How to Land a Retirement Job

How to Land a Retirement Job How to Land a Retirement Job Retirement from a lifelong career doesnt necessarily mean an end to work. Many retirees return to the workforce to pursue a passion,  earn extra money, gain health care benefits, serve their community, or to avoid boredom. In fact, retirement can signify the start of a new career for many workers who arent ready to actually retire. Retirement can provide an opportunity to choose a different path than the first time around. It can also provide extra income and the chance to do the type of work that you wished you could have done during your last career. Types of Retirement Work Options Some of the more common options for retirement employment are  operating a small business, freelance work, hospitality, retail, consulting, teaching, and healthcare. However, dont limit yourself. Rather, before you start a job search, take some time to explore options and decide what it is you would like to do during this phase of your working life. Take a  career test  or two and see what might be a good fit for your skills and interests. Also, consider how much time you want to commit and plan accordingly. Many employers would prefer to hire flexible employees who are willing to work less than full-time hours. If you dont need to work 40 hours a week, it will be easier to land a job. How to Land a Retirement Job To get started, consider reaching out to contacts at your previous employers  if you enjoyed working there prior to your retirement. Explore part-time roles  with less stress or greater appeal that will still tap the knowledge or skills accumulated throughout your career. Or, consider some additional ideas: Make new contacts in person: Utilize your positive image and outgoing personality  by  contacting managers in-person  at local restaurants, hotels, retail establishments, and other employers. Stop by at non-peak times, show respect for gatekeepers, and exude a youthful energy. Use temporary employment agencies: These work well for office and factory jobs.  Temp agencies  are a great way to access seasonal and part-time employment as well as to sample a variety of employers. Plus, temp jobs give you flexibility when you dont want to commit to a full-time position. Mobilize your contacts:  Let them know what type of employment you’re seeking. You may be surprised to learn that one of your contacts or one of their associates could use help from a trusted source. If your connections dont need help, they may know someone who does. Start your own business: If you have entrepreneurial inclinations, explore the viability of starting a small business,  whether it is marketing a favorite craft item, providing a service like installing hardwood floors, or catering parties. Retirees often favor enterprises which require limited capital investment. Consult business people whom you know and services such as  Score  or the  Small Business Administration. Try freelance work: Consulting, writing, design, programming, translating, medical transcribing, and data entry  are common pursuits for many seniors. Utilizing websites that match freelancers to projects can be an effective strategy. Check the Chamber of Commerce:  Many local businesses list jobs on their Chamber of Commerce website. Its a good resource for finding local jobs. Visit online job posting sites:  Use online job search engines  to find relevant listings in your location. In addition to using the general job sites, check those that focus on  jobs for retirees  and older workers. Visit Encore for positions that are geared towards those looking for a passion-related job or second career, and try VolunteerMatch to research a variety of volunteer jobs to find out which ones appeal to you. Also try AARP’s Life Reimagined for Work, which not only pulls relevant job listings from LinkedIn but also offers content specific to boomers along with tools to help career changers and retirees find the right job for them.  Workforce50.com is another site worth visiting because it offers useful search tools, reviews of career books, information on military-to-civilian job transitioning, and more. Working and Social Security If you’re collecting social security and are under full retirement age, earnings from your job can impact your social security benefits. Understand  how working impacts your social security retirement payments. Top Jobs for Retirees Not sure what type of retirement job you’d like to pursue? Here’s a list of potential positions: Accounting clerkActivities staff at a retirement homeAdjunct professorAmericorps volunteerArt gallery assistantAvon, Mary Kay representativeBank tellerBartenderCake/pastry makerClerk at a hardware storeCrossing guardCustomer service representativeDelivery drivereBay resellerEtsy sellerEntertainerEvent plannerFlooring installerFreelance designerFreelance photographerFreelance writerGreeterHome health aideHotel front desk clerkHunting guideIT consultantLandscaperNewspaper delivery personNurses assistant PainterPark guidePet sitterPiano tunerReal estate agentReceptionistResort workerRestaurant workerRetail sales clerkSchool bus driverSecurity guardSki instructorSnow plow operatorSocial work assistantStandardized test proctorTax preparerTeachers aideTennis instructorTravel guideVan/taxi/Uber/Lyft driver