Unretirement Project

Retirement Redefined

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Archives for Careers

What We Are UP To – The EDIT Edition

June 24, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Iceland address wall art 8 ate the edit edition

Disclosure: Occasionally we receive free products for review or include advertising links in posts, but no one impacts the honesty of our opinions.

I’ve seen a couple of articles lately about “editing” as a result of COVID-19. People who are streamlining and/or eliminating things from their life either because it cost too much, doesn’t bring happiness, or it’s simply no longer necessary. I will say that some of the articles mention “editing” people who are racist, homophobic, misogynistic, xenophobic, or just plain toxic. You know what you want and/or need to edit out of your life. Here are a few things we’re thinking about this month. 

Watching | Hot Ones

> This is a YouTube series where celebrities answer questions while eating spicy chicken wings. It’s oddly fascinating for several reasons. I’m meeting people who I didn’t know were considered celebrities. I’m learning that chicken wings are a more popular food than I thought, and people are very opinionated about them. Finally, I’m learning that people’s tolerance for spicy food varies greatly (given how little they edit out of the show). Honestly, it’s kinda a fun distraction. 

Reading | Sourdough: or, Lois and Her Adventures in the Underground Market

> I couldn’t resist picking this book up since we’re making sourdough starter as a quarantine project. It was a fun quick read about a San Francisco tech employee who is given some sourdough starter and has to figure out how to keep it alive. That’s all I’m telling you about the plot! You’ll have to read the rest for yourself. 

Remembering | The pandemic isn’t over

> It’s very tempting as states reduce restrictions and businesses reopen their doors to think COVID-19 is a thing of the past. Not true. Part of our “edit” has been to find reliable information sources to stay on top of what’s going on. In addition to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, NPR is Tracking the Pandemic and a group of public health and crisis experts have started a site called “How We Reopen Safely”.  

Feeling | Knowledgeable

> Speaking of Johns Hopkins and COVID-19, we just finished taking a MOOC (massive open online course) about contact tracing. This free course is being offered to help people learn some basic skills because states are planning to hire thousands of contact tracers over the coming months. While we’re not planning to quit our day jobs and become contact tracers, I found the course to be very informative about the virus as well as what contract tracers can/can’t do should one contact me. The class on privacy, confidentiality, and ethics was well worth my time. 

Working On | Organizing the pantry

> Thankfully, we enjoy cooking so being at home hasn’t been too much of an inconvenience. What I do miss is wandering around the grocery store! Loved picking up new and unusual items to try. As stores open up a bit more, we’re feeling more comfortable wandering the aisles and looking for new foods. It also means our pantry is getting full and needs some editing rearranging.  

Planning | A closet edit

> This blog post from “A Well Styled Life” reminded me that I’m due for a closet edit. I made quite a few impulse purchases while we were renting and had our belongings in storage. Now that all of my wardrobe is in the same place, it’s time to be more strategic. I’ll also be dusting off my Cladwell app to see if I can find some new ways to style older pieces. 

Loving | Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co.

> As a small business owner, I love supporting other small local businesses. And I love tea. So, when I found this Central Florida company selling tea from the Yaupon Holly plant, I was intrigued and had to give it a try. The indigenous people of Florida used to roast the leaves then steep them in boiling water for a naturally caffeinated, antioxidant-rich beverage. My favorite was the Florida chai, very smooth and no bitter aftertaste. 

Geeking | Sensor Trash Can

> We splurged on a sensor trash can recently and OMGosh, it’s fabulous! Just pass your hand over the top and the lid automatically opens. After a short countdown cycle, it automatically closes. Need to keep it open longer? Just hit a button and it stays open until you manually close it. Very convenient for home cooks like us. And great for cleanliness!

What’s UP with you? Stay safe!

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Reykjavik, Iceland

Filed Under: Careers

Forget Boomers and Get Ready For the Young Old

June 10, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby 1 Comment

Anthony Bourdain quote I don't have to agree with you like the young old or YOLD

I ran across an article in The Economist titled “The Decade of the ‘Young Old’ Begins”. It’s an interesting read worth checking out. “Young Old” – also known as YOLD – is the group of individuals between 65 and 75 years of age. The reason that the group is being called “young old” is because, while their age is in the traditional retirement range, their lifestyles aren’t. 

YOLD individuals are working longer, staying healthier, and represent a significant consumer market. This should not be a surprise to anyone. Regardless of the unemployment rate, organizations need the best talent and YOLD individuals are willing to work a few more years because they want to, and they can save up a few extra dollars. 

