"Still Got It" - over 50 work comeback
There’s a strange myth that lingers around work and age—that opportunity has an expiration date. That once you reach a certain point, the door quietly closes and you’re expected to be grateful for whatever’s left. But lived experience tells a very different story. Starting new job opportunities later in life isn’t about proving anything; it’s about finally knowing what you bring to the table.
Older workers carry something no résumé bullet point can fully capture: judgment shaped by experience, calm under pressure, and the confidence to solve problems without drama. We’ve learned what matters, what doesn’t, and how to work with people—not just processes. In a world obsessed with speed, there is real value in steadiness, perspective, and the ability to see the bigger picture. This isn’t the end of the road professionally—it’s a recalibration, and for many of us, a surprisingly powerful one.
Still Got It
Because "Retired" Doesn't Mean "Retired from Being Awesome"
Let's get one thing straight: Retirement? Sure, I did that. Being done? Hell no. I've got over 35 years of experience in public and human services, and spoiler alert—I still have a LOT to give to the workplace. Not because I need the validation (been there, done that, got the t-shirt), but because experience is the superpower nobody wants to admit they're desperate for.
The Superpowers Nobody Talks About
1. We Read People Like Yesterday's News
After decades in the workforce, you develop this magical ability to spot personalities from a mile away. You know who'll actually show up and do the work versus who'll happily let you carry the load while they collect the credit. You can identify the ego-driven players versus the genuine hearts. And here's the kicker—I've learned to work with ALL of them.
Years ago, would I have stroked someone's fragile ego just to get a project done? Absolutely not. Maybe I needed mine stroked too—who knows. But now? If ego-stroking is what moves the needle, hand me the metaphorical brush. I'll paint that ego Sistine Chapel-level beautiful if it means the work gets done. That's not selling out; that's strategic brilliance.
2. We've Seen This Movie Before
Change management? Please. We've navigated more transitions than a GPS on a road trip. When I point out pitfalls, people think I'm being resistant to change. I can literally HEAR the eyeballs rolling. But guess what happens six months later? Exactly what I said would happen.
It's not because I'm the smartest person in the room—not by a long shot. It's because I've lived through it before. The new vocabulary might be different, but the problems? Same old tune, just a different remix.
The Government Transformation Paradox
Let me tell you about my favorite workplace comedy: government "transformation." Governments LOVE this word. They live for it. But here's the thing—with administration cycles lasting 4-8 years, they're basically professional wheel-reinventors.
They genuinely believe something is "new" and "groundbreaking." In reality? We did this in 1997, called it something else, and it didn't work then either. True transformation requires RISK. But public service? Risk-averse doesn't even begin to cover it. There's only so much risk that's tolerable, so what you get is calculated reinvention of previous ways of doing things.
Maybe this happens in other industries too, but in public service, it's practically an art form. And here's the kicker—North Americans think we're this "new world" open to fresh ideas, but mostly we just copy what European countries did twenty years ago. Because guess what? Older countries have that experience too.
Government professional at work
What We Bring to the Table (Besides Sass)
Institutional Memory: We remember why certain decisions were made and what happened last time someone tried that "innovative" approach.
Emotional Intelligence: We've made all the interpersonal mistakes already, so you don't have to.
Perspective: We know what's actually an emergency and what just feels like one because someone's PowerPoint deadline is looming.
Mentorship: We can actually explain the "why" behind processes, not just the "what."
Crisis Management: Nothing phases us anymore. Your "crisis" is our Tuesday.
Network Gold: Decades of professional relationships mean we know who to call to actually get things done.
“There are real advantages to hiring these employees. Studies have shown that older workers may lower time-keeping and absentee issues; they also tend to have higher levels of commitment to their jobs and loyalty to their employers…”
— Richard Branson
Hot Side Gig & Remote Work Ideas for the Over-50 Crowd
🎯 Consultant
Use your decades of experience to advise companies. They'll pay you what they should've been paying you all along.
