by Sammy Stein

Created on: February 24, 2008

A new career after retirement is entirely possible. I know several people who in their twenties had no idea what they wanted to do. I know some in their forties who still had no idea what they wanted to do and I have met older people who still do not know what they want to do. However, retirement allows them the time to pursue interests and perhaps start a second career.

As a tutor in garden design and botany I see students aged from 16-59 years. Most are starting out but my older students are often the most interesting as they have often come to a point in life where they can make the decision to retire (early or not) and take up an interest that they have long put to one side. I had a retired head teacher (59) an educational adviser (55), a nurseryman (55) and a nurse (57). All had spent a long time doing jobs that, though they enjoyed,they did not feel fulfilled in and had decided that it was now or never to change.

I walked with the ex head teacher one day and he said that he had taken the course for something to keep him interested initially - he had always had an interest in plants and design and a year's course seemed just the thing after his retirement. However,once he started the course,he realized how he could probably have a whole new career. He said the course had given him a whole new lease of life. Add to this the fact he turned out to be a very talented and personable designer and he certainly stood every chance of a second career.

Sometimes it is making a change, like these students. Most of them could either afford to retire or could go back to work if their new choice of career failed but some people have retirement thrust upon them and have to start a second career out of necessity. It can be done though.

I know of one man who worked for a family run store for 14 years. Suddenly, he was asked in to the manager's office and told his job was no longer there. They were 'restructuring' and he did not figure in this. At the age of 57 he was left jobless and in dire need of an income to take him to pensionable age. He could not go to tribunal as they paid him a decent final package which he accepted.

However, though it seemed awful at the time, he began a new career in the caring industry looking after people with mental difficulties. He took to this work like the proverbial duck to water and loved it. It paid better and he could work hours to suit. For him, what seemed like a really bad situation turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.

So, by design or accident , second careers after retirement can be done.

Another option after retirement is writing. In my other tutoring role I have students on creative writing courses and so many of these are people coming up to retirement who want to do what they have always had in mind to do but their job, lifestyle, marriage and children seemed to get in the way (though they did not mind at the time). However, now was the chance to try writing - and because they have experience of life, it is amazing how they can write on so many subjects so many are successful.

If you want to try for a second career after retirement I say go for it.

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