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If you’re looking for an opportunity to top up your pension, stay active in your community, or learn some new skills, 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 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 over-50s that’ll hopefully inspire you.
1. Tutoring
Tutoring a child or young person can be an incredibly rewarding way to give back to the community, and it 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 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.
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 child’s home) whilst their parents work, or on evenings and weekends.
This is a caring and supportive role that involves tasks like playing, cooking, and providing homework help. You’ll also forge a close relationship with parents, providing updates on their children’s activities.
To work in childcare, you don’t need formal qualifications, but a clean Ofsted DBS certificate and a full UK driving licence are usually required.
When it comes to finding 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 you and the family. Or browse the part-time childcare roles available on our website using the button below.
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 becoming a driver.
Many driving opportunities will allow you to work on a self-employed basis – for example, working for Uber or Driive Me – meaning that you can work to your own schedule and take on as little or as much work as you’d like.
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’ll typically need is to be a safe and confident driver with a full UK driving licence. Sometimes, you may need your own vehicle, but some companies can supply one for you.
If this sparks your interest, why not take a look? You could be earning behind the wheel in no time.
4. Dog Walking
Dog walking is the perfect part-time job for people looking to get outdoors with a furry companion.
Wherever you live, there’ll be 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 hours that suit you.
Plus, dog walking is a great form of exercise and can bring many health benefits, both physical and mental. So you’ll be boosting your overall well-being as well as your finances.
There are several ways you can go about finding dog walking work. You might be able to build up a client base in your neighbourhood through word of mouth, by advertising in your local vet’s office, or via 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 head online and find work nearby through services like Tailster.
Get more job ideas and inspiration...
5. Consultancy
Consultancy is a fantastic part-time role for retired professionals who’ve spent many years building up extensive knowledge and experience in a corporate environment.
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.
6. Hair and beauty
Roles in the hair and beauty industry are ideal for those who love connecting with new people and making them 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 on, 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.
You can find hair and beauty salons near you on the My Local Salon website.
Like to learn 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 can find their policy on things like part-time and/or flexible hours, remote work, 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. 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 a trial period 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 balancing 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.
You might want to teach a high-intensity aerobics class or something more gentle, like yoga. You can usually take on as many classes as you wish each week, 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.
For inspiration, take a look at personal trainer Jacqueline’s story, or check out our career change guide below.
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 always looking for new houses to film in and will pay you to do so. It can be very fun seeing your house pop up on your favourite TV show! Find out more about how to rent your space out for filming in this guide from Money Magpie.
If you have a spare room in your house, you could also consider renting it out. For example, this can be on a more permanent basis or as a short-term let while people are travelling. Holiday periods, such as Christmas and summer, can be a particularly good time for this. Companies like Airbnb allow you to list your property 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.
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 turn it into a small business or side hustle?
For example, if you’re skilled in arts and crafts, you could hand-make items to sell at marketplaces or 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 route to a large sum of money, but it’s a chance to take control of your professional life and reignite old passions. And today, more than ever, there’s lots of support available for those who want to start their own business.
If you’re interested in learning more, you may like to read our complete guide to self-employment or check 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 dreams into reality.
There can also be additional perks attached to the job, such as travel discounts, 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 like 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 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 like Upwork or Freelancer.
Or, if you fancy going freelance in something new, it’s best to get as much practise as you can in this area first. You can do this either on your own or by upskilling and taking a course, which can really help boost your skills and increase your chances of getting hired.
It’s also a good idea (where appropriate) to build a portfolio to help potential clients get an idea of the quality and style of your work. For writing portfolios, platforms like Medium can be useful, and to showcase design work, check out Behance.
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.
13. Admin
Administrative assistants can apply for roles pretty much anywhere because all companies of a certain size will have administrative tasks that need doing.
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 run efficiently.
The breadth of opportunity is also wide, with many administrative assistant roles now handling HR functions and managing budgets. In this job, you’ll learn a broad range of skills, and your role will likely vary from day to day.
If you’re someone who loves being organised and is happy to play a supporting role, 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 can help 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 out there, it’s up to you to choose something that takes your fancy – whether it be working with food, clothing, furniture, or something else. If you’re looking for some inspiration, why not browse the roles currently available on our website?
Looking for a job in retail?
15. Become an extra for film and TV
Working as an extra for film 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 the background of film and/or TV shots. Maybe you’ll be a patient at Holby City or a 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.
Casting agencies such as Extra People and Phoenix Casting 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 to 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 experimentation to find the one that’s right for you.
To start looking for the perfect part-time job, you can search and apply for job roles using the button below.
Or, why not browse some of our career guides for even more inspiration? Alternatively, if you’re looking for a new full-time career, you might like to have a read of our article: 14 career change ideas for the over 50s.
Do you work in a part-time role? Or are you looking for one? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.
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