# My first post-retirement job interview **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2022, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006 "2022-05-05T12:21:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/1 "2022-05-05T12:21:57Z")
After 27 years, I retired from Tennessee State Government. My finances are better than I could have hoped-for. But Social Security is still a few years away. So, I interview today for a part-time position with the County Library Association. Low pay, but a great working environment. Light Blue blazer, red tie & pocket square–wish me luck! 🧐 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/2 "2022-05-05T12:34:02Z")
My first post-retirement interview was surreal. I was going for a 6-month temporary job, which suited my needs at the time. I was way over-qualified but I was looking to make a few bucks for a specific purpose. Everyone there knew I was retired - it was in my resume, and I mentioned it. Imagine my confusion when one of the interviewers (there were 4, I think) asked where I saw myself in 5 years. See above - this was a 6-month temp position to help with a backlog. I almost laughed in the guy’s face, but I took a deep breath and said I intended to be retired for real by then. I got the job, and the man who became my boss laughed with me about that idiotic 5-years question. And it turns out, in 5 years, I was working at my 4th post-retirement job… Anyway, good luck to you!! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/3 "2022-05-05T18:21:13Z")
I had a good interview. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/4 "2022-05-05T20:45:35Z")
Yay!\* Keep us posted on further developments. \*only downside, no tasty “Interview from Hell” stories for us… ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/5 "2022-05-05T22:32:15Z")
I never had an answer for what do you see yourself doing in 5 years because I think it’s a stupid question. I don’t know what I’m having for dinner, let alone 5 years from you. I usually laughed it off or said I want to be the tsar of all libraries. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/6 "2022-05-06T16:25:13Z")
I didn’t get it. 😔 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/7 "2022-05-06T16:41:40Z")
Ah, too bad. > [@peedin](#): > > I never had an answer for what do you see yourself doing in 5 years because I think it’s a stupid question. I’ve always hated it, too. It’s just a canned question anymore, so it’s become meaningless…if it ever _had_ any meaning. ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/8 "2022-05-06T18:04:15Z")
Sorry to hear that. ☹ I hope there are lots of other great opportunities ahead for you! I’m in the same position–not exactly “retired” but done with my first career and seeking the next, shorter-term step. I’m still poking around looking for the right move but hope to be interviewing soon. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/9 "2022-05-06T18:06:56Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > I didn’t get it. 😔 Don’t let it bother you. There are other jobs out there. In particular look for private sector jobs. Lots of companies need someone solid to do stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha834](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Alpha834](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha834)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/10 "2022-05-06T18:49:39Z")
Mitch Hedberg had the perfect answer to the five year question. “Celebrating the 5th anniversary of you asking me this question!” 😀 ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/11 "2022-05-06T21:20:41Z")
Obligatory xkcd. > **[Five Years](https://xkcd.com/1088/)** > > 'Well, no further questions. You're hired!' 'Oh, sorry! I'm no longer interested. There's a bunch of future I gotta go check out!' ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/12 "2022-05-06T21:33:10Z")
Aw. I’m sorry. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-post-retirement-job-interview/964006/13 "2022-05-06T21:45:51Z")
That sucks. Though maybe you dodged a bullet and the next one’ll be better… I’m amazed by how many times I’ve run into people who worked in the exact department of companies I got turned down by… their tales of toxic environments and bizarre management and illegal labor practices make me feel better. Back in my “first job out of college” days (late-'70s), I read that job hunters averaged 23 NOs for every YES. That sounded depressingly high, but it helped me deal with rejection: “Okay, that’s just another one of my 23… I’d better keep going or I’ll never get to that YES.”