If you’re looking for an opportunity to top up your pension, stay active in your community, or learn some new skills, then a part-time role could be for you.
Perhaps you’ve previously struggled to find a healthy work-life balance and have set aside personal passions and interests in favour of job stability, earnings, and progression. Or maybe you’ve already retired but 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 by starting a new part-time career.
With this in mind, we’ve pulled together a list of 15 popular part-time jobs for the over 50s that’ll hopefully inspire you.
1. Tutoring
Tutoring a child or young person can be incredibly rewarding way to give back to the community, and usually has a great hourly rate too.
Private tutors typically earn between £20 and £40 per hour and get the chance to watch their students 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 might hold relevant qualifications on a topic that you want to teach – or perhaps you’ve built up substantial knowledge in a particular subject area through other means.
The number of hours you choose to work is completely up to you. The role is fully flexible, so 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 Superprof.
Interested in gaining a qualification to help you become a tutor?
Want to sign up as a tutor today?
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 that involves carrying out tasks such as cooking and homework help. You’ll also have a close relationship with the parents – providing them with updates on their children’s activities.
To work in childcare, you don’t need formal qualifications but you’re usually required to have a clean Ofsted DBS certificate and a full UK driving licence.
Then, when it comes to getting work, 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.
Looking to get a childcare qualification?
Apply for childcare roles nationwide...
3. Driving
If you’re interested in the freedom and flexibility that a role out on the road could give you, 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 parcel delivery service, Yodel – 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 and food delivery to working in patient transport. If this sounds like your cup of tea and you’re interested in exploring a career behind the wheel, you might like to read our guide to some of the top driving roles.
All you typically need is to be a safe and confident driver with a full UK driving licence. Sometimes you might need your own vehicle, but there are also companies that can supply one for you. If this sparks your interest, why not take a look today? You could be earning behind the wheel in no time.
What kind of driving role would you be interested in?
Find and apply for a driving role today...
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, chances are there are dogs that need walking, so this is your opportunity to get out and about in your local community. And as a Dog Walker, you can also choose the hours that suit you.
There are several ways you can go about dog walking. You might be able to build up a client base in your neighbourhood through word of mouth, advertising in your local vet’s office, or leaflet dropping.
If you don’t want to worry about having to find your own clients, you could also look for a part-time role with a local dog-walking service or even head online and find dogs that need walking nearby through services like Tailster.
Fancy getting started as a dog walker on Tailster?
Get more job ideas and inspiration...
5. Consulting
Consultancy is a fantastic part-time role for retired professionals who’ve spent many years in a corporate environment building up extensive knowledge and experience.
As a part-time consultant, you’ll 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 do it for them. You might be surprised at just how valuable your skills could be to others.
Some businesses will hire part-time consultants directly or you may decide to go freelance by advertising your services online, so that individuals can approach you when they need you.
For freelance opportunities, try starting with websites like Guru and Upwork to build up a client base.
Want to begin your journey as a consultant?
6. Hair and beauty
Roles in the hair and beauty industry are ideal for those who love to connect with new people, and enjoy making others look and feel great.
Depending on what your interests are, you could choose to be anything from a make-up artist or a nail technician to 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.
Want to jump straight into a hair and beauty role?
Or, maybe you’d like to find out more….
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, you could consider asking your boss whether you could cut down your hours.
Before you approach your employer, it’s best to check your company’s handbook (or perhaps your employment contract). Here, you’ll be able to find their policy on things like part-time and/or flexible hours, telecommuting, and job sharing. This will allow you to 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’d 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?
Another thing to think about is 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; for example, if you can work on the company’s busiest days.
If your boss isn’t sure about the idea, you could always suggest testing the arrangement for one month to see if it works for both sides. Chances are, if you’re a valued member of the team who works hard, your boss will try their best to work with you to reach an agreement.
Want more tips on how to balance life with work?
