What Retirees Should Look for in a New Career

Photo via Pixabay by Stevepb

It's an unfortunate reality, but often, our senior populations get overlooked and neglected. When building up communities, we focus on the young-children, young families, and young professionals. But seniors play an essential role in the creation of strong towns, cities, and communities. After all, often they know where we've been, so they'll have a well-educated perspective on what we need to do to improve.

Today, many seniors retire without having enough saved up to live happy, healthy lives. Going back to work as a retiree can be a great way for them to not only become more financially healthy, which helps bolster the local economy, but also for them to become more physically and mentally healthy so that they can contribute to the overall sense of community in their area.

Yes, many people retire and live comfortably off their savings, but some seniors find that they still need an extra income or that they just want to continue working in order to stay active and social. For those individuals, it's important to remember a few things regarding the work force.

For starters, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that now you have the freedom to make your job work for you. Gone are the days when you lived your life around your employment; now, you have the ability to find something to do that makes you happy and adheres to a schedule you create. It can be a part-time job outside the home or self-employment, or it could even just be seasonal work. Whichever works best for you, make sure you remember to stick to it so that you can enjoy the perks of retirement, too.

Because retirees make great employees for local businesses, you'll have the upper hand in some employment situations; not only have you spent years honing your experience and work ethic, you're knowledgeable, as well. It might be a good idea to consider looking for part-time work with your former employer if it was an enjoyable experience; many retirees look for work as a consultant or work remotely from home for their former companies in roles that can't be taken on by full-time employees.

If that doesn't appeal to you, consider finding a job in retail. Most stores offer various positions, from customer service to working in the stockroom, so you'll likely find something that works for you while setting you up with flexible hours. Retail work often requires employees to come in on holidays, however, so keep that in mind and ask during the interview about whether they'll allow you to ask off on certain days.

If you're looking for something a bit more stress-free, put your creativity to work and open up a shop on an online storefront like Etsy, where you can sell handmade items and make big money. Jewelry, clothing, furniture, and houseware items are huge sellers on these sites, where talent and creativity are appreciated.

Speaking of stress-free, libraries and universities are great places to look for work post-retirement. Some colleges hire research assistants for various programs, and you might even decide you want to continue your education. Libraries often need coordinators for programs and events, and it's a chance to work in a quiet environment with little demand.

If you have a special skill, like painting, playing an instrument, or proficiency in a particular study, you might consider tutoring or offering lessons from your home. This is a great way to make extra money on your own terms and stay active and social while putting your skills to good use. Or maybe there is a career you've always been interested in, such as being a real estate agent, but you've never had the time to explore it.

There's no time like the present to make those dreams your retirement reality. After all, retirement is a time to do things that make you happy and make you feel fulfilled.