There’s research that says remaining in the working world is helping people stay healthier longer. The article cites a study that shows a positive relationship between cognitive abilities and working, which makes sense. And finally, because YOLD people are staying in the workforce longer, they can afford to do some of those things on their bucket list (i.e. spending money on travel).

While this all seems logical, organizations are behind the times when it comes to recognizing YOLD individuals and their value. Here are three areas of focus that businesses should consider:

  1. Ageism. I wish I could wave a magic wand and erase ageism, but I haven’t figured that one out yet. Ageism exists and organizations need to figure out how to create more inclusive workplaces. Not just because it’s the right thing to do. Selfishly, they need the talent and YOLD workers are one of the groups that can bring it. It’s time for companies to realize that inclusionary workforces bring positive results. 
  1. Health Care. Speaking of working longer, if organizations want to enjoy high performance from their employees, then it pays to keep employees healthy – regardless of age. Now, I will admit that some of the responsibility for health falls to the individual – eating right, exercising, and preventative care. But organizations are in a position to make health care affordable. 
  1. Retirement. This is one of the reasons that Keith and I started this blog. Thanks to YOLD, retirement is changing. Yes, at some point, we all will want to stop working and retire. But people want a modern retirement. Since Social Security and Medicare have been enacted, there have been numerous technological and societal changes. Retirement programs need to be updated to reflect the way we live our lives today. 

I understand that YOLD is simply a euphuism. It’s something new and catchy, especially in the wake of “Ok, Boomer.” But YOLD does raise some good points about aging and work, health, and retirement. Not only do businesses need to pay attention but so do individuals. Are you supporting legislators who agree with your YOLD philosophy? Do you support businesses that respect YOLD individuals? And if you’re thinking that you’re so far away from retirement that this doesn’t matter, think again. How does this impact older friends and loved ones?

The time to think about how you want to spend your YOLD years is now. Because you want to spend them your way. 

Filed Under: Careers, Health and Aging, Retirement Planning Tagged With: aging, encore career, retirement planning

Job Seekers: The 7 Skills You Need For Your Search

May 20, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

job seekers skills for new job

Job security is on people’s minds today. We’re all seeing the same news about unemployment rates at historic highs. Whether you’re one of the job seekers currently looking for a new opportunity or not, it does make sense to always be thinking about your career and what options you have. 

One of the most important aspects to consider is how you would go about a job search. Let me dish out some tough love here . . . a job search in today’s technology driven world may require a unique approach. Here are a few skills for job seekers to consider:

  1. Goal Management. Careers are about goals. It might be to work for a certain company or in a specific field. You could have a goal to achieve a particular job title (like vice president). We also have career goals surrounding compensation, benefits, and perks. Or maybe the goal is to learn something like “graduate from the Culinary Institute of America” (also known as the CIA). Once we achieve one career goal, then we set another one. 
  1. Organization. We achieve our goals through planning and preparation. It’s possible that, to achieve some of the goals mentioned in #1 (goal management), job seekers need to save money, schedule time off from work, or take some classes. This could involve doing some research. For example, if one of your goals is to obtain HR certification, then you might need to research the requirements, ask your boss for reimbursements, schedule time to study, etc. All of this takes organization. 
  1. Prioritization. I wish I could say that once we set a goal, that’s it. But it’s simply not true. Fortunately, and unfortunately, we have other opportunities present themselves. Some of them won’t sway us from our goals. Others could be so tempting that we need to evaluate them alongside our existing goals. Understanding priorities is incredibly important in figuring out which path to pursue. No one wants to miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity because they didn’t have their priorities established.
  1. Networking. Speaking of opportunities, you’re not going to get them if you don’t network. I know virtual networking can be hard, but job seekers have to find ways to stay connected. It’s one of the big pluses of social media. Having a network is critical for career development. Your network can help you find new job opportunities. It can also serve as an informal board of advisors. So, being able to build positive trusting relationships is the cornerstone of your future career.
  1. Curiosity. It’s possible that we will miss out on building relationships with interesting people and being a part of exiting opportunities if we’re not curious. I totally agree that there’s no rule that says we must say “yes” to every request but listening can be very beneficial. It can present us with options we never thought of AND it can confirm that the goals we’re currently pursing are the right ones. Understanding our priorities (see #2) can help job seekers constantly re-evaluate the new options being presented.
  1. Risk-Awareness. At first, I had labeled this paragraph Risk-Aversion, but then I changed it. Because it’s not always about taking fewer risks. Sometimes our careers will require us to make bold moves – maybe a relocation or an extra assignment. It’s about understanding the risks associated with the decision and being okay with them. It could also involve having a Plan B (see #1 – goal management) available in case you have to make a change in plans.
  1. Communication. Of course, you knew communication had to be on the list, which is why I made it last. All of the skills we’ve discussed involve having excellent communication skills – both verbal and written. You might want to journal your goals to remain focused. Or chat with a family member or mentor about the risk and rewards associated with a new opportunity. Either way, being able to communicate clearly AND being able to truly listen to feedback and guidance from others will be valuable.

