Part-Time and Voluntary Work in Retirement

Part time jobs and volunteering are two popular choices for people in retirement. Not all retirees wish to put their feet up and relax nor do they necessarily simply want to make use of the additional time just to pursue hobbies and pastimes or to go travelling. They may enjoy those kinds of activities but also wish to give their life more purpose. Furthermore, not all people who reach retirement age can afford to live off their savings and pensions alone and part time jobs can offer people an additional income to supplement their savings and pension which can really help with their retirement planning. There are so many different volunteering opportunities and part time jobs for people in retirement these days and some retirees will actually go on and start a brand new career that’s far removed from the job they did when they were younger. It’s all about what you want to do and how to go about achieving your aims.

Types Of Part-Time Work – Self-Employment

If you are considering working for yourself, common types of part time jobs that people in retirement still tend to get involved with might revolve around skills they may already have and hobbies they enjoy. Whether it’s needlework, knitting, furniture restoration, gardening or DIY, many people have set up their own little cottage industries and started new careers in retirement and are working part-time as self-employed. The internet has also opened up doors. Perhaps you’ve previously had work as a secretary and can provide remote typing or bookkeeping assistance to small companies who might not have the resources to employ a full-time member of staff to carry out these roles. Perhaps, you enjoy car boot sales and you’ve an eye for a bargain and can then resell any purchases on an online auction site and make some extra money that way. So, if you like the idea of working for yourself, you should write down all of your skills and personal qualities as well as the things that interest you and see if there’s a gap in the market which you can tap into. The additional income you can make will also help with your financial budgeting and retirement planning.

Types Of Part-Time Work – Staff Employment

Since new anti-discrimination laws were passed in 2006, it’s important that older workers who may have retired aren’t categorised into specific ‘types’ of work that they might do. In fact, employment has been radically transformed because of the new legislation so that people might continue in the jobs they have done for most of their working life, way beyond conventional retirement age. If you are looking at part time jobs, speak to your local JobCentre Plus or visit a number of employment agencies. Because it’s now unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of age, you will have the same chance of gaining employment as anyone else. What about ex work colleagues? Networking will offer you possibly the best chance of finding work if you wish to continue in a part-time capacity within your chosen field. Most people are familiar with the likes of B&Q and Tesco who have long maintained a policy of actively encouraging retired people to work there but, as stated, all companies now need to also take a pro-active approach in their consideration of older applicants when it comes to jobs. However, there are also plenty of online resources which specialise in issues relating to retirees including careers and employment and you may get some useful ideas from these websites. It may be that summer jobs, whether in the UK or even abroad, are something that appeals to you and, once again, there are many specialist online resources which can help you find summer jobs.

Voluntary Work

Sometimes money isn’t the issue and many people who have retired simply want to give something back and to help others less fortunate and voluntary work offers the ideal solution. Many charities and volunteer groups actively encourage retirees to get involved with helping due to their maturity, often a passion for a cause and for their wealth of experience. Charity shops are always on the lookout for staff or perhaps a voluntary organisation can make use of any administration skills you may have. If you drive, maybe you can find work collecting the clothes bags left out for charities or by taking people to the hospital. If you enjoy physical labour and working outdoors, there are countless volunteer projects related to conservation such as dredging rivers, repairing footpaths and restoring old buildings to name just a few. You might care to take an active role within your local community so you might think about volunteering to get involved as a school governor or as a local councillor perhaps. If you’re a good communicator and ‘people person’, helping out with disadvantaged youths or maybe on the phone as a Samaritan might be just the thing for you.

Your local council, local newspaper and library will usually be a good place to start enquiring about voluntary work in your area and there are also plenty of online resources.

Ultimately, whether it’s paid work or voluntary work you’re seeking, once you’ve identified what it is that you’d like to do, you should find that with a bit of effort, you’re able to find the right kind of opportunity to suit you which could form a very important and enjoyable part of your retirement years and in some cases, can even lead to a whole new career.