✍️ Freelance Writer
Industry blogs, white papers, grant writing—someone needs your knowledge in words.
🎓 Online Instructor
Teach courses on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or specialized training sites.
🤝 Executive Coach
Help younger leaders navigate the minefields you've already crossed.
📊 Project Manager
Remote PM roles are everywhere, and experience actually matters here.
💼 Virtual Assistant
High-level VA work for executives—scheduling, research, problem-solving.
📝 Grant Writer
Non-profits will love you forever. Great remote work with flexible hours.
🎤 Public Speaker
Virtual conferences need experts. You've got stories that need telling.
🔍 Evaluation Specialist
Companies need people who can assess programs and processes. Hello, that's us.
🌐 Nonprofit Board Member
Often paid positions, always influential, completely aligned with your values.
“Age is about as totally unrelated to job performance as any measure can be.”
— Schmidt and Hunter
“Older workers bring decades of experience and unique skills that can only be developed over many years.”
— Eileen Suazo
Resources to Get Your Comeback Started
Job Boards & Remote Work Sites
American-Specific Job Boards
FlexJobs (flexjobs.com)
Vetted remote, part-time, and flexible jobs. Worth the subscription.
RetiredBrains (retiredbrains.com)
Specifically for people over 50 looking for work. Finally, someone gets it.
Workforce50 (workforce50.com)
Job board focused on experienced professionals. No ageism here.
AARP Job Board (aarpworksearch.org)
Free resource with thousands of listings from age-friendly employers.
We Work Remotely (weworkremotely.com)
Massive remote job board across all industries.
Remote.co (remote.co)
Remote jobs plus articles on working from home successfully.
Canadian-Specific Job Boards
Job Bank (jobbank.gc.ca)
Government of Canada's official job site. Free and reliable.
Canada's Top 100 Employers - Over 40 (canadastop100.com/older_workers)
Annual list of Canadian employers with age-friendly policies. Research before you apply.
Workhoppers (workhoppers.com)
Canadian platform connecting experienced workers with flexible opportunities.
CanadaJobs (canadajobs.com)
Major Canadian job board with resources for mature workers.
Indeed Canada (ca.indeed.com)
Search "older worker" or "mature worker" for age-friendly postings.
Eluta (eluta.ca)
Canadian job site pulling directly from employer websites. Interface is ugly, but it works.
NoDesk (nodesk.co/remote-jobs/canada)
Curated remote Canadian jobs across all industries.
Working Nomads (workingnomads.com/remote-canada-jobs)
Remote jobs in Canada with email alerts. No nonsense.
Remotive (remotive.com/remote-canada-jobs)
Quality remote Canadian jobs, screened and curated.
Provincial Resources
ALIS - Alberta (alis.alberta.ca/tools-and-resources/resources-for-mature-workers)
Alberta's resource hub for workers over 45. Career planning tools and labour market stats.
The Working Centre - Ontario (theworkingcentre.org/workers-over-45)
Waterloo region support for workers 45+. Worth checking if you're in Ontario.
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) (canada.ca - search TIOW)
Federal program for unemployed workers 55-64. Check your provincial ministry for local projects.
Freelance & Consulting Platforms
American Freelance & Consulting Platforms
Upwork (upwork.com)
Massive freelance marketplace. Your experience will stand out here.
Catalant (gocatalant.com)
High-end consulting projects with major corporations.
Toptal (toptal.com)
Elite freelance network—selective but well-paid.
Business Talent Group (businesstalentgroup.com)
Connects experienced professionals with consulting opportunities.
Canadian Freelance & Consulting Platforms
Freel (freel.ca)
Exclusively for Canadian freelancers. Local gigs, Canadian clients. 700+ professionals already here.
Freelance.ca (freelance.ca)
Canadian platform connecting local talent with businesses. Browse projects or get contacted directly.
Workhoppers (workhoppers.com)
Canadian-based platform with AI matching. No commissions or recruiting fees. Pay by hour or project.
Canadian Virtual Gurus (canadianvirtualgurus.ca)
Alberta-based. All freelancers are Canadian. Virtual assistant and specialized services.
