Editing as a Second-Act Career
The other day, I went to an expat gathering here in Spain, and one of the people in the group, an American who retired here a few years ago, confided that she was worried about her retirement savings. What with all the drama happening in the US (not to mention in other hotspots around the world), the stock market is tanking, the exchange rate is in the toilet, costs are going up . . .
I completely understood her concern. I’m feeling it in my bank account, too. The difference is that I can do something about it: I can write and promote another class, or take on another editing project, or raise my prices, or some combination of the above. I have at least a little control over what happens to my finances, though I’d appreciate it if the powers-that-be would do their jobs better so that the rest of us wouldn’t be in this mess.
Retirees Sometimes Need Jobs
The fact of the matter is, sometimes a retiree needs a job to supplement their retirement income. My acquaintance was perfectly capable of doing a job, she had just assumed that once she reached retirement age, she could comfortably retire. Many times, people who don’t enjoy their jobs think of retirement as a reward that helps them get through the tough slog . . . and then it turns out they don’t have enough money saved for a comfortable retirement – or something outside their control happens to reduce their retirement savings.
And often a medical issue or job loss makes it impossible for someone at or near retirement age to do anything but retire. They may not want to, but they don’t see much choice. Age discrimination is a very real problem in job-hunting.
That’s why I’m such an advocate for freelancing. Even if you have a disability that makes it difficult to do a staff job, freelancing can often work out. Similarly, ageism is much less of a problem in freelancing than it is in staff jobs.
Jobs for Retirees: Consider Freelance Editing
One of the reasons I think freelance editing is a great job for retirees is its flexibility. You can ramp up or down as you need. When my daughter’s medical condition worsens, I ratchet back. When it stabilizes, I can ramp up. When I need a little break, I can schedule deadlines to accommodate for it. I like to enjoy summer and the winter holidays, so for years, I’ve taken August and most of December off. But if I needed the work, I could add in a few projects during those periods.
Though editing isn’t an entry-level position, it doesn’t take a long time to train, especially if you already enjoy books, stories, and words. You can even begin doing things like beta reading for the practice while you’re gaining the skills you need to hang your shingle out as a professional editor.
If you’re worried about the state of your retirement finances, consider supplementing them with editorial work. Club Ed can show you how!
