If you’re looking for an opportunity to top up your pension, stay active in the community or simply learn some new skills, then a part-time role could be for you. During your earlier career, you may have struggled to find a work-life balance, setting aside passions and interests in favour of job stability, earnings and progression.
Or perhaps you’ve already retired, and miss the sense of purpose that comes from being at work.
Whatever the reason, more and more people in their 50s, 60s and beyond are finding fulfilment from starting a new part-time career. We’ve pulled together a list of 15 popular part-time jobs for the over 50s to get you started.
1. Tutoring
Tutoring a child or young person is an extremely rewarding way to give back to the community and usually has a great hourly rate.
Private tutors typically earn between £20 and £40 per hour and get the chance to watch their student grow and progress with
each tutoring session.
There are opportunities to tutor individuals in most subjects, so you can choose your area and level of expertise. You may hold relevant qualifications in this area or you may have built up substantial knowledge in a particular subject area through other means.
The number of hours you choose to work are completely up to you. The role is fully flexible and you can take on as little or as much work as you like. You can find everything you need to get started by visiting companies such as Tutorful and Tutorfair.
2. Childcare
If you enjoy being around children and don’t mind working flexible hours, this could be the role for you. You could look after
children for a couple of days a week (either in your own home or in the children’s home) whilst their parents work, or on
occasional evenings and weekends.
This is a caring and supportive role where you will carry out tasks such as cooking and homework help. You will also have a close
role with the parents – providing them with updates on their kids’ activities.
For this role you don’t require formal qualifications but are usually required to have a clean Ofsted DBS certificate and a full UK driving licence. Websites such as Childcare.co.uk allow you to advertise yourself as a childminder or babysitter, so that local families can get in touch. Hours and pay are usually negotiated between yourself and the family.
For those who live in London, Koru Kids – a London-based childcare service that takes on Nannies of all ages, with the aim of training them up (including First Aid) and placing them with a suitable family.
3. Driving
If you’re interested in the freedom and flexibility that a role out on the open road could give you then it could be worth applying
for a job as a driver. Many driving opportunities will allow you to work on a self-employed basis – for example, taxi company Uber
or food delivery company Just Eat – meaning that you can work to your own schedule and take on as little or as much work as
you need.
You may also be surprised at the range of different roles available, from taxi driving, to food delivery through to working
in patient transport. If this sounds like your cup of tea and you’re interested in exploring a career behind the wheel then you could try reading our recent guide to the top 8 driving roles.
All you typically need is to be a safe and confident driver, with a full UK driving licence. You may sometimes need your own vehicle, but some companies are willing to supply one for you. So why not take a look today and you could be earning behind the wheel in no time.
4. Dog Walking
Dog walking is the perfect part time job for people looking to get outdoors in the company of one or more furry companions.
Wherever you live, the chances are there are dogs that need walking, so this is your opportunity to get out and about in your local community. You can also choose the hours that suit you.
There are several ways you can go about dog walking. You may be able to build up a client base in your neighbourhood through word of mouth, advertising in your local vet or leaflet dropping.
If you don’t want to worry about having to find your own clients, you may also be able to get a part-time role with a local dog walking service or even head online and find dogs that need walking nearby through a website like Tailster.
5. Consulting
This is a fantastic part-time career role for retired professionals who have spent many years in a corporate environment building
up extensive knowledge and experience.
As a part-time consultant, you will simply exchange your knowledge for money. It’s great for businesses as you can give them access to specialist knowledge and advice without them having to take on an expensive full time employee. For example, a local company or an individual might need help updating their website every few months and will happily pay you to update it for them. You might well be surprised at how valuable your skills are to others.
Some businesses will hire part-time consultants directly, or you may decide to freelance by advertising your services online, so that individuals can approach you when they need you. For freelance opportunities, try starting with sites like Guru and Upwork to build up a client base.
6. Hair and Beauty
Roles within the hair and beauty industry are ideal for people who love to meet and socialise with new people, and who enjoy
making others look and feel great – giving them the confidence boost that they need.
Depending on what your interests are you could choose to be anything from a make-up artist to a nail technician, through to
becoming a hairdresser. You’ll need to build up some expertise in whatever area you decide to work in, so most people either take a course and set themselves up on a self-employed basis, or apply for a job as a trainee employee at a hair or beauty salon.
7. Transition from full-time to part-time hours in your current role
If you’re enjoying your current full-time job – but are keen to find more time for life around it – then you could try asking your boss whether you could cut down your hours. Before you approach your boss, it’s best to check your company’s handbook (or
perhaps your employment contract) to find out what their policy is on things like part-time and/or flexible hours, telecommuting and job sharing to first assess your options and consider how you might feel if your boss offered you an alternative or a compromise instead.
It’s also a good idea to plan a proposal for how the company could manage on the days you would be off work if you were to cut down your hours.
For example, would someone else need to be hired part-time to share your role, or are the team happy to split the extra work between them? It also helps if you can come up with an idea of which days you’d like to take off – and your boss is likely to be much more accommodating if you can be flexible about this i.e. if you can come into work on the company’s busiest days.
If your boss isn’t sure about the idea, then you could always propose that you trial the idea for one month to see if the arrangement works for both of you. Chances are, if you’re a valued member of the team who works hard, that your boss will try their best to work with you to reach an agreement.
