8 Best Jobs for Retirees
Americans may be able to start collecting retirement benefits at age 62, but in today's world, many workers are continuing to stay employed well beyond retirement age. Whether they want to earn some extra cash, continue using their career skills, or try their hand at something new, more and more senior citizens are choosing to take a part-time job after retirement. Here are eight opportunities you can pursue as a retired worker.
Bookkeeper
Most small businesses don't have an on-staff accountant, so the task of record-keeping often falls to the business owner. A highly organized, trustworthy bookkeeper can alleviate the stress of sorting through receipts and tax returns. You'll most likely need to put in only one or two days a month for each client, depending on how many sales and expenses they have. Knowledge of QuickBooks and CPA certification are pluses, but not necessarily requirements for this job.
Child care
Whether it's with a day care or nursery school, or an independent child care service, watching children for busy parents during the work day or weekends is a great gig for a retired worker. As someone older, likely with children and/or grandchildren of your own, parents will see you as a more mature, responsible caretaker than the teenager next door. [25 Action Words to Include on Your Resume]
Consultant
Many small and large businesses hire part-time consultants to work on short-term projects. If you retired from an industry that lends itself to consulting work, you could pick up extra money offering your advice and expertise to other companies. While it may not be steady, becoming an independent consultant can give you the chance to expand your professional network while using your hard-earned career skills. Fields like Web development, marketing and finance are especially well suited for this type of job.
Home health aide
As a personal care or home health aide, you can help fellow senior citizens with limited mobility or disabilities live more comfortably in their own homes. You'll be responsible for assisting with bathing, dressing and housekeeping for the disabled or chronically ill, and in some cases, you may administer medication. You don't need a degree or prior experience to work in a private residence, but working in a certified hospice or care facility requires formal training and a standardized test. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a 70 percent increase in the demand for home health aides by the end of the decade.
Nonprofit worker
Since nonprofit organizations don't often have large hiring budgets, there's a good chance that many of the functions filled by full-time staffers at for-profit companies are open for part-time candidates. Whether you work as an administrative assistant, a marketing manager or an outreach coordinator, getting involved with a nonprofit is a great way to give back to the community and work for a cause you're passionate about.
Retail salesperson
Ringing up purchases at your local supermarket or clothing store might seem better suited for high school and college students, but a job with flexible scheduling that isn't too physically demanding is a great option for a retired worker. Many larger companies offer benefits packages to their part-time employees, so consider applying to one if you want to supplement your retirement benefits.
Temp worker
Rather than commit yourself to one post-retirement job, why not sign on with a temp agency and work short-term jobs? While they may not always be the most interesting positions, you'll be able to gain a wide variety of experiences with many different companies. Office clerks, customer service representatives and repair workers are among the top temporary jobs.
Tutor
If nearby high schools and universities offer test preparation programs for students, you might be able to find a job as a tutor. Prep courses for SAT, GRE and other high-level tests are expensive, which translates into good money for course leaders. If schools aren't hiring, you could open your own tutoring business and run it out of your home.
Originally published on Business News Daily.
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