8. Fitness instructor or personal trainer
If you’re fit, healthy, and exercise regularly, there’s no reason why you can’t train to become a fitness instructor and start teaching classes yourself.
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 help people become specialist fitness instructors for older adults.
It’s also never too late to become a personal trainer, where you can help 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.
Become a class instructor with Move it or Lose it...
Or find out more about personal training...
9. Rent out your home
A clever way to cut down your working hours while 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 that 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 while they’re travelling. Holiday periods, such as Christmas and summer, can be a particularly good time because this is when people are most likely to be looking for somewhere to stay.
Companies like Airbnb are great for allowing you to list your property as available and find people who’d like to pay to use it.
Note: While this is a great way to earn money, and meet new people, you should always make sure you know exactly who you’re letting into your home to avoid any issues.
Start making money by renting your home...
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-make items to sell at marketplaces or online on websites such as Etsy. This could allow you to practise and develop your skills whilst earning.
Becoming a small business owner isn’t a fast-track to a large sum of money, but it’s a chance to take control of your professional life and reignite old passions.
Today, more than ever, there’s a lot of support available in the UK for those who want to start their own business.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can start by reading our complete guide to self-employment or checking out our lists of business ideas below – and remember, fortune favours the brave!
Explore self-employment ideas...
11. Travel agent or advisor
Travel agents help people find, plan, and book their dream adventures. Some people have been saving and planning trips for months or years, so it can be rewarding to help 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’ll learn a lot about other countries and cultures as you’ll act as a knowledge base for customers by providing them with information about countries they want to visit. Plus, there can be opportunities to work and train abroad.
Travel companies such as TUI regularly look for travel agents and advisors and you can set up notifications to alert you about new jobs in your local area.
Start a career as a travel agent...
12. Freelance work
Opportunities to work on a freelance basis are wide-ranging, especially now that it’s so easy for people to share their skills with others online. One of the main perks is that you can take on as many or as few freelance projects as you want to.
From blogging and photography to graphic design and artwork, 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, it’s best to first make a list of your skills and interests. You might 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, it’s best to get as much practise in this area first. You can do this 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. This can help them to 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’ll start to gain new clients through word of mouth.
Want to develop your skills to get hired as a freelancer?
Advertise your freelancer services today
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.
As an administrative assistant, you’ll often get to meet many interesting people and there can be great satisfaction in knowing that you’re helping a company to run efficiently.
The breadth of opportunity is also wide and varied – with many Administrative Assistant roles now handling HR functions and managing budgets. In this job, you’ll learn a broad range of skills and it’s likely that your role will vary from day to day.
If you’re someone who loves being organised and is happy to play a supporting role, then why not start searching for admin jobs today?
Ready to find an admin job?
14. Retail
A part-time role in retail is about far more than simply replenishing empty shelves or organising clothes by size. It’s also 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 get 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. But if you’re looking for some inspiration, you could consider applying for a role at Southern Co-op.
From Bristol to Berkshire and Sussex to Somerset, Southern Co-op has over 200 convenience stores across the South of England, and they’re always looking for enthusiastic people to join their team. So if you think a role in retail might be right for you, why not search Southern Co-op vacancies on our website?
Looking for a job in retail?
Based in the South of England? Southern Co-op is hiring on Rest Less now…
15. Film and TV extra
Working as an extra for film and/or TV is an interesting and varied role that’ll allow you to see what goes on behind the production lines.
You’ll 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’ll get to learn about how film sets are run and meet people from all walks of life. You don’t need to look like a model for this role as 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.
Final thoughts...
Finding a part-time role that suits you may involve a bit of trial and error. But this stage of life can be a great time to try something different and take on new and exciting challenges.
If the right role doesn’t come along straight away, don’t give up. Sometimes it can take a bit of trial and error to find the one that’s right for you.
If you’re looking for a new full-time career, you might like to have a read of our article; 10 career change ideas for over 50s. Or why not browse some of our career guides for even more inspiration?