Nearing Retirement but not Quite Ready? Consulting Might be Right for You

As millions of baby boomers near retirement age, many of them are looking to extend their careers while also enjoying leisure pursuits more frequently. One option for professionals who find themselves in this situation is to engage in project or consulting work after leaving their full-time positions.

In a Robert Half International survey, 78 percent of executives polled said their companies are taking steps to compensate for the potential loss of key staff to retirement, including bringing these individuals in on a consulting basis. These arrangements are advantageous for employees and employers alike. The benefits for today's professionals include:

• Flexibility - When chief financial officers were asked what they consider the most attractive aspect of a career in consulting in a separate survey by our company, the top response was a flexible schedule. Interim work enables individuals to choose the type, location and scheduling of their assignments. Professionals can decide whether to take on a project based on how it fits their personal objectives.
• Skills enhancement - Project work offers professionals an opportunity to continue gaining expertise and refining their abilities. According to the American Staffing Association, 70 percent of temporary employees said they acquired new skills during their assignments.
• Variety - Consulting work provides exposure to different environments and diverse projects. For example, a financial project professional may be asked in one assignment to oversee a new software implementation at a local real estate firm and in another to help enhance compliance processes for a major manufacturer.

A common question among those entering consulting is how they can secure their assignments. One popular strategy is to work with a staffing service that specializes in the type of positions you are looking for. These firms maintain vast networks of contacts in their local business communities and typically have access to a variety of projects, including some that may not be advertised. In addition, many offer benefits such as medical coverage and continued education opportunities.