"Retired" on a Resume

Anonymous

May 5,2023 at 2:21PM UTC

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"Retired" on a Resume

My division employs a staff of 25, and in the past five years, has had a turnover of 24 (some positions several times over.) A handful left to retire, but most couldn't handle the awful director and executive team. Being the only remote employee living several hundred miles away, I managed to escape a lot of the everyday dysfunction, but four years ago, it finally became my turn to become a scapegoat. My position has been dramatically downsized in terms of scope, my autonomy has narrowed, and finally, like everyone else experienced, I'm being micromanaged beyond words. I handle a large geographic area of the state and am highly respected by my customers, but the actions of management have dramatically changed the way I can serve them and it's eroding my hard-earned (and won!) reputation. I love my job, do it very well, and after all this time-- ugh.

In the past 16 months, the director and all but the most toxic manager retired after hiring their own replacements. There was hope that maybe some positive changes might happen, but things have gotten worse, with the new director being onboarded/influenced by that remaining manager.

I have reached the end of my ability to cope (Sunday night panic attacks have now given way to "every morning" anxiety) and now that two more colleagues (!) have given their notice, I feel like it's time for me to make the leap, too.

Later this month, I turn 60 and can officially retire. I have a 401k that doesn't have enough in it, so I have to work somewhere, (no pension) but will be fully vested in health care, so it opens up options where that might not be part of a comp. package.

I would like to take a month or two off to get a grip, (have enough in savings to be fine for that amount of time) but am worried about the dreaded employment gap. Would "retired'' on a resume be considered a liability? Should I just try for a seamless transition to a position elsewhere? I'm typically an enthusiastic, energetic employee with a solid work ethic, but am SO BURNED OUT.

Would welcome some perspective. Thank you so much!

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Tracy DyeMay 5,2023 at 2:38PM UTC
A 1-2 month gap doesn’t have to be addressed. You don’t have to account for every minute of your working life. Use wider gaps for dates if it will make uou feel better- ie may 2023 not May 1 2023. It might depend on the industry and level, but I have so many gaps on my resume from 2013-now and noone says a thing.
AnonymousMay 5,2023 at 4:54PM UTC
If retired is officially put on your resume, they will wonder why you're applying, tbh. As a previous poster mentioned, a couple of months is nothing compared to what some people are experiencing. You could always volunteer to do something you enjoy. THAT looks great on a resume. So if asked, you spent the time volunteering __________ which helped you _______________.
AnonymousMay 5,2023 at 5:08PM UTC
Time your exit to be June 1st. Take rest of June off but you can still list June as your month of employment. Start your search in July and hopefully be hired by August.
AnonymousMay 8,2023 at 12:35PM UTC
A few months gap in a resume is not a deal breaker. Use a skill based format to not focus on time line. And when asked about the gap, say something about taking some time to rest and recharge yourself. Don't bash your prior job. I left my last post as I had an awful manager. But I referred to the commute in interviewing.
Joan Marie VerbaMay 8,2023 at 1:31PM UTC
As others have said, don't put "retired" on your resume. Just list the jobs you have had. Your difficulty won't be a gap, but that it's extremely difficult to find work if you're over the age of 60. I am 69 and have been trying to find a full time job for over 5 years and have made over 765 job applications. Can you stay with your job and just take an extended vacation? Because if you "have to work somewhere" it's best not to quit.
JulieMay 8,2023 at 3:03PM UTC
Why would your resume say “Retired” instead of just having an end date??
a 2 month job gap? Who cares? It can take that long to transition between jobs much less look for one and start again. The bigger issue is how many days can you take off between now and when you “retire” or rather “quit”? Preserve your peace and get on with the rest of your life.
AnonymousMay 8,2023 at 4:09PM UTC
Go for it to regenerate! Don’t place retired on your resume. I took a 2 year break during the course of the pandemic and termed it a Sabbatical. I asked a couple of HR contacts how should I address this when returning to the workforce and they said to address it in my cover letter. I jumped back into the workforce and found an awesome job (within a month) where I plan to stay until I retire in the next 3-4 years.
Liz MilneMay 9,2023 at 12:49AM UTC
I don't think you need to mention 'retired' on your resume - you can say something verbally in interviews, but I wouldn't make it official. Apart from anything else 'retired' is a big hint as to your age, which people will use to discriminate instead of giving you the chance to prove yourself...
Good luck, it definitely sounds like your previously good job has become Theseus's ship (nothing left of the original) and it's maybe time for you to acknowledge that?
AnonymousMay 10,2023 at 2:09AM UTC
Great point! Yes, can't long for something that no longer exists...