Maturity Works:
What do YOU want to be when you grow up?
Options and Opportunities for Baby Boomers in Retirement
by Dr. Leonard C. Schneider

There is a scene in the movie “The Graduate” in which an omniscient businessman approaches Dustin Hoffman at his graduation party and gives him the now famous and sage advice about what to do with his future. The businessman leans forward and whispers a single word in Hoffman’s ear: “plastics.” If “The Graduate” was filmed today, the businessman would whisper a different word: “Boomers.” Baby Boomers, those of us who were born between 1946 and 1964, number 78 million and represent a demographic tsunami that has already begun to change the shape of society in ways most of us never could have imagined.

As Boomers approach retirement, many are contemplating what to do next. According to studies conducted by AARP and others, more than 80% of Boomers want to work, or will have to work, after their traditional retirement from the workforce. High among the priorities of these Boomers in seeking a new position is the opportunity to “give back” by working in a nonprofit or community-based organization. Whether it is in a child care agency, a community health clinic, an arts organization, or a religious institution, Boomers are looking for ways to roll up their sleeves, use their skills and “do good,” whether for pay or as a volunteer.

Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of Civic Ventures, a nonprofit think tank devoted to Boomers, work, and aging, defines “the second half of adult life as a time of individual and social renewal.” Freedman has coined the term “encore career” as “work that matters in the second half of life.” According to the 2008 MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Encore Career Survey, more than half of all Boomers are currently in, or are looking for, purpose-driven jobs that can use their talents and provide them with both means and meaning. At the same time, companies, government agencies, and especially nonprofits are beginning to face a potential loss of skilled talent as long-time employees retire. The confluence of these two dynamics can lead to a mutually beneficial outcome for both the individual and for nonprofit agencies in the Jewish community and elsewhere.

In anticipating these trends, the Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) of MetroWest, under the auspices of the Ronald I. Coun Center for Creative Maturity, has developed a number of initiatives to be of assistance to both the mature adult and the community:

• “Maturity Works,” a no-fee job placement service especially for the mature job seeker, not only provides leads for paid employment through its 43-member synagogue network and dedicated web site MWjobs.org, but also offers assistance and training in resume preparation, interviewing skills, and networking. This service is being expanded to include civic engagement (or volunteer) positions throughout the community, which will provide retired Boomers with opportunities for not only reHirement, but reFirement, as well;
• “Life-Work Planning,” a comprehensive approach to exploring both vocational and a-vocational opportunities, helps individuals identify their interests, aptitudes, and transferrable skills, which can then be used in their search for meaningful paid employment, volunteer positions, or leisure-time pursuits;
• “Creative Maturity Expo,” an all-day event featuring noted speakers, workshops, and vendors providing information on health and wellness, financial planning, paid and volunteer job opportunities, eldercare services, and leisure-time pursuits. Hold the date for the second annual Creative Maturity Expo, to be held at the Alex Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus, on November 16, 2008.

If you are a mature adult seeking a new opportunity to use your skills and experience, contact Dr. Meryl Kanner, JVS Supervisor of Career Counseling & Placement, via email at: [email protected]; or by phone at: (973) 674-6330, ext. 271.

Founded in 1939, JVS provides a broad range of employment, skills training, rehabilitation, health and human services to New Jersey businesses and residents of the community. JVS is a partner agency of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ.

Dr. Leonard C. Schneider is Executive Director, Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest.
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