Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Post-Retirement Job

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Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Post-Retirement Job

If you want to go back to work in retirement, think about how you really want to spend your time. You don’t want to spend your golden years slaving away at a job you dislike. Choose a role that will offer enjoyment and gratification—you’ve earned it! And try not to limit yourself to the jobs that were around when you first entered the workforce. Today, there are endless ways to make money both on and offline, so expand your horizons and try something different! Check out these ideas to find a job that perfectly suits your retirement lifestyle.

Be Your Own Boss

For seniors looking to maximize their independence, freedom, and flexibility, nothing beats remote freelance work. Setting up your own freelance business and working from home, or anywhere else in the world, is easy and incredibly rewarding. You could work as a freelance consultant, marketing specialist, writer, editor, web developer, accountant, virtual assistant, online tutor—the list goes on. Use the skills you developed in your previous career or challenge yourself by learning something new! Finding freelance work isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Thanks to freelance sites like Up-work, freelancers can quickly discover and apply to numerous job opportunities in their industry. Many job boards even have apps, so you can search for work, view job invitations, and chat with clients on the go!

Try a Fun Seasonal Job
Seasonal work is great for seniors who want to spend part of the year traveling, spending time with family, or just basking in the blissful lack of responsibility. Companies and organizations are always looking for seasonal workers. For example, event staff is needed year-round at music festivals, concerts, and major sports events, where you can work as a security guard, usher, ticket taker, or concession stand operator. You might even get to catch some of the events yourself!

Some other seasonal job opportunities include working at garden centers, campgrounds, golf courses, amusement parks, markets, wineries, Halloween events, and ski or beach resorts. Make a point to look for seasonal work before the busy season begins, so you can get ahead of the competition and land your ideal position.

Drive People Around
If you have a clean driving record and you enjoy getting behind the wheel, consider working as a driver. One way to earn money on the road is to join a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft. This can be a fun way to meet people and stay social! You could also become a school bus driver, tour bus driver, chauffeur, or limo driver. Car dealerships and mechanics often hire people to shuttle their customers to and from the office while their cars are being serviced. Alternatively, you can work with a local courier or delivery company to drive packages instead of people.

Work with Animals
If you would rather spend your time around animals, consider working as a pet sitter or dog walker. Pet owners frequently need people to watch their pets while they’re out of town, sometimes even requesting that sitters stay in their homes overnight. Owners that work long hours often hire people to walk their dogs during the day.

Dogster recommends joining a dog-sitting organization to receive training and get help finding work. Animal behavior classes and training courses can help make your job easier. It’s also important to get certified in pet first aid, so you know what to do in an emergency. If you want to be a dog walker, you may not need to go through all this. As long as you are punctual, responsible, and attentive—and you love dogs—you should be good to go!

Getting a job in retirement can be a great opportunity to earn some money and stay active in your golden years. Just make sure your new job doesn’t interfere with your retirement goals. If you want to travel long-term, look for a remote role. If you want to keep your summers free, look for seasonal fall and winter work. Whatever your needs, the right job is out there