Nextwave Finance

Finding Work During Retirement Years

September 20th, 2008 | by admin |

If you have money in the stock market or a 401(K) plan or other investments, you’re probably worried about the long term effects of the stock market and credit crisis on your retirement funds. If you’re close to retirement age, you’re probably more than worried. You’re probably wondering with your account taking such a hit, will you be able to retire at all. Well, more and more retirees are finding they have to work during their retirement years to make ends meet. The good news is, there are more employers hiring 65+ workers than ever before, so it may not be as hard as you think finding work during retirement years.

Part-Time Work

If you’re like most retirees, you’ve worked long and hard your entire lives, and the last thing you want to do is continue working full-time. Luckily, there are many different avenues open to retirees who’d like part-time work. From Wal-Mart to fast food chains, most of the hiring they do is part-time, and they welcome retirees, because they are more reliable, have a good work ethic, and usually enjoy their work. If you don’t want to work with the public, there are still stocking, janitorial, security, and other positions where you can work behind the scenes.

If you’d rather work seasonally, look for jobs with your local parks and recreation department or hospitality industry. Many of these jobs are part- or full-time for a season, but not the entire year. You can work in a park during the summer, then take the winter off to relax. If there are state or national parks near your home, check out the seasonal opportunities there, too.

The hospitality industry often hires people during the tourist season, and lays them off when the season is over. This is a perfect opportunity for retirees to get a job when they want it. There are plenty of part-time opportunities, from working in a gift shop, restaurant, or hotel, to working as a janitor, maid, secretary, or just about any job you can imagine.

Full-Time Work

If you retire from a business or industry where you’ve worked your entire life, ask if they might have a full-time position for you in another capacity, or check with another type of business or industry where your skills match. Lots of retirees find work in an area they have experience in, just in a different capacity, and some even start new careers in a field they’ve always wanted to explore. Work full-time for a few years to develop your new skills and build up your savings, and then go part-time so you can enjoy some retirement time, too.

Start Your Own Business

Do you have a passion or an interest you’ve never had time to explore? Many retirees take a hobby and turn it into a business after they retire. Do you love to garden? Start a garden consulting service where you tell homeowners how to plant and grow a garden. For a higher fee, maintain the garden yourself. Are you a knitter or sewer? Start selling what you make at local craft fairs or boutiques, and get paid for what you love to do. Do you love photography or writing? Start a freelance business to sell your work and work out of your home, doing something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time to really enjoy, before you retired.

Sell on Online Auctions

If you don’t mind a small investment in time and money, start selling items online at auction sites. First, it’s a great way to clear your home out of years of clutter, but it can be profitable, too. You’ll need a computer and a digital camera, and an understanding of how online auctions work, but once you master the basics, you can sell items online and reap the rewards. Some people scour garage sales and auctions to find items to sell, while others buy them wholesale or create their own handcrafted items. Either way, if you have a steady supply of items to sell, you can make quite a decent living by selling your items online.