Find Your Retirement Dream Job

Baby boomers aren't exactly known for cleaving to tradition, and when it comes to retirement their views are no less unconventional than you'd expect.

Unlike past generations content to spend their sunscreen years warming themselves on Florida beaches or playing endless rounds of golf, most boomers plan to occupy the latter part of their lives working. In a poll by AARP, 79% said they intended to work in some capacity in retirement.

If you are approaching retirement age and aren't quite ready to exit the rodent race, here are three tips for finding your dream retirement job:

Update your skills:
Older workers bring a level of expertise and practical experience that comes only with time. But employers will be reluctant to hire you if your technical skills haven't kept pace with advances in your field. Increase your odds of landing a good position by boning up on your computer skills and learning what's going on at the cutting edge of your field. Many colleges offer night and weekend classes for professionals, and universities increasingly are making their course lists and lectures available free online.

Start where you are:
When you're ready to begin looking for a new job, talk to your current employer first. Your inside knowledge of the company culture and practices will be hard to replace, and the company may be willing to offer you a part-time or consultant position to keep you in the fold. If that doesn't work, get the word out through friends and colleagues that you're searching for a job, and don't forget to use events hosted by professional organizations as an opportunity to network.

Explore job boards for older workers:
With more and more boomers embarking on the second phase of their careers, job-hunting sites geared toward over-50s are proliferating. For more information, visit RetirementJobs.com, RetiredBrains.com or SeniorJobBank.com.

By Marshall Loeb