Earning in Retirement: Jobs for Seniors
Nearly 75 percent of Americans plan to work beyond the traditional retirement age.1 Do you need some extra income? Do you want to stay active or volunteer for a cause? These jobs are perfect for seniors and retirees.
Jobs for Seniors and Retirees
Pet or house sitting
Pet sitting jobs are easy to find, and you can make your own schedule. There are several ways to find a pet sitting job, including:
- Using apps, like Rover or PetBacker, to list your pet sitting services
- Checking your local veterinarian’s office or pet store for job postings
- Stopping by dog parks and networking with dog owners
- Asking your neighbors if they need help with their pets
You can become a certified pet sitter by visiting the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. Keep in mind that pet sitting can require a lot of energy, so pick a schedule or type of animal that works best for you.
House sitting also allows for a flexible schedule. Duties can include checking the mail, watering plants and other household tasks. Here are a few websites that can help with your housesitting job hunt:
After school tutor
Are you an expert in a specific field or topic? Tutoring is a great way to share your knowledge with the next generation. You’ll also build new relationships, while keeping your own mind sharp. You can choose a schedule that work best for you, which makes this a great job for retirees.
Check with your local schools, libraries, and religious or community centers. They might have volunteer or paid opportunities for you to help kids with their school work. Plus, there are apps like Wyzant that can help narrow your search and promote your tutoring services.
Tour guide
Do you love your local botanical gardens? Are you a history buff? Working as a tour guide for your city can help you be active and stay social. This job is perfect for a retiree with lots of energy and great communication skills. Having a playful sense humor is a plus, too.
Pick a place that needs tour guides and apply! You can also check with local hospitals, parks and your city’s convention and visitor’s bureau to see if there are any availabilities.
Receptionist
This job could be an enjoyable way to stay social while in retirement. As a receptionist, you need great organizational and communication skills. You can look on Indeed.com to check if there are any receptionist openings near you.
Bookkeeper
Keeping logs and crunching numbers can help you stay mentally sharp. This position requires a strong background in accounting, research analysis and data entry skills. Does that sound like you? Check out career sites to see what positions are open in your area. Bookkeeping is often available seasonally or part-time, so you can have more flexibility with your schedule.
Freelancer or consultant
Do you have a knack for preparing taxes? Are you a skilled electrician? You can continue to earn in retirement by extending your career as a freelancer or consultant. Join local associations or get involved with charities that need your skillset. This can help you network and get started on the right foot.
If you do decide to freelance, growing your brand online is a must. Visit the U.S. Small Business Administration for tools to build your brand, if you don’t know where to start. Websites like UpWork.com can help you promote your work and skills. You may also consider setting up a limited liability company (LLC).
Should you set up an LLC? If you want to cover your business assets, setting up an LLC may be a good idea.2 An LLC is a form of a private limited company and has fewer regulations than corporations. This designation helps protect you as a business owner. It also adds credibility to your business. Each state has different regulations, and you need to file paperwork with a small fee. You should talk to a lawyer before pursuing this for your freelancing or consulting business.
Child care worker
Do you love children? Then being a babysitter or part-time nanny may be a great choice for you! Although most child care workers work full-time, you might have the option of working part-time depending on what kind of hours you’re looking for. There may also be certifications you need to know about. The American Red Cross has more information and courses.
Call your town’s community center or library to see if there are any babysitting or nanny positions open. There are websites, like Care.com, that can help kick start your search.
In-home caretaker
Assist elderly or disabled clients with their day-to-day activities by being an in-home caretaker. These activities can include providing transportation for appointments and errands or helping with housework.
Keep in mind, some of these positions may require additional professional licenses. VisitingAngels.com and other sites can be good resources to start your search. This job can be physically demanding. Make sure you understand the expectations before accepting.
How to find jobs as a senior
Looking for a job can be stressful. Luckily, there are plenty of online resources that can help with your search. These include:
- Using sites like UptoWork.com to update and build your resume
- Visiting SeniorJobBank.org to see what openings are available for older job seekers
- Searching jobs sites, like Glassdoor.com, Indeed.com and LinkedIn
- Checking opportunities at the convention and visitor’s bureau, community centers and libraries
- Networking with your family, friends and former colleagues. They might know of available jobs you’d be interested in!
What working in retirement means for you
Like most decisions in life, you should consider the pros and cons. Working in retirement does have an impact on your finances, so here are a couple of things to consider.3
The downside: Continuing to work in retirement can be draining. If you do decide to work in retirement, make sure to choose a job that works for your schedule and won’t cause burnout or unintended health issues.
If you’re being paid, working in retirement can complicate things financially. Your social security benefits might be taxed if you have another source of income. This extra income also may bump you into a higher tax bracket. You should talk to a professional for more details about how working in retirement may affect you.
The upside: Having a job brings in extra income! This can help prevent using all of your retirement savings early. In return, you can have more flexibility with your budget. You’ll also be able to stay active, keep your mind sharp and build new relationships.
Sources:
1 CNBC (April 5, 2018). Web page: More retirees want a side gig. Here’s how to get one. Retrieved on May 23, 2018 from https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/05/more-retirees-want-a-side-gig-heres-how-to-get-one.html.
2 Internal Revenue Service. (n.d.) Web page: Limited Liability Company (LLC). Retrieved on May 31, 2018 from https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/limited-liability-company-llc.
3 Kiplinger.com (August 15, 2017). Web page: Working Part-Time in Retirement Can Be Tricky. Retrieved on May 23, 2018 from https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T047-C032-S014-working-part-time-in-retirement-can-be-tricky.html.
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