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Best jobs for seniors
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Fewer people than ever are retiring from their lifelong jobs and relaxing at home all the time. The “semi-retirement” craze is happening because many seniors are eligible to retire when they still have plenty of work left in them. And let’s face it. Some of you could use the extra cash, too. So here you go. Here are the 7 best jobs for seniors.
They range from retail to proofreading and use a variety of skills. Some involve using technology and others are more customer-service oriented. All of them are jobs you can learn to do well, however. So have a look and see what fits your lifestyle.
Veterinary Assistant
Many seniors love working with animals. Popular science holds that being around animals is good for one’s health, and working at a vet’s office is a great way to maximize time with fun-loving animals without the long-term commitment of sharing your home with a four-legged companion. Veterinary assistants do everything from feeding cats to walking dogs. Dog kennels and pet daycares are other places to find similar work.
School Aide or Substitute
Being a substitute at school or becoming an aide if you want full-time work provides a wonderful way to connect with children. Aides have some educational requirements, though many non-classroom aides, such as those in cafeterias and offices, do not require any college-level work. Check with the board of education in your area and the offices of private schools to see what’s available.
Retail Greeter
Retail giant Wal-Mart is known for their innovative program putting elderly people at the front of stores. Do you know why? They believed that these greeters would bring warmth to the store and that it could cut down on thefts. It turns out that seniors like this gig, too, because it doesn’t have stringent physical requirements and gives them a social outlet. Many department stores, grocery stores, and mass merchandisers now use greeters at their entrances.
Non-Profit Worker
Working for non-profit organizations allows you to give of yourself immensely. The work you’re doing will benefit society, and there’s a lot of “feel good” benefit from that kind of work. The only common complaint about nonprofit work is that the pay is fairly low for someone with a family at home. If you’re a senior without significant financial needs, though, you could do this work, feel great about it, and be happy with the pay. Nonprofit organizations tend to be very flexible and open, too, so a part-time schedule often works.
Telephone Service Personnel
Many companies now hire people to answer calls from home. For these jobs, you usually need some clerical experience – basically the ability to type well – and high-speed internet. You also want to have a headset to block out any noise and be good with customers. The companies who hire people for this kind of work have you sign up in shifts weekly, so this job works with whatever else is going on in your life.
Mother’s Helper
Many moms now do some sort of work from home job or business, and many families use swing shifts to keep their children out of daycare. Still a number of them have a few hours a week they need covered. Hiring yourself out as a mother’s helper lets you be Grandma or Grandpa to a child in your neighborhood. The job is pretty much like being a grandparent. You read to the kids, play with them, feed them a snack, and generally keep them safe until their parents arrive home.
Bookstore Clerk
Do you love books? Do you like to talk to people about books? Apply for a job in a bookstore. Because bookstores employ largely college students, they tend to have day-shift hours open. Bookstore clerks stock shelves, make recommendations to customers, and check them out. You’ll enjoy this opportunity to talk to others about your passion.
