Want to Get Back to Work? 3 Great Jobs for Seniors

Retired, but want to reenter the workforce? You’re not alone. And good news! You’re never too old to work certain jobs, as long as it’s still safe for you to do so.

There are many reasons why retirees look to reenter the workforce. A major reason may be to further fund their retirement, since many seniors enter this phase of life with little to no savings. Others do it to get out of the house or meet other people, avoiding senior isolation. For many seniors, it’s a combination of all those reasons — finding personal and financial fulfilment in a post-retirement career — as we learned in our interview with retired entrepreneur and salesman, Dick Lewis.

If you’re a retiree who can relate, you’re in luck. There are many jobs out there that are perfect for seniors looking to get back into the workforce!

Substitute Teacher, Tutor, or Teacher’s Aid

If you have experience in education and want to help foster the development of the next generation of students, a substitute teaching job might be perfect for you. Substitute teaching can allow you to help educate students without having to deal with the stress of being a full-time teacher. Instead, you can become an essential backup staff member in the education system, covering for sick or on-break teachers. Another benefit of substitute teaching is that you can have a more flexible schedule, which fits with many retirees’ lifestyles and leaves the summers open for travel.

Substitute teaching can allow you to help educate students without the stress of being a full-time teacher.

Becoming a substitute teacher is easy! Different states have different requirements for substitutes, but generally, you should have a college degree in an academic discipline. Some places prefer that you have teaching experience. You may also have to take a state-specific test or attain a teaching certification. Once you know you’re ready, you can apply for a substitute teaching position with your local school district.

Some people may want to teach, but with a little less pressure. If that sounds like you, you can try private tutoring, which can be done in person or electronically. You could also try becoming a teacher’s assistant or aide.

Real Estate or Insurance Agent

Do you enjoy helping people and have a knack for sales? A second career as a real estate or insurance sales agent may be for you.

For many seniors, becoming a real estate agent is a great way to meet new people, utilize community connections, and earn some extra money. The flexible schedule that goes along with it allows you to still enjoy your retirement without a full-time commitment. Finally, becoming a real estate agent is fairly simple. It usually only requires a license and a few classes.

Being a part-time insurance agent can be the perfect job for seniors looking to utilize their sales and social skills.

Being a retiree and a part-time insurance agent isn’t unheard of. It can be the perfect job for seniors looking to utilize their sales and social skills. In fact, many insurance agents find it so agreeable with a senior lifestyle that they’re choosing to keep selling insurance at an older age than ever before. Seniors (or other people who regularly visit our website) may be especially well-suited to Medicare sales since they may have personal experience with some types of Medicare plans and coverage.

If you’re interested in becoming an insurance sales agent, visiting AgentSurvivalGuide.com is the perfect place to start. The Agent Survival Guide provides the marketing and sales information insurance agents need to know — whether you’re just getting started in the industry or have been selling insurance for years. They have a free, step-by-step guide on becoming an insurance agent, articles on many different subjects (e.g., building your personal brand, product details, compliance rules, etc.), survival kits, and even a podcast!

Driver

Certainly not the last job that’s great for a senior, but the final one we’re going to discuss in this post, is being a professional driver. Many seniors are great drivers and find driving professionally a great way to get out of the house. If you’re still able to drive, this gig could be perfect for you.

For example, driving bus for your city or town can give you regular work, if you’d like that, and has relatively light physical requirements. You could also drive bus for your local school district, dropping kids off each morning and taking them home. Another way to drive professionally while driving a car and traveling is by taking what’s called driveaway jobs. Essentially, it’s when somebody has a car, RV, or vehicle that needs to be shipped a long distance, but they prefer to have somebody drive the vehicle. This can be cheaper for the person who owns the vehicle, and sometimes, lowers the chances of damage upon arrival. Often, the driver will be paid a per hour or per mile rate. The driver may charge other fees as well.

Driving for taxi-alternatives like Uber and Lyft are excellent part-time jobs for seniors.

Any discussion of professional driving would be incomplete without discussing ride-sharing services. Driving for taxi-alternatives like Uber and Lyft are excellent part-time jobs for seniors. Not only can you meet people, get out of the house, and make some money to bolster your retirement savings, you can pick your own schedule, allowing you a great degree of flexibility. Many seniors have already taken to driving for Uber or Lyft, finding it satisfying. Early on, both businesses saw the value at courting retired drivers, with Uber even partnering with AARP to enlist drivers.

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If you find yourself wanting to get out of the house and make a little extra money on the side, any of these jobs could be the perfect way to use your skills. What’s important to remember, though, is that you’re retired! If you don’t like a new job, you can always look for another or maybe even just return to full-time retirement. Otherwise, whether you’re an insurance agent or an Uber driver, a second career may be a great way to keep busy during your golden years!