If you're anything like me, several of your life decisions
have been based on what "looks good on your resume." You may have stayed in a
job longer than desired so that future employers won't think you’re a person
who jumps from job to job. You may have returned to the workforce, sooner
rather than later after starting a family, to avoid having a gap in your
resume. You may have taken a promotion because it looks good on your resume,
even when the new role took you away from work that you enjoyed doing more.
I hadn't given this topic much thought until last week when
I told a friend that the consulting work I'm doing for an amazing company is
coming to an end. I had hoped for a permanent part-time position in the company; most
likely this isn’t going to happen. My friend's comment: "It's been a great
resume builder."
My nearly knee-jerk response to his comment took me by
surprise: "I'm not building a resume; I'm creating a lifestyle! At this stage
of life I'm not living to build a resume." I didn't know I felt so strong about
this until I said it, which doesn't mean that I don't plan to work in
retirement, because I do.
I am a strong advocate for working in retirement. I believe
there are too many benefits from work (aside from financial) that contribute to
my happiness, sense of purpose, meaning, and community. But this work may never
show up on a resume.
How about you? For the past 25-35 years, in what ways has
your resume swayed your decisions?
Now it's time to shift your focus from resume building to
lifestyle building. Whereas before you may have accepted a job because it looks
good on your resume, now you can accept a job because it's what you want to do,
whether you get paid or not. Before you may have rejected a job because it was "below" you. Now you can accept any job you want to do regardless of the
perceived status. If you think being a short-order cook looks like fun, do it!
You have already proven your professional self.
In this next stage of life, ask: "What do I want to get out
of working in retirement?" and "If my real goal is to create a life, in what
ways does work contribute to this lifestyle?"
One thing I know for sure: I'm no longer going to make life
decisions based on how they will look on my resume.
