Motive, method and opportunity
CLOSING ARGUMENTS
As we approach retirement age, we are faced
with both good and bad news. The good news is
that while merely 30 years ago many of our pensioners were only living to their mid-60s, today
we are enjoying a much longer life. The bad news
is that with changes to the pension system, what
used to look like a sturdy financial future that
GLENN
SKARZYNSKI would sustain us through our golden years while
we enjoy a life of leisure may not be so certain.
Many of us reaching that critical age of 40 are beginning to discover that life after retirement from police work is likely to
include a job.
If you are the kind of person that will be content working
another 10 years or so sitting in a security shack in the wee
hours of the morning, this is probably not a major concern.
But for those of us looking for substantial income in a meaningful job, a good deal of pre-planning is called for. In the years
following 9/11, there was a great demand for retired law
enforcement officers to bolster the ability of Corporate America to improve its security, ensure continuity of services and
generally beef up the overall posture to face potential threats
to their businesses. But while these positions are still important, the retiring officers from the past decade are still holding
on to those spots. In short, that ship has sailed.
So what is the answer for potential job seekers? Consider
these three familiar words; motive, method, and opportunity.
Motivation is perhaps the easiest hurdle to overcome. A 30to-35-percent reduction in your income, having a love for the
finer things in life or having kids that want to go to any Ivy
League college will certainly provide you with the motivation
necessary to maintain your lifestyle and provide better educational opportunities for your children. With the question of
COLA still unresolved, could you support your lifestyle for
another 30 years without any increase in your pension? A
dollar only goes so far, and if you are planning to stay in New
Jersey post-retirement it is essential to make sure you have the
income to live comfortably in one of the most expensive
places to reside.
Method requires a lot more planning, and the earlier you get
started, the better off you are going to be. If you are a tradesman and have a talented set of hands, you will never be far
from a good, steady secondary income. But for those of us that
went the college route, that Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice isn’t
going to open as many doors as you think it might have. Graduate school is a good option to consider, but when choosing
your field of study, it is important to find something that is
going to make you an attractive candidate and equip you with
a skill set a potential employer will find desirable. In short,
although a Master’s in Criminal Justice or Homeland Security
is a worthy pursuit, it does not give you a great deal of options.
Do your research and see what skills are in demand in the job
market now. Think outside the box, and maybe your comfort
zone, to see which specialties afford you the greatest amount
of opportunity moving forward.
Age is not necessarily a detriment in a job search as
generally it brings with it substantial experience. But there are
hundreds, if not thousands, of similarly qualified retirees
clamoring for the same job. So your most important task is to
acquire qualifications that make you distinct, if not completely
unique.
Opportunity is probably the toughest hurdle to overcome in
the shrinking job market. Where to look? I wish I had the
answer. Suffice to say, the BIG jobs with the BIGGEST agencies
or companies are likely going to go to the