Planning your Encore Career

Over Thanksgiving I took an airboat tour through a section of the Florida Everglades. On the ride, I experienced a career insight that hit me like the tail of a 10-foot alligator.

The way it happened was this: my husband, daughter and I paid for our ticket, climbed aboard the boat, and soon we were gliding into mangrove alleys in search of wildlife. Our hunt was rewarded with up-close views of gators, dolphins, raccoons, and several glorious birds.

The guide, Captain Mike, appeared to be in his early 60’s. He educated us about the habitat and animals while piloting the boat. “What a cool job this would be,” I thought, so I asked him how he’d gotten into it. “I worked for the parks service before, so I know about this part of the country. Then all I needed was a fan boat to get started.” The tour company employs him as a contractor; he supplies his own equipment, and gets compensated in tips, which can exceed $1,000 each week.

By 2020 it’s estimated that one in five Larimer County residents will be over the age of 55. Given that more than 80% of adults have saved less than $10,000 toward retirement, many will need to work to supplement their incomes. This, combined with predicted labor shortages for the next 10+ years, adds up to what could be some intriguing job opportunities, or encore careers, for older workers.

Considering these factors, some skill building before we retire could prep us for a job we’ll love over one that’s just paying the bills. In Captain Mike’s case, he needed to learn about airboats, plus brush up on his knowledge of the Everglades. Talking about this topic with my husband (who now works as a programmer), he’d like to teach guitar lessons. For me, I think some job cooking for others, maybe in a soup kitchen, would be fun.

So what would you want your encore career to look like, and what can you do now to set yourself up to land it? Some preparation now could help you cruise into it down the line.