The Complete Guide To Finding a Job When You’re Retired

The job market has undergone seismic changes over the last five years. While retired people looking for jobs would historically have had to contend with commutes or limited remote opportunities, that’s no longer the case.

The rise in flexible and part-time jobs is one of the main reasons behind retired people rejoining the workforce. According to the Office for National Statistics, people in this group worked relatively few hours, and industries like hospitality, arts and entertainment (where informal employment is more common) saw some of the biggest increases in roles.

That said, jobs for retired people aren’t limited to flexible or part-time work. There’s a whole host of other reasons why you might be looking for a new opportunity, whether it’s earning extra cash or the chance to meet new people. 

For these reasons, you might prefer to embrace unretirement and find a full-time job that you can get your teeth stuck into.

Whatever your preference, you’re only a few steps away from finding a fantastic new opportunity. This guide will help you through the process.

Using the Power of Your Experience

By the time you hit your 60s, you’ve amassed a range of skills and experience. There are hard skills related to your specialism, but a whole host of soft skills that you may not realise you have.

Over the course of your career, you’ll have worked on hundreds of different projects or tasks, alongside varying team sizes. In doing so, you’ll likely have learnt how to collaborate effectively, manage different personalities and keep people motivated. You’ll have developed strong problem-solving skills and the ability to keep calm under pressure.

These soft skills are just as valuable – if not more – to hiring managers. Companies are increasingly looking to build multigenerational teams, where diversity in age can lead to broader perspectives, higher productivity and greater innovation. Employers will also recognise that you can provide mentoring or informal guidance to less experienced staff members too.

Keep the power of your experience in mind when you’re applying for jobs. If you want something light and easy that brings in a bit of extra cash, that’s great. But don’t hold yourself back from applying for those big, ambitious opportunities if it’s what you really want. 

Jobs for retired people aren’t just about passing the time. If you spot a fantastic role that will let you share skills, grow and maximise your potential, don’t be afraid to apply – what have you got to lose?

Navigating the Next Step in Your Career

Even with an enviable amount of experience and know-how under your belt, taking the next step in your career can be daunting. 

It could involve stepping into a senior role that lets you focus on strategy – many successful senior managers or business leaders transition into Non-Executive Director (NED) roles in their 50s or 60s, for example. Or, it could involve a role that lets you utilise your experience but working fewer hours or in a different field altogether. 

Whatever type of job you’re applying for, there’s some preparation you’ll need to do. It’s wise to spend time browsing job listings, to find out which businesses are hiring and the types of jobs that could be a good fit when you’ve been retired. 

The next step is to get your CV in shape to ensure you make a strong first impression. Nowadays, it’s not just a human that you’ll need to impress with a CV – most large companies use Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to quickly scan CVs and identify which applicants should progress to the next stage. 

This sounds intimidating, but making sure your CV passes these scanners is fairly straightforward:

• Save your CV as a regular file format, like Microsoft Word .doc or .docx. This will help to keep the formatting consistent if it’s opened using a different program.
• Keep it simple. Unless you’re applying for a role where you need to showcase your graphic design skills, avoid borders, images or boxes of information. This could confuse the scanners and might reduce your chances of getting through to being shortlisted for interview.
• Use the same (or similar) keywords that have been used in the job description. If it’s essential to have an ACCA qualification and a keen eye for detail, make sure you include “ACCA qualification” and “detail oriented” in your CV.

Fighting Ageism During Recruitment

Unfortunately, there are some less-than-desirable aspects of the job search that should be on your radar too. While it’s illegal to discriminate on the basis of age, most retired people will encounter ageism when looking for a new job. 

Our 2022 study, The Unretirement Uprising, found that two-thirds of over-50s believe age will work against them during recruitment, and 70% feel it’s difficult to start a new career after 50.

