Learn New Work Skills to Land that Dream Job Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

How Older Workers Can Learn New Job Skills

Expand your repertoire with a fellowship educational trip or online course

AARP Books by Kerry Hannon (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2018), available at and bookstores. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. often require a skill refresh, or in some cases, even a serious hitting of the books. Once you decide what job you are aiming for, check to see the credentials required for the position. To get hired, you may first need to expand your skill set. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > Learn before you quit. If possible, keep your current job while you add the education you need for your new pursuit. Many employers offer tax-free tuition assistance programs — up to $5,250, not counted as taxable income — and the contribution doesn’t have to be tagged to a full-degree program. Be careful, however, because employers can levy restrictions such as taking courses that relate to the employee’s duties, taking courses as part of a degree program, and requiring you to work a certain length of time after taking the course — or requiring repayment of tuition if you leave early. Seek financial aid. You don’t need to be college age to get a subsidized loan — there’s no age limit and you’re eligible as a part-time student, too. The don’t take into account your home equity or retirement accounts, and because you are an adult, a certain amount of your savings is protected. Take advantage of educational tax breaks. Depending on your income, you might qualify for the , worth up to $2,000 each year. The credit can cover up to 20 percent of tuition and expenses for college and graduate courses, or for any class you take to obtain or increase job skills. (The benefit phases out completely for married couples earning $131,000 and singles earning $65,000.) If you make too much, the income ceiling is higher for claiming a deduction associated with tuition and fees, up to $4,000. There’s also a maximum student loan interest deduction of $2,500. For details, see the IRS website (irs.gov) or the tax-benefits guide from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (nasfaa.org). AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. (aarptek.aarp.org), Coursera (coursera.org), CreativeLive (creativelive.com), Khan Academy (khanacademy.org), Lynda.com and Udemy (udemy.com). Be practical. Get a grip on the precise degrees or certifications required for your new endeavor. Certain fields — such as health care, counseling and technology — often require advanced training for certain jobs. If you’d like to go to graduate school, perhaps start by taking a night course. And beware of spending big bucks on advanced degrees, when a couple of courses or a certificate program will do. Do your due diligence. You can earn a certificate in art appraisal, bookkeeping, eco-landscaping, fitness training, financial planning, fundraising, home modification, and restaurant operations, to name a few. And employers and clients are increasingly accepting professional certifications as proof of someone’s understanding of a subject area. That said, talk to employers about the value of the programs. Track down a few certificate holders, if possible, and find out how the credential has helped them in their job search and new career path. Research scholarships and grants. These, too, are available for older students, usually offered by associations, colleges, religious groups, and foundations. Try sites such as Fastweb.com to find what’s available. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. or moonlight in the field that interests you. Even if you have to do the job for free, it’s probably still worth your time so you can make sure this is what you really want. Get started as a volunteer at a nonprofit. This unpaid work can help you build the skills you need. Search for prospects through sites like AARP’s Giving Back, Create the Good, HandsOnNetwork, VolunteerMatch.org, Executive Service Corps, Taproot Foundation and Idealist. Gain experience through contract gigs. Consider taking a contract job that can lead to a full-time post or that gives you the ability to weave together a patchwork of jobs in the Me Inc. mode.

Kerry Hannon, AARP jobs expert, is the author of , , and . Follow her on Twitter .
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