RPSAV (rpsav.ca)
Réseau des professionnelles en soutien administratif virtuel. French-speaking freelance assistants and secretaries.
Flexable (flexable.work)
Growing Canadian presence. Curated onboarding process. Focus on higher-value, long-term contracts.
LinkedIn Services Marketplace (linkedin.com)
Leverage your professional network. List services on your profile. Clients come to you. No platform fees.
Learning & Skill Development
LinkedIn Learning (linkedin.com/learning)
Brush up on skills or learn new ones. They'll never know you learned it last Tuesday.
Coursera (coursera.org)
University-level courses, many free. Because we're never too old to learn.
SCORE (score.org)
Free mentoring and resources if you're thinking about starting your own business.
Networking & Community
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Update that profile. Connect with old colleagues. You know more people than you think.
Reenergize (reenergizeyourcareer.com)
Community and resources for professionals over 50.
Wahve (wahve.com)
Connects experienced insurance and accounting professionals with remote wor
Canadian Learning Platforms & Institutions
Athabasca University (athabascau.ca)
Canada's open university. 850+ online courses. Self-paced learning. Actual degrees and certificates.
University of Toronto - Coursera (coursera.org)
Free courses from U of T. Get certificates. Looks good on LinkedIn.
UBC Extended Learning (extendedlearning.ubc.ca)
Professional development, certificates, micro-credentials. British Columbia's top university.
BCIT Free Online Learning (bcit.ca/free-online-learning)
British Columbia Institute of Technology offers free short courses (6-14 hours). Career exploration, skills upgrading.
eCampusOntario (ecampusontario.ca)
Access to 200+ online courses from Ontario colleges. Many free options.
Centennial College Online (centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/online-learning)
200+ online courses. Certificates, diplomas, graduate studies. Ontario-based.
Robertson College (robertsoncollege.com)
40+ online courses. Micro-courses (10 hours) to full diplomas (51 weeks). Flexible, industry-led.
Canada School of Public Service (csps-efpc.gc.ca)
For federal public servants but also has free courses open to all Canadians. Leadership, skills development.
Class Central (classcentral.com/country/canada)
Aggregator of free Canadian university courses. U of T, UBC, and more.
Government-Funded Training Programs for Older Workers
Better Jobs Ontario (ontario.ca/betterojobs)
For laid-off workers. Pays for training AND living expenses while you retrain. Open to all ages.
Ontario Job Creation Partnerships (ontario.ca)
For EI recipients. Develop employable skills, get work experience. Increases your chances of long-term employment.
Skills Training for Employment - Older Workers 55+ (B.C.)
Contact your local college or employment centre. B.C. invested $5 million annually for 733+ older workers. Provincial programs like "Encore Careers" at Douglas College.
Ontario Get SET Program (ontario.ca)
Improve reading, writing, math, computer skills. Free. Service provider creates personalized learning plan.
Canada-Alberta Job Grant (alberta.ca)
Employers can get funding to train you. Worth knowing about when negotiating with potential employers.
Your Provincial Employment Centre
Every province has employment services for older workers. Skills assessments, resume help, training referrals. Search "[your province] employment services older workers."
ALIS - Alberta Learning Information Service (alis.alberta.ca/tools-and-resources/resources-for-mature-workers)
Career planning tools, labour market info, resources for workers 45+. Alberta-specific but valuable even if you're elsewhere.
"They say experience is wasted on the old. I say opportunity is wasted on the young who don't know what they don't know."
The Bottom Line
We're not looking for handouts or sympathy hires. We're looking for organizations smart enough to recognize that experience isn't a liability—it's the competitive advantage they've been missing.
So yeah, I'm "retired." I'm also available, capable, and carrying around 35+ years of wisdom that no amount of fresh graduate enthusiasm can replicate. The workplace needs what we've got, even if they don't know it yet.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some ego-stroking to do and a transformation initiative to politely predict the failure of. Again.