Retirement Work: 8 Popular Jobs For Retirees

There are many popular jobs for retirement work but before you start on your career or job search in retirement, there are many questions you will want to ask yourself, including:

• Why do you want to find retirement work?
• How much money do you need to earn?
• What do you enjoy enough to spend your time on?
• How much time do you have to spend on a job?
• How much flexibility do you need?
• Have you thought about working for yourself?
• What hours would you like to work?
• What kind of activities can you comfortably do?

The most popular retirement work jobs include staying in your previous job, to pursuing something totally different.

There are numerous possibilities for older workers when it comes to finding employment. Many older employees wrongly assume that they will be passed over in favour of younger employees but this is not the case nowadays as employers realise the value of older workers and look favourably on them due to their reliability, skills, and the fact that they take less sick time than younger employees.

There are also government schemes specifically designed to help older people find retirement work employment and these schemes are designed to help older people who are finding it difficult to obtain employment or finding employment that pays a decent wage. Job-sharing is also an excellent way of working part-time or working to more flexible hours; you can always ask your employer if they would consider flexible hours.

So, what exactly are these retirees doing to earn some extra income? Here are my top eight popular retirement work jobs.

1. Become A Consultant

If you were highly skilled or an expert in your field during your working years, why not become a consultant and sell that expertise back to your previous organization, or even other organizations, after you retire? Your hard-earned skills and knowledge are highly marketable and rather than lose your expertise, your employer may be amenable to this arrangement. Even as, say a senior police officer, you might be in a position to arrange seminars and training in 'personal safety' or act as a security advisor. Had you been in sales, perhaps selling something you are personally interested in, maybe online, could be a satisfactory earner for you. (See retirement work option #3 below)

2. Start A Gardening Business

Gardening in the UK is a £5bn a year industry. Thanks to social-economic changes such as an increase in home ownership, higher disposable incomes and an ageing population, it is a huge and growing market. And surely with the recession biting, people will be attracted to simpler and cheaper pursuits like gardening.

I checked Amazon and did some research. There really is very little information on how serious hobbyists could start their own horticultural business as retirement work. The marketing proposition put together by Richard Allen at www.your-career-change.com/gardening.html is extremely well put together, but without any of the usual hype. It’s honest, straightforward and clearly states what’s on offer. Richard has been growing and selling plants very successfully in his family run business for over 20 years, he has all the credentials and definitely knows what he’s talking about.

3. Infopreneur

This is a new type of job and is rapidly becoming one of the most popular retirement work jobs that describes a person who sells information; usually via a website on the internet. This word itself is derived from 'information' and 'entrepreneur' and is essentially an entrepreneur who makes money by selling information or information products on the Internet.

This new field allows individuals to use the internet and create businesses that provide information being sought after by specific groups of interested people - usually defined as a niche. More information about getting started at My Help Hub.

4. Starting your own CV Writing Business

Starting your own CV writing business is a home based enterprise that you can easily start for next to nothing that can grow into a full time enterprise in a very short time. What makes it particularly interesting is that you don't need any special experience, knowledge or education to become a home based CV writer, but if you have some knowledge of how a good CV should look, you can build a very profitable business. More information about getting started at CV Writing Business.

People who can make a success of this type of enterprise are those who are adept with words, have some knowledge of what different jobs entail and preferably have some experience in business to create a confident approach for your clients.

5. Temporary Jobs

An increasing number of unemployed people including many in retirement, are signing on with temp. agencies. As the name suggests, temp agencies provide temporary positions that can pay you a reasonable rate for your - usually - office based skills.

These agencies find workers to temporarily fill the demand for employees at peak workload times or to cover for full time staff who who are on leave. Some of these temp jobs can lead to full-time positions.

6. Tour Guide

Many retirees find positions as a guide at the local museum, historical monument or sight-seeing tour. These part-time tour guide positions give seniors an opportunity to share their knowledge and socialize with interesting tourists from around the world. So if you enjoy history you might want to check out your local library or museums to find out if they have any tour guide openings. This is not only a great way to make money but it’s also a great chance to talk to people about your area of expertise. You can teach your visitors as well as learn from them. The National Trust in the UK are always interested in volunteers.

7. Dog Trainer

Becoming a dog trainer and learning about training along with the process of teaching dogs to perform certain actions in response to certain commands, is in demand as more people are seeking to simplify their lives and do something they enjoy rather than something they have to do. As such, these training skills which teach dogs to behave are very much in demand and there is the basis of a good career option for people who like and understand dogs.

You can get more information about getting started as a dog trainer at www.your-career-change.com/dog-trainer.html.

8. Stay where you are

Employers now recognise that many older workers can continue to contribute effectively and do not wish to retire. Talk to your employer about how you could stay where you are maybe working on a more flexible or reduced hours basis.

The most popular retirement work jobs allow people to stay in their previous jobs, possibly on a more suitable and flexible basis because older workers are loyal and committed. Employers are beginning to realise the value of older workers and look favourably on them due to their reliability, skills, and the fact that they may be less demanding in terms of remuneration can make the arrangement mutually beneficial.

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