7 Unique Ways to Find Retirement Jobs

If you are interested in retirement jobs, there are many ways to find them.

The following ideas can give the seasoned person an edge and put a few extra shekels in your pocket without eating up your entire day:

(These ideas came from a recent U.S. News and World Report article. I could not find the exact article online to link to reference.)

1. Gardening with a Twist

If you like homegrown tomatoes and carrots, great. But if you prefer money, don’t grow veggies at home. Instead, get down to the local garden centers and find out what they need – and grow that. This way, you’ll know that you have a buyer before you break ground. Also, it’s a much more efficient way to farm than growing vegetables and selling them at the Farmer’s Market.

If this idea appeals to you, pick up some books and take a class on gardening. Then…get to work, Farmer John or Joan.

2. Tax Prep

Tax prep work is seasonal and could be a great fit for you once you retire. Most of the companies that hire part-time/seasonal tax preparers will take you on even if you don’t have any work experience in this field. These companies are hungry for people with your skills and experience.  You’re smart, responsible and trustworthy. Get down there and submit your application.

3. Hobbies

If you like to knit, weave, paint or make pottery you might be able to make some money at the same time.  Your retirement hobbies might actually turn a profit.

One site that might help you do just that is Etsy.com. This site is an online store for the creative types of all kinds. They charge a small listing fee and a reasonable commission when you sell your wares. Fire up your kiln – for the sake of your retirement.

4. Teaching

You may not relish the idea of facing a classroom full of 14-year-olds, but you don’t have to. You can tutor individuals in any number of subjects. Either post an ad on Craigslist or put your resume in at a learning center.  This is a great way to turn a second job into a side business.

5. Housesitting

Here’s another one that wouldn’t naturally occur to me. Lots of investors are stuck with real estate they can’t unload or rent. Make your services available and cash in by doing some housesitting. You’re an attractive candidate for these investors because they know you won’t be throwing wild parties all night and trashing the place “rock-and-roll band” style.

6. Volunteering with a Twist

Encore Fellowships is a program that places you in nonprofit organizations. These organizations tap you for your management and/or technical experience. You help these organizations do better…and you do pretty well yourself. They offer stipends of up to $25,000 a year for a six-month stint.

7. Sales

If you can sell, you can always find work. No matter what field you were involved in while you were working, somebody somewhere had to sell to somebody else in order to make money. You could be that somebody selling and making money. Leverage your knowledge, character and skills and make some money.  (Read “Weekend Jobs” for a few more ideas.)

All these choices are available to you. You can tap into your experience easily. Because of the years you spent slaving away at the grindstone, you’re a very attractive candidate for most every employer.

Think about what somebody needs – or ask them – and then provide it. This way, you’ll never run short of ways to make a few bucks, help others and have fun after you retire.

But do me one favor before you go back to work.

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Craig shares some ideas for students getting out of debt.

Tom shares insights on how much it takes to retire.

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Paul shares his cash budget envelop system.

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