Finding jobs for retired people can be an uphill battle, but don’t lie down and accept defeat. Major firms like NatWest, Hargreaves Lansdown and HarperCollins are leading the way in championing age-inclusive workforces, and our list of age-inclusive employers is constantly growing.

The best way to avoid ageist hiring practices is to look for job opportunities with employers that are already committed to being age-inclusive. However, there are also a number of proactive ways you can reduce the risk of prejudice: 

• Look out for signals in job listings that imply they want a younger employee. Phrases like “design ninja” or “digital guru” are usually red flags that the culture isn’t age-inclusive and might not support your growth.
• Don’t reveal your age on job applications. Avoid email addresses that have your date of birth in or qualifications that date you (O levels were replaced by GCSEs in the 1980s)!
• Replace sentences that hint at your age, like “I have 30 years of experience…” with more generic phrases like “I have over 10 years of experience…”
• Remember that language is always evolving. Look at how desirable skills and qualities are described in adverts for your target industry and update your CV accordingly.

Been invited to a job interview? There are other practical steps you can take to counter common stereotypes once you’re in the room with a prospective employer. Read our tips here.

Finding a Flexible Job During Retirement

If you want to hang on to the best bits of retirement but breathe fresh life into your routine, a flexible or part-time job will do just that. 

Flexible working jobs provide greater freedom around when and where you work. While some flexible jobs will still require you to commit to core working hours each day, they’re ideal if you want to fit a job around your lifestyle or existing commitments (like caring responsibilities).

Read more about the benefits of flexible working for the over-50s or visit our comprehensive list of jobs that will give you flexibility.

Retraining for a New Career

If you’re eager for a new challenge, you can retrain and change careers altogether. Making a career change in your 50s or 60s isn’t for the faint hearted – it requires plenty of courage and determination. But giving yourself a fresh start and landing a fulfilling job can make the journey worthwhile.

Before you make any big decisions, follow these steps:

• Think about your motivations for changing careers. Do you want to change fields altogether or simply find a different type of job? Research other jobs within your sector or skill set, and see if anything ticks a box. 
• Consider the financial implications. Retraining will usually involve taking a pay cut from the salary you’re used to. If you’re looking for a job while retired to earn extra money, bear in mind that retraining may only give you a return on investment in the long term.
• Take a training course. Online training courses allow you to upskill, broaden your mindset and boost your knowledge of different areas in a business. You can also use free courses to test your interest before you invest in retraining. 

Learn more about the best jobs to retrain for in the UK, where to find them and how to tap into your existing skills in this article.

Five Tips for Finding Jobs for Retired People

1. Celebrate Your Soft Skills

Soft skills like problem solving, communication, critical thinking and conflict resolution are all highly sought-after by employers. There’s a good chance you’ve built up strengths in these areas over the course of your career, so don’t forget to emphasise them in job applications and interviews.

2. Prepare Your CV for Automatic Scans

The purpose of a CV hasn’t changed, but its audience has. Today, your CV doesn’t just need to impress employers, but also AI scanners that are deployed to filter the good applications from the bad. Use a simple layout, include keywords from the job advert and save it in a commonly used format (creating it in Microsoft Word is a safe bet).

3. Protect Yourself Against Ageist Hiring Practices

Sadly, ageism is rife in recruitment. While you shouldn’t have to battle ageist stereotypes, it’s almost inevitable if you’re retired and searching for jobs. Search job listings of age-inclusive employers where possible, and check your CV doesn’t give any hints about your age.

4. Explore Flexible Working

Flexible jobs are increasingly popular with retired people who want a fulfilling role that can fit around their lifestyle or personal responsibilities. If you’re on the fence about rejoining the workforce, a flexible or part-time role is a great way to dip your toe in and test the waters.

5. Do Your Research Before Retraining

Retraining and switching careers altogether can be an incredibly exciting change of pace for over-50s. It allows you to try something new, pursue a lifelong ambition or utilise untapped skills or talent – but it isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. Do your research and make sure it’s what you really want before you take the dive.