While this list of skills might impress an employer during an interview, that’s really not what it’s for. It’s designed to be a reminder that, whether you’re currently an employee or one of the job seekers, you need to have some ownership of your search. And these are the skills that will help you be good at it. 

Filed Under: Careers, Retirement Planning, Technology Tagged With: careers, unretirement

Using Social Media in Unretirement: 5 Day Plans

April 22, 2020 by Keith Lauby 1 Comment

using social media on a phone while traveling in unretirement

When we have a little spare time – or when spare time is abundant – many people look for opportunities to better themselves. That’s smart because new skills can often open doors. Whether you plan to work during retirement or you just enjoy learning new things, successfully navigating social media platforms may bring both satisfaction and opportunities.

Communication skills have always been a desirable workplace competency. It factors heavily in productivity, leadership and, of course, marketing. In today’s modern workplace, that includes online communication. Social media is particularly valued because of the vast number of users. For that reason, I’ve written short 5 day learning guides for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Your 5 Day Plan to Using Facebook

Many of us are already using Facebook which can be a valuable business tool without disrupting our personal space. Businesses and groups are plentiful, so there are work related things I just prefer to read on Facebook. Best of all, Facebook is very helpful in offering notifications and reminders to keep you on top of important customer interactions.

Your 5 Day Plan to Using LinkedIn

LinkedIn is another social platform where most of us can already be found. And whether you are looking for a career opportunity or just want to network, the business application of LinkedIn is second to none. LinkedIn is great about helping you optimize your profile and connect with others who share your work interests.

Your 5 Day Plan to Using Twitter

Twitter describes itself as an online news and social networking site. Over the years, Twitter has made several changes to become more business friendly. Today it’s easy to have conversations with your Twitter contacts or even Tweet Chats with larger groups who share common interests. You can quickly grow an audience on Twitter.

Your 5 Day Plan to Using Instagram

Instagram has rapidly risen to the top of the social media ecosystem where 80% of users follow at least one business brand. Instagram grows brand recognition through the power of visuals with graphic images, videos and stories. Following hashtags will help connect you with a global audience that shares your interests.

There are a few other popular social platforms like YouTube, Pinterest and TikTok that you can explore. But I wanted to give you some basics here to help you build a solid foundation.

By now we know that social media isn’t just some fad. It continues to grow as a communication medium, connecting business and personal brands with a vast global network. Whatever your goals, you can scale your social media activity up or down. Right now, we’re really experiencing the value of connection. Learn how to carry that forward into your own unretirement.

Filed Under: Careers, Retirement Life, Retirement Planning Tagged With: careers, social media

What We Are UP To – Working From Home Edition

March 18, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Atlanta airport artwork clean hands and cover sneeze when not working from home

Given the COVID-19 news, many employers are asking employees to start working from home right now. I realize this could be a PITA, but it could also be an opportunity to test drive what working from home is like. If being a freelancer or consultant is part of your unretirement strategy, use this time – however long it may be – to see what you think about working from home.

Keith and I have been working from home for over a decade. We’ve learned a lot about how we like to work in the process. So, here’s what we’ve been up to this month along with a few tips about working from home. 

Reading | About Social Distancing

> Until recently, I had never heard the term “social distancing”. Now it seems to be all we’re reading about. And it’s one of the reasons that employees are being asked to work from home. I found this article on The Atlantic titled, “The Dos and Don’ts of Social Distancing” to be very interesting and helpful.

Feeling | The Need for Balance

> One of the biggest challenges of working from home is creating balance between your work life and your home life. It’s so much easier when you work in an office to leave the work behind. Find a way to shut the door – both literally and figuratively – to your work and enjoy being at home. 

