{"id":4352,"date":"2015-02-11T08:23:51","date_gmt":"2015-02-11T12:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=4352"},"modified":"2015-02-11T08:23:51","modified_gmt":"2015-02-11T12:23:51","slug":"consumer-reports-10-careers-with-staying-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=4352","title":{"rendered":"Consumer Reports: 10 Careers With Staying Power"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"images<\/a>Once you know what you\u2019re looking for in a second career, you\u2019ll want to make sure all of your preparation and training pays off. So ascertain that your chosen field is one where the demand for the service is growing. To inspire you, here are some careers with staying power\u2014perfect for a retirement-focused transition\u2014that have great prospects over the next 10\u00a0to 15\u00a0years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Thinking about changing careers? Read about how to\u00a0find fulfilling work for your later years<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Patient advocate<\/h2>\n
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As the population ages, the demand for patient advocates\u2014individuals who help patients work with others who will have an effect on their health, from medical specialists to insurance companies\u2014is likely to surge. You can work full- or part-time, on your own, or as part of a hospital, nursing home, rehab center, or even insurance company. No licenses are required, but several credentialing programs are offered at community colleges and some nonprofits. Learn more from the Master List of Health and Patient Advocacy Educational Courses<\/a> and the nonprofit Patient Advocate Foundation.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Eco-landscaper<\/h2>\n
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The green movement is leading more people to want their own \u201csustainable\u201d gardens, which use less water and have native plants that are less expensive to maintain. If you have a green thumb, this could be a good business to go into. You\u2019ll need to understand horticulture and have wide-ranging knowledge of plants and diseases. TheEcological Landscaping Association<\/a> holds an annual conference with workshops and educational sessions. Many community colleges offer certificates and degrees in sustainable landscape design. One consideration: This job could require bending, lifting, and pulling\u2014so you may need to hire a younger helper. Translator-<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Translator\/interpreter<\/h2>\n
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Just because you were a Spanish major in college doesn\u2019t mean you are qualified for this job. You need to be current with terms and slang. Spanish is the most in-demand language, but the need for Arabic and Chinese speakers is growing. Specializing as a judicial-system or health-care interpreter will increase your opportunities. No certifications are required, although several are offered through trade organizations such as the American Translators Association<\/a>. Job opportunities for interpreters and translators are projected to grow 46\u00a0percent from 2012 to 2022, according to the Department of Labor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Green-building consultant<\/h2>\n
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If you\u2019re genuinely interested in building a postretirement career with a green shade, a background in architecture, engineering, and construction offers a firm foundation. States, counties, and cities are offering tax incentives targeting green-building projects, particularly for rehabbing older buildings. You\u2019ll need an understanding of the technical aspects of building construction, say, the causes of leaky windows and the best ways to use natural lighting. A good idea: Obtain professional certification in a green-building rating system known as LEED<\/a> (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the Green Building Certification Institute.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Social-media specialist<\/h2>\n
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If you\u2019re comfortable navigating social-media sites, you can do this for clients, helping to draw new followers to their Twitter feed and Facebook page with the goal of bringing them to the client\u2019s website and turning them into customers. Daily duties may include keeping a site \u201cfresh\u201d by posting timely blogs. You\u2019ll add your 2 cents in online discussions and retweet other people\u2019s posts that reflect positively on your client. To learn the latest ways to use social media as a marketing tool, you might enroll in a community college Social Media Certificate program.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Certified senior financial planner<\/h2>\n
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If you have financial expertise, you could help older Americans with their investments and estate plan, and handle tax matters for them. This doesn\u2019t have to be a full-time job\u2014you can take on as many or as few clients as you like. No minimum experience or education is required by law, but it\u2019s a good idea to get the Certified Financial Planner designation awarded by the nonprofit Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards<\/a>. If you are already a CPA, you can take the exam without completing the educational requirements. Demand for financial planners is projected to grow 27\u00a0percent by 2022, according to the Department of Labor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Home-modification pro<\/h2>\n
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As the population ages, more homes will need to be retrofitted to accommodate older people\u2019s special needs: better lighting, special ramps, grab bars in the shower, and more, all to prevent accidents. The National Association of Home Builders offers a course that teaches design and building techniques for what it calls the aging-in-place market. If you have a background in construction or are an architect or interior designer, that might appeal to you. Though such a job is likely to be demanding, you can take on as many clients as you are comfortable with. Plus this will be a job with staying power. A report from Harvard\u2019s Joint Center for Housing Studies<\/a> predicts a prolonged period of recovery and growth for the home-improvement industry as Americans age.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Adjunct professor<\/h2>\n
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Community colleges and technical schools offer many part-time jobs for those who have a yearning to teach. To learn more, go to the American Association of Community Colleges<\/a>\u2019 website. A master\u2019s degree is preferred, but it\u2019s possible to land a post with a bachelor\u2019s degree. Stop by a college and find out what might be missing from its offerings and whether there are any openings. Look for job listings at adjunctprofessorsonline.com and higheredjobs.com. Employment for adult-literacy teachers and those who prep students to take the test for the high school equivalency diploma is projected to grow 9 percent from 2012 to 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Dietitian and nutritionist<\/h2>\n
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Though the lion\u2019s share of these jobs will probably be at hospitals, nursing-care facilities, outpatient-care centers, and offices of physicians, you could have your own private practice, which would give you much more flexibility. There are roughly 280 bachelor\u2019s degree programs and 18 master\u2019s degree programs approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics\u2018 Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. Employment of dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 21 percent from 2012 to 2022, according to the BLS. For more information, go to the website of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/a>Fitness trainer for seniors<\/h2>\n
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If you\u2019ve been sitting behind a desk for the past 30 years, working \u201chands on\u201d as a fitness trainer could be very rewarding. The greatest need will be for specially skilled trainers who can develop workout routines for people ages 65 to 90. Certification is not required by law, but most fitness clubs insist on it. You can get some type of credential, maybe in CPR, for example, from several national organizations including the American Council on Exercise<\/a>, the International Sports Sciences Association<\/a>, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association<\/a>. Opportunities for senior fitness trainers are projected to grow 13 percent from 2012 to 2022, according to the BLS.<\/p>\n

\u2014Kerry Hannon<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Editor’s Note:<\/strong> This article also appeared in the January 2015 issue of\u00a0Consumer Reports Money Adviser<\/a>.<\/i>\u00a0Kerry Hannon is a career transition expert and author of \u201cWhat\u2019s Next?: Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties, and Beyond<\/a>\u201d and \u201cGreat Jobs for Everyone 50+<\/a>.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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