Encore Careers

Find new fulfillment in midlife and beyond.

So you’ve put 20, 30 or 40 years into your career. The spark that kept you going is waning and yet you may not be financially or emotionally ready for retirement. What are your options? In what has been called one of the most significant social trends of the new century and the biggest transformation of the American workforce, encore careers are an opportunity to fulfill dreams, give back or even be a catalyst for change.

“To an increasing number of people, the idea of retiring at 65 is a nonstarter,” says Mark Feffer in Forbes. “More and more boomers are looking at life after 50 as a time to explore new opportunities — to embark on second careers that are as much about doing good as they are about making a living.” In fact, according to a survey by Encore.org, more than 4.5 million people between the ages of 50 and 70 are already working along such a path — and another 21 million plan to join them.

Encore.org was founded by social entrepreneur Marc Freedman with the intention of redefining how people view retirement and tapping the expertise of people in midlife and beyond. “Faced with the practical necessity of extended working lives, (baby) boomers have made it a virtue, getting busy on their next chapters, second acts or Careers 2.0,” he says. “The goal is to be able to stop climbing the ladder and start making a difference, to trade money for meaning, to have the latitude to work on things that matter most.”

Community colleges are often an integral part of making this transition. “Suffolk is a valuable resource for new retirees because we offer so many opportunities to explore a second career or the next phase in life,” says Dr. Suzanne Johnson, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Suffolk County Community College. “From continuing education classes to certificates, to full degree programs, Suffolk can virtually cater to any interest without incurring significant debt.  Our student body is diverse so retirees will feel comfortable because many students are non-traditional and adult learners.”

Test-driving Interests With Continuing Education

While some individuals know exactly what they would like to pursue, others find it helpful to learn about the opportunities that are available to them. Suffolk’s Office for Continuing Education offers an extensive menu of non-credit continuing education and professional development courses for almost anything you can think of. Some of these courses even include specific industry certifications, like solar photovoltaic installation, dietary management and more. “Often, people will take a class or two before moving into the credit-bearing arena,” says Nina Leonhardt, Associate Dean for Continuing Education at Suffolk. “It allows people to test-drive programs to see what fits them best.”

Enriched Learning With Certificate and Degree Programs

If continuing education courses allow a person to dabble, then Suffolk’s certificate and degree programs provide in-depth learning. It generally takes a year to earn a certificate, while an associate degree takes two years. Certificate programs emphasize the skills required for direct entry into the job market and allow students to quickly enhance current skills or develop new ones. Suffolk offers more than a dozen certificate programs aligned with a wide variety of interests, including accounting, business management, culinary arts, hotel and resort management, information technology, drafting and more.

Suffolk also offers a variety of two-year programs leading to an associate degree. See page 4 for a full list of the accredited programs of study offered at the College. Students can enroll on a full-time or part-time basis.

Pursuing Your Passion

“The reality is people are living longer, healthier lives, and when they get to the point where they need to make a change — they retire, are laid off or sell their business — they are 60 years old, and they say ‘I still have another 10, 15 or 20 years and I want to do something,’” says Nancy Collamer, author of Second Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit From Your Passions During Semi-Retirement. “It’s out of financial necessity in some cases, but it’s lifestyle in other cases.”

A former manufacturing CEO, Peter Rettaliata, has transitioned to a new career as a Substance Abuse Counselor for the YMCA of Long Island – Family Services.

Peter Rettaliata, 65, of Brightwaters, is beginning a new career as a Substance Abuse Counselor at the YMCA of Long Island ­– Family Services. After working at Grumman for 22 years, he spent the next two decades as the President/CEO of Air Industries Group, a defense-related company in Bay Shore. Two years ago, in anticipation of retiring, he enrolled in the Chemical Dependency Counseling Program at Suffolk County Community College. “I wasn’t planning to stop working and just sit at home,” he says. “I’ve been an executive and served on boards but I wanted to work with people in a way that was different and more personally rewarding.”

By offering evening classes, Suffolk’s program fit into Mr. Rettaliata’s hectic work schedule. “Suffolk was nearby and made it work for me,” he says. “The program allowed me to get certified, which makes a difference.” Now, as a certified counselor, he underscores the importance for individuals to find out what they need in order to work in a specific field. “It’s not enough to be well intentioned … you need to find out what you need from an education or certification perspective.”

Mr. Rettaliata also believes baby boomers and retirees have qualities that enhance their ability to succeed in the workforce. “I’m able to offer compassion, insight, patience and maturity. These are all things that you gain as a seasoned individual.”

After more than 20 years in the mental health services field, Holly Beck, of Smithtown, also decided it was time to do something new. This past December, she became the first female graduate of Suffolk County Community College’s Welding Program. “My dad was a welder and I’ve always been interested in building things,” says Ms. Beck. “I’m in my fifties and I realized that I wanted to focus my energy in a new direction. Welding feeds my creative side and allows me to be part of the fabrication process. Once I finish the transition from my current job, I can see myself working in ornamental design.”

After more than 20 years in the mental health services field, Holly Beck is pursuing a completely new career in welding.

Suffolk’s semester-long Welding Program has been running for the past six years and has trained close to 150 welding students who are now working in a wide range of regional industries, including manufacturing, automotive, construction, marine repair and more. “Suffolk worked perfectly for my schedule,” says Ms. Beck. “Classes were in the evening and on Saturdays, so I could keep my day job while pursuing my new career goals.”

According to a September 2015 report by AARP, older workers play a critical role in our national economy because “… the flood of experienced people with a strong work ethic into the workforce has increased productivity and enhanced economic output. In short, older workers make the U.S. a richer nation. In some fields, such as nursing, recruiting and retaining workers who are 50 or older are essential to addressing the dearth of skilled workers.” Indeed, 25 years ago, only about one worker out of every 10 planned to stay in the workforce after the age of 65; now that number has jumped to four in 10.

Utilizing Suffolk’s Career Services Offices

In addition to a wide range of programs, baby boomers will find another important reason to explore new careers at Suffolk: the Career Services offices on each campus. Suffolk’s Career Services offices provide experienced career professionals to help students identify their core strengths, clarify career goals and identify academic majors to help them reach their educational and career objectives.  “Discovering a new career is a dynamic process,” says Sylvia Camacho, Suffolk’s College-wide Director of Career Services. “That’s why it makes so much sense to take advantage of the many valuable opportunities available through our office — from internships to job leads and everything in between.”

For all the ways that Suffolk can help baby boomers transition to a new career or pursue a personal interest, simply call 631-451-4111 or visit sunysuffolk.edu/Enroll.

- Drew Fawcett