Watching | Jumanji

> I’ve mentioned before that we seem to be gravitating toward funny movies lately. We rented Jumanji and Jumanji: The Next Level starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. Very funny and a nice message about the importance of teamwork. 

Remembering | To Practice Self-Care

> I’ll admit it. Sometimes the news can be overwhelming. Especially when we’re working from home and can tune into it all day long. It’s important to take breaks, have a nutritious lunch, and practice self-care. And it’s okay to take 5 minutes to solve The New York Times Mini Crossword then go back to work. 

Loving | My Herman Miller Chair

> Another aspect of working from home that’s worth mentioning is your posture. I’m very fortunate to have a Herman Miller Embody chair. My back thanks me every day for it. When you’re working from home, find a place where you can be productive and kind to your body. Ergonomics matters.

Working On | Cleaning Everything

> One of the nice things about Gainesville, FL is all of the trees. Unfortunately, it also means we’re in the middle of pollen season. So in between work, we’re tackling a few cleaning projects. That’s a nice thing about working from home. It’s easy to throw in a load of laundry or set up the Roomba while you’re answering emails. 

Geeking | Silicone Muffin Tins

> Since I haven’t been traveling much lately, we’ve also been using our time to do some meal prep. One thing in particular we made was chicken stock. I like to freeze stock in muffin tins and then just use what I need. We purchased a silicone muffin tin and it’s fabulous! I have no idea why we didn’t buy one sooner.

Planning | Regular Walks

> Last month, I mentioned that we were starting up Pilates again. And we love it. But with all the COVID-19 talk, we decided to take a break from going to a group workout space. But we’ve discovered that we can take a lap in our neighborhood and it’s exactly one mile. So far, we’ve walked a mile every day. 

What’s UP with you? Any questions about working from home? Let us know and we’ll try to get some answers. 

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, GA

Filed Under: Careers, Home and Lifestyle, Wellbeing Tagged With: careers, home, wellness

You Are Never Too Old for LinkedIn

March 11, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby 1 Comment

Never Not Working wall art claiming you are never too old for LinkedIn

Social media isn’t a trend or fad. It’s a normal part of our lives. Wait…let me add something. Social media is a normal part of our business lives. Sure, you can swear off Twitter or Facebook. But in today’s business world, it’s important to be connected to business conversations. And that happens on LinkedIn.

Now, you might be saying to yourself, “Hey – isn’t this a retirement blog? When I retire, I don’t need LinkedIn.” And maybe that’s true. But given the number of business professionals who are transitioning from full-time to part-time as part of a phased retirement strategy, it could make sense to hang around for a while. There are also quite a few people who are retiring only to realize that they’re bored and want to reenter the workforce (i.e. unretire). LinkedIn could be a way to reconnect. 

So, before you start counting the days until you can delete your LinkedIn account, here are a few resources to keep your profile current and relevant. 

Your 5-Day Plan to Using LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a unique social media site for businesspeople. If you want a career in your unretirement, learn how to get the most out of LinkedIn.

Should You Use Your Real Job Title on LinkedIn

LinkedIn continues to be a career requirement. Recruiters rely on it as much as job seekers. An HR Bartender reader asks how to present a job title and the experts tell all.

Dual Careers on Your Resume and LinkedIn

Many people have dual careers. How do they represent that on their resume? We go to the recruiting experts to learn how to handle dual careers on a resume.

Enhance Your LinkedIn Profile with Recommendations

One of the ways to enhance your LinkedIn profile is with recommendations — one of two different types of recognition you can provide on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Endorsements: Why They’re Important and How to Use Them

LinkedIn endorsements help your community understand you as a worker. LinkedIn product manager explains how to use endorsements.

LinkedIn Endorsements: User Profiles Receive 17 Times More Views

Are LinkedIn Endorsements really valuable? LinkedIn recently updated their endorsement feature. Job seekers should note the value of LinkedIn Endorsements.

LinkedIn Reactions Expand Professional Communication

LinkedIn Reactions bring expanded interactions to the professional network. LinkedIn manager Cissy Chen explains the benefit of reactions.

Should You Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn

Should you connect with recruiters on LinkedIn? Whether you’re looking for a new opportunity or not, it may be smart to connect with recruiters on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn continues to differentiate itself as being a business platform. That’s a good thing for businesspeople. As we’re planning our retirement strategy – which may include an encore career, freelancing, or phased retirement – we can use platforms like LinkedIn to help us achieve our goals. 

