If you’ve made the decision that you are going to unretire, there are things to consider both from a financial and wellbeing perspective. Canada Life have put together some tips to ensure that your return to work is smooth and stress free.
- If the thought of returning to the same job or career fills you with dread (or perhaps your circumstances have changed and you’re physically or mentally unable to), remember that you will have many transferable skills. If you’re struggling, the National Careers Service website is a good place to start, but with many having quitted their job in recent years, there is a whole industry built around careers advice to be explored. Squiggly Careers is just one great example of a podcast that may help you navigate towards a new job path. Or if you have the means, consider investing in a few sessions with a career coach – you may find out something about your strengths or interests that will give you a new direction. Just make sure you do your research beforehand to make sure your expectations are managed, and it will be worth the money.
- If you need to return to work for financial reasons, consider the income which will support the lifestyle you want. This can be from salary, state pensions, private pensions, or other savings such as ISAs. Working out how long you could live, and the sustainability of your desired income level is a complex task so consider getting professional advice. You can read our short guide to pensions and unretiring here too.
- Before signing a contract, make sure you understand the full package of what your employer is offering you and what their expectations are. For example, are you able to work flexibly, what benefits do they offer, do they have a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policy in place, what learning, and development can they provide? Returning to work can have lots of positives – not least the social aspects, but for some, it may take some time to adjust back to the grind, and of course you want it to be worth your while. Bottom line - it’s vital that the package is as appealing as the paycheque.
- If you feel you are lacking in confidence when you are back at work, consider trying reverse or mutual mentoring. There may be schemes already in place, and if there’s not, talk to your line manager about implementing one, or arranging something separately yourselves. Or if you feel as though you could benefit from some specific training to help with your performance, many companies will have CPD (Continuous Professional Development) systems in place, enabling and encouraging you to upskill in areas you need or want to. Importantly though, employers are crying out for talent who may have retired or have been part of the great resignation - so remind yourself that you are bringing value in lots of different ways.
- Don’t put pressure on yourself. Anyone starting (or restarting) a new job needs time to adjust to the workplace. Any good employer will know that and will offer you adequate support. If you feel overwhelmed, lean on your network - reach out to friends or family so that they can offer you encouragement or help if needs be.