and universities across the US. You can look for similar volunteer opportunities in your local area or stretch yourself and teach overseas.
Are you the go-to person in the workplace, the person everyone seeks out for advice? Becoming a career coach is a rewarding choice for women over 60 who’ve already had long and varied careers. It can also be a very lucrative choice, not to mention enabling you to be your own boss.
As a career coach, every day brings new challenges, and you have the opportunity to develop important partnerships, build meaningful relationships, and shape lifelong friendships. Becoming a life, spiritual or health coach can be equally rewarding.
Health care can be another career change with interesting options. There are programs where you can transition to a medical assistant, LPN, or CNA in a year or less. Medical assistants provide support to doctors by taking a patients’ vital signs, drawing blood, and helping with other similar procedures.
In some cases, learning can even take place on the job. For a twist on this stimulating career, consider applying to one of many NGOs or Mercy Ships that serve people around the world.
If you have a favorite vacation spot that you return to year after year, being a tour guide could be your next fascinating career. Jackie Lange, owner of Panama Relocation Tours (panamarelocationtours.com), offers guided tours of the most popular expat communities in Panama to provide an overview of the options for relocating.
Jackie “accidentally” became a tour guide when her Texas friends started wanting to go with her to Panama. Jackie Whitt, co-founder of Adios Adventure Travel (adiosadventuretravel.com) tells a similar story about how she came to lead tours to Peru. Imagine traveling for free to your favorite destinations by being the leader of a tour.
Transfer your project management skills to a career in sustainability. Seasoned professional women with significant experience in project management need only add knowledge of sustainable practices to their repertoire to make them desirable to most any company or organization trying to develop and implement sustainability initiatives. This is an excellent second career where experience is valued over youth, plus, you’ll be helping Mother Earth at the same time.
The name is Bond. Jane Bond. Careers don’t get any more fascinating than being a private investigator, and what better place to learn than Harriet Bond’s Detective Academy. Carrie Austin founded her all female detective agency in the UK, hiring only women on the senior team because of their innate intuition and natural curiosity.
Carrie offers both commercial and private investigation services, and her academy trains in all aspects of the job. If becoming Miss Marple appeals to you, contact Carrie or look for similar opportunities where you live.
You still have a lot to contribute to the world. Good luck finding a second career that fulfills you and also positively impacts your health and well-being. Choose something that’s both enjoyable and meaningful.
What would be your dream career for this next stage of life? What do you think are the best jobs for seniors? Please add your thoughts in the comments section below.
Do you love to write? Watch my interview with professional writer, Ben Gran as he explains how to make money writing online.