Great future jobs for retired programmers

In technology, you are either learning new skills, or are lagging behind. But, what will happen to older programmers and technology professionals looking for an interesting parttime job to do after retirement?

The truth is that someone craves to become a programmer because they love this job. So they will not have a real retirement concept. Others can volunteer at local hospitals or spend time with their friends every morning at McDonald's, but a programmer will have more doors open when they retire.

Here are some examples of opportunities you may have when you reach retirement age.

1. Do consulting work on old systems

Retirement doesn't mean you stop doing what you love; it just means you no longer have to drag your body to work in an office all day. One of the most interesting things when you work more than 30 or 40 years in technology, is when you retire, you can be one of the leading experts in any system you have distributed. develop or support all that time.

For example, experts program Cobol in the 1970s and 1980s. When referring to Cobol with recent college graduates, who have just completed the course of things like Java and C ++ , they will Surprisingly ask why you are still using that ancient technology. What college graduates do not realize is that once a company has invested many years and attempts to program such a technology, they have become a very deep integration into the business. there.

When the time comes to upgrade systems, or integrate them into newer business applications, there is a pressing need for Cobol code savers to operate, to the extent that they can rewrite the system. there. An article on ComputerWorld, titled "Confession of a Cobol programmer", describes the situation in 2004 quite pessimistic – because the number of Cobol programmers on the recruitment market has declined by 5%. every year, but businesses still have demand for this skill.

In 2004, the last time consulting firm Gartner tried to list Cobol programmers, it estimated there were about 2 million Cobol specialists worldwide and this number dropped by 5% annually.

This has created a mature situation for any Cobol-skilled retiree, who can enter the labor market as a consultant, and also get a lot of money at work. this.

While this situation occurs in the Cobol language, it is also true for today's popular programming languages. When programming moves into the next era of technology, yesterday's skills – the skills you have learned – will still be needed at the time of your retirement. Just think that you will continue to do what you love, with the comfort of working at home and on your own schedule, it will be great.

2. Teaching history and basic principles of technology

Another benefit of knowing about programming technologies in the past, is that in the future you will understand the basic principles that all modern programming languages ​​are built on. This is true for programmers who have learned BCPL (called B) on which the C programming language is based.

While many new programmers can now master new object-oriented programming languages, older programmers have a better appreciation of core principles when modern programming is built on it. These principles are taught in basic programming classes at university level, and they are often taught by retired older programmers.

With school budgets shrinking, teachers of this type with a wealth of knowledge and experience – often requiring lower wages in their retirement years – can become a gift for many generations. school system. The growing demand for training students to master technology tools, will also increase the demand for technology educators in the next few decades.

You don't even have to teach computer or technology. If your hobby is about math or science and your career experience has a lot to do with these areas, then there's no reason you can't find a teaching job in the specialized field. subjects that I love.

3. Always learn new skills

One of the great things about retirement is that you can renew yourself. Have you spent your life working as a Microsoft Office VBA programmer in IT? Become a high school teacher. Previously you spent the whole career as a network administrator? Create a customer care center of your own. Life is without limits.

Once you are at some point in your life, when you are not working for money to make a living, look for something that makes you really enjoy doing it – you can absolutely do it new again yourself.

There are many great examples of this. The Huffington Post newspaper recently published a list of 10 people over 50, who have changed their lives completely after retirement.

Some incredible stories include Fontella Buddin, 70, who retired from an executive secretary position to become a physiotherapist. Mark Fischer, 55, was fired from sales, so he went to the monastery to become a ordained pastor. Roger McVeigh, 53, is a wealthy auditor who works 80 hours a week, now retiring and becoming a rival in the Ironman triathlon competition (seriously).

“At 53 and retired, he still participates in a triathlon marathon as he was in his 20s. Through a series of positive lifestyle changes, McVeigh follows the slogan of Ironman: 'Anything is possible' ”

The whole idea that retirement means that the time spent on "vacation" is now redefined. Don't deceive yourself that it's too late to go back to school to learn something you've always had passion for. For those who live longer and healthier lives, things that can be in your retirement period are very interesting.

4. Share your knowledge with others

There is one thing when you retire you have time; Time to do things that you have never had the time to do when you are always busy with your daily work. This is the time you take the time to do the things that are most important to you.

For some people, helping others is a top priority on their job list when they retire. It is an opportunity to give. One way to give is to share the wisdom and knowledge you have learned with others. This can start with a new blog, where you provide programming knowledge and knowledge to young programmers who have just stepped into the industry.

There are some people who never really have to worry about what to do during their retirement, because they have already done it. Writers are lucky among them – they never really retire. Back in 2002, when Stephen King announced he would retire, most fans knew it was a better thing. He continued to write six more novels. It was a busy retirement time.

When you look at people like Bruce Schneier , he blogs, book authors and organizes seminars on cyber security – is this really a "retirement"?

You don't need to be a writer to continue doing what you love after you retire. Developers also have the same skills that every industry and every organization wants. You can always offer your online courses . Retirement is an ideal time to start doing serious work.

So when you go to the end of your programming career path and are starting to wonder what you will do during your retirement, try thinking about it in a different way. How much work can you do to fit your limited retirement time?

What do you think you will be doing in your retirement years? Are you about to retire? What's your plan? Please dream a little bit in the comment section below!

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