Final Career Chapter: Capstone role or pre-retirement prep?

Home » Final Career Chapter: Capstone role or pre-retirement prep?

Final Career Chapter: Capstone role or pre-retirement prep?

The pandemic has pushed many to reassess where they are and what comes next, especially if their career is winding down. A capstone role, passion project or pre-retirement plan may be just the answer to provide career closure and prepare for what comes next.

Career closure is important to not only recognize a job well done but also to wrap up this phase of life in a way that is both meaningful and positive. A capstone job or role is different for everyone. It might be a dream job or title, a position that rounds out your career or something you’re passionate about and have always wanted to do.

Perhaps you’ve always wanted to be a vice president or own your own business. Maybe you had a very successful career as a lawyer and now dream of something more and different.

Alternatively, following the pandemic, maybe you know you don’t want to return to a traditional job or the grind of what you’ve been doing. But you want and need a transitional role that allows you to more subtly move into retirement, such as a portfolio career, paid board work or pursuing entrepreneurship.

Planning for the final chapter

No matter what you pursue or where you are in the process, this is both a time of reflection and opportunity.

Career planning, especially when it comes to the end of your career, can be exciting. You’re looking forward to something new and different, a destination you’ve long dreamed of. You also have the opportunity to do something you really love as a way to bring closure to your storied career.

But stepping out of what is known is still hard. The future feels unknown and some degree of fear is inevitable. This is also a chance to redefine who you are and what you are known for. This is the time to reflect back as well as look forward, to remember and plan for the last hoorah.

Whether you call it pre-retirement planning or truly want a capstone experience to cap off your career, the career planning process is about gaining a sense of readiness for what’s next. Because who wants to look back with regret. This is the moment to fill the gaps and do everything you’ve wanted to do.

2021-06-14T23:48:24+00:00

About the Author:

Cultivating Careers was founded by Karen Kodzik, a Career Consultant who has worked with individuals in transition for over 13 years. Karen meets professionals at various points on their career path and works with them to gain a clearer sense of where they want to take their careers. Karen Kodzik holds a Masters Degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Career Development. Karen couples seasoned counseling skills with a solid business acumen. She has coached and consulted various levels of professionals across industries to successfully reaching that next point in their career.

One Comment

  1. Beth Sullivan April 13, 2022 at 5:44 pm - Reply

    Well timed post! Several people I know in a similar age range are contemplating what next. Any plans to expand upon the Final Chapter concept and offer some tips in a future post?

    BTW – I worked with you back in 2010 and you introduced me to the concept of a portfolio career. 🙂

Leave A Comment