Finding good jobs for seniors is a hot topic. Retirement historically has meant developing income streams from multiple sources. Until recently, that’s meant Social Security, income from retirement assets (IRA’s, 401K’s, etc) and a company provided pension. In recent years, the pension part of that triad has faded into history, and many are making up the difference with some form of post-retirement employment or creating side jobs.
Note: One side gig that many retirees are jumping on right now is driving for a ride sharing service like Uber. Is that something you’d consider?
Why a senior citizen might want a job
The traditional notion of retirement is a permanent separation from work to live focused on enjoying the pleasures of life. Yet many people may need or choose to work past retirement, and there are several reasons why:
- Insufficient retirement assets (not having enough money to stay retired)
- To make retirement assets last longer
- To supplement other retirement income
- To increase retirement assets
- You’re bored doing nothing!
People can expect to live longer in retirement than at any time before. Where once a person retiring at 65 could expect to live another 10 years, today’s retirees are facing the prospect of needing to provide for themselves for another 20-30 years! That may require continuing to work past normal retirement age.
As well, many baby boomers are facing the prospect of retirement without having a traditional company pension plan of the type previous generations have. Post retirement employment of some sort may need to be considered.
Resources to help get started
Because so many people are working into retirement years, there are more resources than ever to help you find employment. If you haven’t planned out specifically what it is you’ll do for a job, check out Workforce 50. It’s a site where you can search for jobs specific to seniors in your area, and it provides a large amount of useful information to help seniors navigate job hunting.
Another source is AARP. It gives useful advice, tips and strategies to help older workers find jobs, interview, prepare resumes and identify the best employers to work for.
Full-time, part-time or contract?
One factor you may want to carefully consider is how much you want to work. If full-time retirement isn’t a possibility, you may want to create a semi-retirement in which you will work part-time or seasonally, so that you will earn the income you need, but still have time to enjoy your golden years.
Neal’s note; Don’t rule out putting your own entrepreneurial ideas into action either. You have the expertise, skill and experience. Now it may be time to really capitalize on your skills.
One advantage to working in retirement today is that there are more options on this front than ever. Not only are there part-time jobs to provide an ongoing income source at reduced hours, but there’s also temporary and contract work that can enable you to alternate between periods of employment, and periods of retirement. You could, for example, work nine months out of the year then take three months off for the summer.
And then you always have the option to work on a full-time basis, if that’s what your situation requires.
Jobs for senior citizens
There are literally hundreds of jobs seniors can do, but here’s a list of just 19, based on such criteria as flexibility, easy entry, low stress, suitability with previous experience, or ability to work less than a full-time permanent basis:
- Consultant. What ever job you had before retirement provides an opportunity to work as a consultant.
- Temporary jobs. Many businesses need a flexible workforce for peak times; your career experience may see you as well qualified.
- Contract work. This is becoming increasingly popular, and one of the advantages is that you can work for a time, then take some time off.
- Income tax preparation. It’s just seasonal, but maybe that’s all you need. H&R Block offers training courses, as do many of its competitors.
- Freelance. If you have a specialization you may be able to work freelance for several employer at a time. You can speed up or slow down as you like.
- Local government jobs. Local governments often hire people to fill jobs on a part-time basis, especially in this era of budget cuts.
- Bookkeeping. Many businesses need bookkeepers on a part-time basis, and your experience with a popular bookkeeping software program could be your ticket in.
- Substitute teacher. This is an easy one for a retired teacher, but you may be able to step in even if you aren’t. It’s worth a shot.
- Pharmacy clerk. This is a relatively low stress job that can be either full or part-time. And since pharmacies are everywhere you won’t have to commute.
- Seasonal help. All kinds of businesses need seasonal help—hotels in the summer, retailers during November and December, and garden centers in the spring and summer months.
- Security guard. This is about as low stress a job as you will find, and you can generally work as many (or few) hours as you like.
- Library assistant. If you love books, this is a natural choice.
- Bookstore clerk.Faster paced than a library assistant, but similar in most other respects. Because of the retail nature, you can get more hours if needed.
- Home improvement store clerks. If you’re handy, or have hands on skills, you can put them to work helping others in places like Lowe’s and Home Depot.
- Homecare. If you’ve raised children, or cared for aging parents, you already have experience.
- Call centers.If you like phone work, this is an option. Many will employers allow you to work from home if you have a computer and dedicated phone line.
- Sales. If you’ve worked in sales in your career this is a definite option. If you haven’t, it might still work since you probably won’t be completely reliant on the commission income it provides.
- Small businesses. Small businesses need help, but often can’t afford full-time, permanent staff. You can work for them on a part-time or seasonal basis.
- Work for your previous employer. You might be able to work for your previous employer in a reduced capacity. After all, you already know the business!
Are you planning to work in retirement? If you are, what jobs are you considering?
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