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Exploring Your Career and Leisure Options

Planning for a satisfying retirement requires more than looking at finances or planning for future health needs. With the increased longevity of baby boomers, it also requires exploration of the many options available for work and leisure during your retirement years.

This unique online, self-study course provides the resources, tools, and time you need to explore the question, “What am I going to do with the rest of my life?” The Planning for Retirement course offers:

• A  structured, well-thought-out method for examining your own values, interests, and capabilities… and how to formulate a plan to  pursue them
• A convenient, online format that lets you work at your own pace in the comfort of your own home
• Personal career counseling with a qualified career facilitator at two key points in the course
• Access to information and resources, such as assessments, to help you make personal discoveries and decisions
• Directions for developing a personal portfolio to assist you in pursuing your career/life goals and documenting your decisions and results

Course Purpose and Overview

Whether your retirement is fast approaching or something you imagine for the future, you have probably dreamed about the sense of freedom you will gain from the luxury of deciding for yourself how you will spend your time.

Anyone newly retired or considering retirement has a number of issues to explore that will help determine the future direction of their lives. For example, you need to consider ways to personalize your goals; understand your assets; and identify your motivations, values, beliefs, and interests. Many questions may need to be answered, including:

• How much should you work, or should you work at all? 
• What are your interests? Values? Skills? Which of these do you want to pursue?
• Do you want to do something different from what you’ve done before? Do more of what you’ve already done? Work in the same field in a different way?
• How will you go about networking, transitioning, and re-balancing?
   
  

The Planning for Retirement course provides a structured way to move through the process of exploring what you will do after retirement. This process is not linear, but it can be exciting. It takes time to decide what kind of life balance you want –  what you want to leave behind and what you want to take with you.  The course content is dedicated to “distinguishing the melody of your life from the noise.” (Corbett)

This independent-study course will be delivered online by the University of Wisconsin, Center on Education and Work. It is conducted online using the University’s Learn@UW web site, which you can access from any computer that has Internet access. No special equipment is needed. Participation will allow you to step back, reflect, and gather energy and direction for the next phase of your life and work. 

What Will I Learn?

The Planning for Retirement course provides a thorough investigation into the following topics:

• Introductory Materials
• About You
• Self-Exploration
• Your Unique Traits and Characteristics
• Examining Your Life Roles and Your Career “Maturity”
• Identifying Your Preoccupations through An Interview Protocol
• Exploring Your Work Values
• Who Are You As a Worker/Leisurite?
• Further Defining Who You Are As a Worker/Leisurite – The Verb List
• Transitioning Into Retirement
• Defining Your Workplace Skills
• Measuring Your Personality Characteristics
• What is Your Decision-Making Style?
• Considering External Factors
• Do You Have the Skills Needed to Get and Keep a Job?
• Ways to Market and Brand Yourself
• Understanding Career and Labor Market Information
• Learning How The Economy and Workforce Needs Can Affect Your Decisions
• Self-Employment: Is It For You?
• Alternative Sources of Career Information

Course Structure 

There are 18 units in the course. The materials, which will be posted online, consist of lecturettes, case studies, activities, and assignments that will increase your self-knowledge, clarify the roles you want work to play in the future, help you explore occupational opportunities, and guide you as you examine your skills and strengths. An instructor will be assigned to each registrant. The instructor will respond to your assignments and online postings. After you have completed Unit 7 of the course, and again at the end of the course, you will have an opportunity to meet with your instructor by phone or in person. The Discussion Board on the Learn@UW site is a component of the course that provides a place for you to interact online with your instructor. In addition, you will assemble a portfolio documenting the work that you have completed during the course. 

Course Schedule

This is an independent study course so participants may join at any time. Once you begin, you have six months to complete the 18 units of the course. After completing the course, you will be able to join a Discussion Group or Blog designed for alumni of the program. This will allow you to connect with others who are in similar stages of their work/retirement lives. You should proceed through the units from the beginning to the end. If a few of the units don’t appeal to you, it isn’t necessary to complete all of them. We realize that each participant is coming to the course with differing needs.

Cost

The total fee for the course is $325. This includes access to all course materials, an ID and Password for the course at the Learn@UW site, a free six-month registration for CareerLocker (an online tool that includes assessment instruments and career/labor market information), and two one-hour sessions with a Career Development Facilitator or a Career Counselor.

About the Instructors

The course developer and lead instructor is Dr. Judith Ettinger. She is a senior staff member at the Center on Education and Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Judy has been working in the field of career counseling and career development for 35 years. She has designed and taught a number of career-related courses that are delivered online. Other instructors are either certified Career Development Facilitators or Master’s level Career Counselors.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What kind of computer will I need to complete the course?
   
   To take the course you only need access to the Internet. You will additionally need a printer. Also, just be sure that you have access to a basic word processing program on your computer.
   
   
2. Will I have to complete assignments at a certain time?
   
   Because this is an independent course, you can work at your own pace. The only requirement is that you complete the units within six months of your start date.
   
   
3. Will other students or the instructor be online at the same time as I am?
   
   The course includes a Discussion Board where you can post messages to the instructor and other students. Because participants can start at any time, there may not be anyone online at the same time you are or there might be a group of students.  At times you may also be communicating with your instructor via e-mail.
   
   
4. What if I have problems during the course?
   
   You will be able to e-mail your instructor with any problems throughout the six months.
   
   
5. What if I have technical problems?
   
   DoIt, the University of Wisconsin’s Help Line related to computer and technology, will be available to you throughout the course. Their number and hours are: (608) 264-HELP (4357). They are available 6:00 am - 1:00 am daily (central time). If you have problems at other times of the day, you can always e-mail them and they will get back to you with a solution.
   
   
6. How can I register?
   
   Print out and complete the registration form and return it by fax to 608-262-3063 with your credit card information. Or, mail your registration with payment to the address on the form. Online registration is now available (credit card required).