Former general counsel takes new job as student tour guide
After nearly 30 years as a general counsel working for telecommunications and financial companies, Jack Friedman lost his job in 2008 when his employer reorganized.
Like many other lawyers, he found looking for work in the legal industry in the midst of an economic crisis a tough gig. So, with help from a career consultant, he created a new job for himself, leading student tours to East Coast cities. While it is seasonal and pays less than his in-house positions, working as a tour guide utilizes a number of the skills he had developed as a lawyer and allows him to indulge his love of travel, Kiplinger’s reports.
Since he had lived conservatively and saved while working in the corporate world, Friedman, now 63, can live on the income from his current job and put off applying for Social Security until he’s 66, when he’s eligible for full benefits.
Asked what advice he would offer to others, he told the magazine that those looking for work should keep an open mind. “This is the time to follow your interests,” he said. “You’ve got to love what you do.”
