Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.
It’s no secret that a lot of people are unprepared for retirement. If you’re staring at an empty retirement savings account, you’re not alone.
According to a recent survey, 37{1652eb1ffa4184925f6a63a9c04ea6b421acb7a78117241e7d4325cdca8339fa} of retirees report having nothing saved for retirement. At this point, you’re likely looking for a way to supplement your Social Security income, which is where flexible work plays a key role.
Flexible work can come in different forms, such as freelancing, part-time, or remote work. These opportunities offer a variety of time commitments along with a steady income stream without the traditional full-time employment you had during your first career.
In fact, many retirees have transitioned to flexible work due to financial need, but they’ve stayed because of the flexibility and freedom they’d never enjoyed previously.
Types of Flexible Work Options To Supplement Retirement
There’s good news as you’re exploring your options. More flexible work options are available than ever before.
You can create a schedule that will boost your income without having to give up the retirement perks you’ve earned. Evaluate all the ways you might fit a flexible role into your retirement goals.
1. Freelance Jobs
Are you looking to have complete control over your schedule? Consider becoming a freelancer.
There are numerous advantages, not the least of which is the ability to determine who you work for and when.
If hustling for leads sounds exhausting, explore long-term freelancing options contracting with one company or client.
2. Part-Time Jobs
Part-time work is often the ideal solution, whether you’re looking for work because you want to retire early or because you’re too young to qualify for Medicare.
You can explore new interests while leaving sufficient time for hobbies, spending time with grandchildren and other family members, or simply easing into full-time retirement.
3. Remote Jobs
Maybe your goal is to avoid a commute and put your home office to use. With technology advancements, you can find remote roles in nearly every industry.
Share your years of knowledge or follow your interests in a new field.
Do you love the idea of staying social and having face-to-face connections occasionally? You might thrive in a hybrid remote role where you work from home a few days a week and then in the office the remainder of the week.
4. Seasonal Jobs
You may only need a slight income boost, or maybe you’re hoping to travel during the summers. In that case, explore seasonal jobs.
Work extra hours during the holiday or busy summer tourist months. This is also an excellent choice if you’re not retired yet but looking to boost your savings so you can retire early.
5. Temporary Jobs
Do you want to boost your skills in a specific area before committing long-term? A career or position may intrigue you, but perhaps you’d like to try it on for size before committing.
In that case, you might find your perfect fit in a temporary role. Temp jobs have a beginning and end date and range from a brief period of a few days to an entire year.
Flexible Jobs for Retirees Who Need To Supplement Their Income
Once you have an idea of the type of flexible schedule you’d prefer, it’s time to explore the other piece of the puzzle.
What type of work would you like to do? This may be the first time you’ve had such a wide variety of choices, and you can forge a new career path in retirement if you’d like.
You can certainly find flexible work that suits your retirement goals in nearly every category. However, some fields are more suited to this pursuit than others. Use the following suggestions to launch your research.
1. Accounting & Finance Jobs
Do you love numbers and have a knack for dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s? If so, you may love a remote role within the finance industry.
You can put your accounting degree to work as a freelance or remote accountant. Or, you can support businesses of all sizes with bookkeeping, payroll, and other financial tasks.
2. Consulting Jobs
Put those years of experience to work by supporting companies as a consultant. You’ll bring outside ideas to companies of all sizes as they seek someone with in-depth knowledge of a process or industry.
You’ll find opportunities ranging from training and teaching productivity methods to new marketing techniques or leadership strategies.
3. Customer Service Jobs
Retirement may feel lonely if you’ve spent years interacting with other team members or in a customer-facing role. You can combat that while boosting your savings account with a customer service job.
You’ll earn a comfortable salary while utilizing your natural communication and problem-solving skills.
4. Data Entry Jobs
On the contrary, data entry roles might appeal to you if you’re seeking a position where you can work in solitude.
You’ll be able to utilize your computer skills, attention to detail, and ability to work under deadlines.
5. Education & Training Jobs
Whether you have a history of training in corporate roles or you’ve longed to share knowledge through education, there’s a flexible role for you.
Depending on your skills and education, professions range from teaching online to becoming an adjunct professor. If your drive leads you to one-on-one roles, online tutoring positions are prevalent and lucrative considerations.
6. Medical & Health Jobs
Look into flexible medical positions if you’ve always wanted to support a doctor’s office or have medical training.
You might assist with patient care through advocacy and case management or provide transcription services for doctors’ offices and hospitals.
7. Nonprofit & Philanthropy Jobs
Always dream of giving back to your community or supporting others? A job in the nonprofit sector may be the perfect fit. You’ll find a number of organizations looking to do good in the world as well as a range of flexible jobs.
You can find jobs doing just about anything from marketing and fundraising to writing and providing administrative support.
8. Project Management Jobs
Are you highly organized with attention to detail and the ability to track multiple tasks and manage deadlines? If you answered yes, project management might be the career you’ve been seeking.
You’ll find positions in numerous industries, supporting project success as the central source of information about the current status, budget, and project flow.
9. Transcription Jobs
Do you have excellent typing skills and excellent attention to detail? If so, a career as a remote transcriptionist might be the perfect fit. You’ll be working with audio and video files, transcribing conversations for various purposes.
Along with a fast typing speed, you’ll get to utilize your proofreading skills to create written documents for multiple professions, such as the medical and legal career fields.
10. Writing Jobs
If you love to write and have a knack for storytelling, consider becoming a remote writer. You can specialize in content creation or freelance writing. You might pen blog posts or create marketing materials.
Or, you might discover your passion lies in supporting job seekers by writing winning resumes or crafting grants that help nonprofits get much-needed funding.
Whatever your interests, if you enjoy well-written prose, there’s a flexible career waiting for you.
Finding Flexible Work To Supplement Your Retirement Income
No matter which type of flexibility or career field you decide is the best fit for you, plenty of flexible opportunities are available with competitive salaries and options to keep you engaged and enjoying retirement.
With a bit of research and an open mind, finding the perfect job for your retirement life is possible.