When you got your first job as a teenager, the allure of extra pocket money was a thrill. Then, somewhere along the line, you realised that you had to do this whole โworkโ thing for the rest of your adult life and it was only the sweet promise of retirement that kept you going.
The funny thing about retirement is, however, itโs not always everything it promised to be. It might be that you have too much life on the other side of retirement and youโre starting to feel the pinch, or maybe you miss that buzz from being busy and always on the go.
Whatever it is, an increasing amount of Australians are looking for part time jobs as retirees. We spoke to career coach Simon Bennett to hear about what to look out for as a retired worker.
Consider your lifestyle
Before you start your job search, Simon says itโs important to take โจa step back and think about what type of lifestyle you want.
Create a budget for all the things youโd like to do and then work out how much money youโll need to maintain it โ is it achievable or is there a shortfall?
โDoing this will give you some insight into the type of work โ and how much of it โ youโll need to do โจto achieve your goals,โ Simon says.
Start with โจwhat you know
If you already have a skill and enjoy using it, Simon recommends taking โจfull advantage of it. โIt doesnโt matter what it is, thereโs probably a market โจfor it somewhere,โ he says.
Suzanne used to work as a journalist before moving into public relations, โจso she had public speaking experience. โI wanted to find a job where I could combine my skills,โ she says.
โRetirement is meant to be the best years of your life, so it was important โจI did something I enjoyed but was also comfortable with.โ
It wasnโt until she performed the eulogy at her dadโs funeral that Suzanne realised she wanted to become a funeral celebrant. โItโs not that I overly enjoyed the job as such but rather it gave me โจa sense of satisfaction,โ she explains.
โThe combination of my skills โจin journalism and presenting means โจit doesnโt feel like a job. Plus it gives โจme an opportunity to meet new people.โ
Find your โจsecond career
Retirement is the perfect opportunity to try something new โ especially if you have a burgeoning passion. Whether itโs baking cookies on the weekend, playing a musical instrument or making your own clothes, turn that hobby into a little money-spinner.
โWhile itโs never going to replace โจa full-time income, if youโre excited about your hobby you can make some decent money from it,โ Simon reveals.
Suzanne adds itโs about looking at your past career and what you like, and finding out how these aspects can be applied to a new job.
โIf youโre doing something you love and youโre willing to persevere at it then everything else seems to fall into place,โ she says.
Network โจwith everyone
Ease your way into your job search by starting with contacts you already have.
โA lot of people tend to target large chain employers such as Bunnings and Woolies and, while thatโs fine, everyone else is applying there. So it makes โจit difficult to stand out from the โจcrowd,โ Simon explains.
Itโs better to look around your local neighbourhood and target smaller businesses because they donโt have hundreds of people applying for the same position.
โIf itโs a small family retail business and you know the owners, youโre already halfway there,โ he says.
Lollipop Lady
The interaction with chirpy, energetic children along with the fresh air makes this job a great choice for retirees.
โItโs nice to work outside, especially if youโve spent the past 35 years in an office,โ Simon says.
The appreciation from families can also bring about a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, knowing theyโre grateful for your presence.
What it pays: $25 per hour.
Bookkeeper
If youโve got admin skills from a previous career, put them to good use by taking on clerical work. โSkills and experience from your work history are valuable and transferable,โ Simon says.
It will help you stand out and slip straight into your new role. It also keeps your mind active while you earn extra money to put towards something nice.
What it pays: $27 per hour.
Walking Postie
Combine the outdoors with exercise and serve the community at the same time.
โItโs incidental exercise, which is great for the body and mind. It can also be quite social,โ Simon explains.
It gets you out of the house and itโs a wonderful way to meet fellow retirees.
What it pays: $22 per hour.