Even after you’ve retired, it’s never too late to reenter the workforce if you want. There are plenty of reasons why you may want to go this route. It could be to further fund your retirement or just to get out of the house. Whatever your reasoning is, if you’re considering getting a job, you may not want to return to full-time work. If that’s the case, you have a ton of options for part-time or even freelance work. We covered a few great options for seniors in our first article “Want to Get Back to Work? 3 Great Jobs for Seniors.” But, these aren’t all the retiree-friendly jobs out there.
Today, we’re looking at three more jobs that work well with retiree schedules and lifestyles. We wanted to highlight jobs that aren’t too demanding, are flexible, and may even be fun if your interests line up with the role. And, we really focused on that last part for this grouping of jobs, since many people want a job that’s more enriching than a place you punch in and out of each day. With that in mind, you may really enjoy one of these jobs.
Working in Childcare or Day Care
Do you love working with kids? Then, a second career helping out at a day care center or in childcare may be right up your alley. Working as a day care assistant or childcare professional allows you to give a helping hand to busy parents and take an active role in enriching the lives of future generations. While childcare workers don’t usually become millionaires, the pay is only one of the reasons people choose to work in childcare.
This job allows you to give a helping hand to busy parents and enrich the lives of future generations.
There are a few ways you can get into childcare professionally. One of the most straightforward ways is to apply for a job at a local day care. Generally, there is no or little formal education required, but you’ll likely need to pass a background check to be hired. Another option is to watch children in your own neighborhood in a more informal setting, either in your own home or theirs. This allows you more control over your pay and hours, since you’d be dealing directly with the parents.
Become a Freelance Writer
Are you a writer and looking for a way to make a little extra cash while you’re retired — maybe from the comfort of your own home? These days, many website and companies utilize freelance writers to handle a lot of their copy needs, either because they don’t have a regular need for a full-time writer or don’t need health benefits. A side job as a freelance writer is a great way to utilize your writing experience without the burden of a full-time job. At the same time, it allows you to be more selective about what writing jobs you take.
Freelance writing utilizes your writing experience without full-time hours.
The first step to getting into freelance writing is to build your portfolio. If you have stellar samples of your writing, update and gather them. If you don’t have a portfolio built, spend time making one that covers many different styles of writing, from press releases to news reports to marketing copy. Show that you have range and skills. Once you have an excellent portfolio, start looking for postings that you can apply for. Sometimes, you’ll find postings on freelance-specific sites like Freelancer or ProBlogger. Others include Upwork, Guru, or even Fiverr. You can also find openings on job search sites like Indeed or Monster. If you don’t mind a more forward approach, take your portfolio and see if any local businesses could use your writing services. It never hurts to ask!
Dog Walker or Sitter
If you love dogs, but don’t want the responsibility of owning one, you could always try a post-retirement career as a dog walker or sitter. That’s right, you can actually get paid to spend time with dogs! Some professionals, especially those with demanding or time-consuming jobs may need the occasional help of a professional dog walker or sitter. Not only is dog walking a great way to get out of the house with someone else’s pet, it can help you stay fit by adding walking to your regular schedule, which can add years on to your life.
Not only is dog walking a great way to get out of the house with someone else’s pet, it can help you stay fit!
There are a few things to consider when becoming a dog walker. You can start your own walking business, or you can join a service. For example, you can sign up with a dog-walking company that will connect you with people looking for your services like Rover or Wag. You may also want to pick up some certifications like first aid, just in case. Either way, once you have the clients, you’ll have a source of work that gets you out of the house and spending time with dogs. Not too shabby!
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A post-retirement job is a great way to spend your time and earn a little extra cash after you’ve left the full-time workforce. If these jobs are a little niche for you, if you don’t like dogs or kids for example, check out our “Want to Get Back to Work? 3 Great Jobs for Seniors” article featuring a few other jobs. Remember, it’s never too late to find a job you love, even if you’ve retired. And if it ever stops being worth the effort, don’t forget, you’re retired! You’ve earned your time off, so enjoy it however you want!