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the Wynwood District in Miami, FL

Filed Under: Careers Tagged With: careers, encore career, LinkedIn

Caregivers: How to Discuss Your Needs with Your Employer

February 19, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

continue your success story airport sign encouraging caregivers

A few months ago, I shared with you some “tips for working caregivers” from an AARP webcast on the topic. In the second part of the AARP webcast series, the conversation turned toward how to have caregiving conversations with your employer. While the webcast didn’t offer XX steps you should follow, I thought it might be helpful to outline what you could do if and when you need to discuss your caregiving responsibilities with your manager.

1. Understand the law. In January 2018, the RAISE Family Caregivers Act was signed into law. This legislation requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop, maintain, and update a strategy to recognize and support family caregivers. I’m not aware that the details of the program have been finalized yet, but it is something to watch. Also be sure to check the laws of your state to see if there is legislation covering caregivers.

2. Read your employee handbook. One of the most eye-opening portions of the webcast was when the host asked polled listeners how many people had read their handbook or talked with human resources about their benefits. More than 75% had not. As a HR pro, I understand that the handbook isn’t the most riveting reading, but it contains essential information. Check it out. Talk with HR. Know your benefits. 

3. See what services your employee assistance program (EAP) can offer. Speaking of benefits, a common one that many organizations offer is an EAP, also known as an employee assistance program. EAPs provide employees with confidential resources and guidance in areas like mental health, financial well-being, etc. Again, this is a benefit that is already yours. Take full advantage of it.

4. Think about the objections. Whenever I’m getting ready to pitch an idea, I think of all the objections. And come prepared to address them. While the crux of your conversation is “I’m responsible for family caregiving and I need my company’s support.”, put yourself in your manager’s shoes. What might their objections be? Some of the things that immediately come to mind are quantity and quality of work. Know the answers.

5. Have proposed solutions. This is the hard part. Be prepared to propose some steps that will allow you to be a caregiver and still get work done. Some of the proposed solutions could involve working from home, or a flexible schedule. But if those proposed solutions involve shifting work to others, consider how you’re going to introduce that idea. Chances are, you wouldn’t want someone to do it to you, so you probably don’t want to do it to them.

6. Plan your conversation. Put a few talking points down on a piece of paper. You might want to talk about your current performance, your caregiver needs, and your proposed solutions. If your work performance has been less than stellar, be prepared to address that. The company is going to have a hard time buying into your ideas if you can’t convince them that you’re able to deliver.

7. Don’t expect an immediate “yes”. After you pitch your plan, don’t expect your manager to immediately respond. They might ask a few questions. Or offer some sort of non-committal reply like, “I’m going to have to discuss this with HR.” Especially if you’re the first person that’s ever made this type of request. Just because you don’t receive an immediate “yes” doesn’t mean you’re going to get a “no”. Be patient.

8. Have a Plan B. Speaking of “no”, I don’t know that you need to present this during your initial conversation, but it might be worth considering on the front end what happens if the company does say “no” to your request. I’d like to think that companies do understand that caregiving is an issue. Maybe your manager is a caregiver and can empathize. But it’s better to have a Plan B and never use it than the other way around.

9. Thank the company for considering. Regardless of the outcome, thank your manager and the company for considering your request. It is possible that even if the answer in your situation is “no”, that you’ve opened the door for a conversation long overdue. It’s also possible that the company might come back to you weeks or months later with a change of heart. 

Tomorrow (February 20, 2020) is National Caregivers Day. As we age, we not only have to think about our own caregiving needs but the caregiving needs of those around us. Proper research and planning will help us have the open conversations we need. 

Filed Under: Careers, Home and Lifestyle, Wellbeing Tagged With: careers, caregiver

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 15
  • Next Page »

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Stay Updated!

Sign up to receive news, updates, and tips delivered right to your inbox!

Top Unretirement Articles

  • menopause musical, ageism, careers, career, retirement, Unretirement 3 Ways You May Contribute to Your Own Ageism
  • shirt print about technology technically awesome Create Opportunities to Get More Comfortable with Technology
  • airport sign showing that forward thinkers consider a side hustle in retirement Consider Having a Side Hustle In Your Unretirement
  • business sign analyze researching What We Are UP To: Researching Edition
  • robotic man looking into a mirror simulating a virtual or Telehealth doctor visit My First Virtual or Telehealth Doctor Visit

Copyright © 2021 Unretirement Project · A division of ITM Group, Inc.

Copyright © 2021 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in