8. Fitness Instructor or Personal Trainer
If you’re fit and healthy and exercise regularly, there’s no reason why you can’t train to become a fitness instructor and start
teaching classes yourself. Exercise is for people of all ages and will help keep you fit and active throughout retirement. You might want to teach a high-intensity aerobics class, or something more gentle and relaxed, like yoga. You can usually take on as many classes as you wish on a weekly basis, giving you complete control over your hours.
Companies like Move it or Lose it offer full training to become a specialist fitness instructor for older adults. It’s also never too late to become a personal trainer, helping people work out on a one-to-one basis. More and more people in their 50s and 60s are retraining and studying for fitness qualifications to take up this role.
9. Rent out your home
A clever way to cut down your working hours, whilst still making enough money to make ends meet is to rent out your home on a
short-term basis (whilst you’re still living in it). There are plenty of film and television companies who are always looking for new houses to film in and will pay to do so. And it can be fun seeing your house pop up on your favourite tv show!
If you have any spare room in your house, you could also consider renting it out to people for short-lets, whilst they are travelling – especially over the holiday periods such as Christmas and summer, as this is when people are most likely to be looking for somewhere to stay. Companies such as Airbnb are great for allowing you to list your property as available and find people who would like to pay to use it.
Whilst this is an interesting way to earn money, and it can be fun meeting new people, you should always make sure you know exactly who you are letting into your home – safety first!
10. Small Business Owner
If you’ve got a hobby or skill that has the potential to earn you some money, why not take the leap and give it a go?
For example, if you’re skilled in arts and crafts, you could hand craft items to sell at marketplaces or online. This could allow you to practice and develop your skills whilst earning. Becoming a small business owner is not a fast track to a large sum of money, but it’s a chance to take control of your retirement and reignite old passions.
Today, more than ever, there is a lot of support available in the UK for those who want to start their own business. If you are interested in learning more, you can start by reading the Government’s website ‘Expert advice on starting a business’ and remember, fortune favours the brave.
11. Travel Agent / Advisor
Travel agents help people find, plan and book dream adventures. Some people have been saving and planning trips for months or
even years, so it can be rewarding seeing their excitement as you turn their plans into actions. There can also be additional perks attached to the job, such as discounts on travel, upgrades and free trips. You will learn a lot about other countries and cultures as you will act as a knowledge base for customers, providing them with information about countries they want to visit. There are also opportunities to work and train abroad.
Large travel companies like TUI regularly look for Travel Agents and Advisors and you can set up notifications to let you know about new jobs in your local area.
12. Freelance Work
Opportunities to work on a freelance basis are wide-ranging, especially now that it is so easy for people to share their skills with others online – and one of the perks is that you can take on as many or as little freelance projects as you want to. From blogging to photography, through to graphic design – there’s always someone out there who needs help with something and is willing to pay someone for it!
If you’re not sure what sort of freelance work you’d like to take on, then it’s best to first make a list of your skills and interests You may already be skilled or experienced in things that have freelance potential, which should allow you to start bidding on
freelance projects on websites such as Upwork or Freelancer.
Or, if you fancy going freelance in something new, then it’s best to get as much practice in this area first either on your own or by upskilling and taking a course – which can really help to develop your skills and increase the chances of a client hiring you.
It’s also a good idea, where appropriate, to build a writing portfolio (such as on Medium) or design portfolio (such as on Behance) to show to clients, so that they can get an idea about the quality and style of your work. Usually, once you’ve got your first few clients, you can ask for references and recommendations – and you will start to gain new clients through word of mouth.
13. Admin
Administrative assistants can apply for roles pretty much anywhere as all companies of a certain size will have admin that needs to be done. You get to meet many interesting people and there can be great satisfaction from knowing that you are helping the company run efficiently.
The breadth of opportunity is also wide and varied with many administrative assistant roles now handling HR functions and managing budgets. You will learn a broad range of skills, and it’s likely your role will vary day to day. If you’re someone who loves being organised and are happy to play a supporting role, then why not start searching for admin jobs today?
14. Retail
A part-time role in retail is about far more than simply replenishing empty shelves or organising clothes by size, it’s a
chance to build strong connections with people in your community. A customer facing role in your local high street helps you keep active, make new friends and find satisfaction in providing excellent customer service. You can also enjoy the perks of a staff discount and getting first dibs on popular items that sell out quickly. With a wide range of both roles and retailers, it’s up to you to choose something that takes your fancy, whether it be food, clothing, furniture or something else.
15. Film and TV Extra
Working as an extra for film and/or tv is an interesting and varied role that will allow you to see what goes on behind the production
lines. You will be paid to simply be an extra body in film and/or tv shots. Maybe you’ll be a patient in the background at Holby City, or a random pedestrian strolling along Coronation Street.
You will get to learn about how film sets are run, as well as getting to meet with people from all walks of life. You don’t need to look like a model for this role – casting agencies accept people of all ages and backgrounds to reflect real life communities. Want to get on the telly?
Casting agencies such as Extra People, Phoenix Casting and Mad Dog 2020 recruit extras around the country.
Don’t forget
Finding a part-time role that suits you may involve a bit of trial and error. This stage of life can be a great time to try something different and take on new and exciting challenges. If you don’t find the right role straight away, don’t give up – there’s something out there for everyone!
(Article source: Rest Less)
