5 Jobs in Demand for 2013

5. Move Manager

The nitty-gritty: You are in charge of coordinating a move and configuring a new home setup. With many of the more than 78 million boomers, in addition to seniors, poised to make a move to smaller quarters, your client base is swelling fast. Your typical customers are relocating to an apartment, condo, retirement community or assisted living facility. They need advice on choosing which furniture, artwork, china, collectibles and household goods will make the move to the new digs. Then you tally up what can be sold, donated or given to friends and family. You might even be in charge of shopping for new furniture that suits the new pad, or organizing and running an estate or yard sale. This job calls for configuring and cajoling. Not only is a move physically daunting, but most people resist it. That's where your move-management consulting skills shift into gear.

Pay range: Fees range from $30 per hour to $75-plus.

Qualifications: Knowledge of interior design is indispensible. An "in" with a local real estate agent can jump-start your business, as well as provide steady clientele down the road. A calm but take-charge demeanor is preferred, as this type of move can be emotionally charged. For more information on courses and certification, contact the National Association of Senior Move Managers. For leads on jobs, stop by local real estate agents' offices and visit retirement and assisted living communities in your area to ask about their future residents' needs. The community's management office usually provides soon-to-be residents with suggestions for moving specialists whom they have worked with in the past to lend a hand with what can be a daunting endeavor for downsizers of any age. To earn a coveted spot on a list of preferred helpers, you may need to provide references who can vouch for your work. Plan on doing a few jobs pro bono in exchange for a referral.

Kerry Hannon, AARP's jobs expert, is a career transition expert and an award-winning author. Her latest book is Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy … and Pays the Bills.

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