18 Flexible Jobs for 50 and 60 Year-Olds

Many factors may influence your desire to work a less rigid work schedule, whether it’s other life commitments or simply wanting to take a step back. Even if this is the case, you may not be quite ready to leave the working world in its entirety – which is where jobs that give you flexibility come into play.

Thinking about making a career change, or want to return to work in a new industry? Here are 18 jobs that offer great flexibility for workers in their 50s and 60s.

1. Consultant

Becoming a consultant is perfect for those who have a bank of knowledge in a specific industry and want a job with more flexibility. By supplying advice or services to those who need it, this job gives you the opportunity to utilise all of the experience you’ve gained.

If you’re considering a career as a consultant, you can expect to be paid well. Junior consultant salaries average about £44,000, and this will increase as you continue to build up your portfolio.

Pursuing a consultancy career is made easier if you already have a well-developed network. If you don’t have one, it may be worth creating a LinkedIn account and building up your connections from there. You can also have a look at our jobs portal to see what age-inclusive work opportunities are available.

Want to learn more about LinkedIn? Find out how to make the most of the platform here.

2. Entrepreneur

Young entrepreneurs get a lot of airtime in the media, so it’s easy to assume that the most successful entrepreneurs started at a young age. However, stats show that entrepreneurs in their 50s have a 1.8 times higher chance of success than a founder in their 30s.

This means that, if you have always wanted to launch your own business, there’s no better time to start than now. Not only have you got all your life experience to help you out, but you’re probably more financially stable and have more time to devote to a business than when you were younger.

Tempted to launch your own business? Have a look at our guide to setting up a business later in life to help you get started.

3. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants support business leaders with an array of activities, such as scheduling appointments, data entry, bookkeeping and other administrative tasks.

Due to the scope of the work, some virtual assistant jobs pay on an hourly or project basis, whereas others may be a full-time working position. This variety of options is great if you’re searching for a bit more flexibility in your career.

4. Writer, Editor or Proofreader

Another job that gives you flexibility is becoming a writer, editor or proofreader. In these roles, you can pick up as much work as you please – from one-off projects as a freelancer to working full-time within an agency or publishing company.

Jobs such as writing and proofreading don’t require any qualifications, and it’s likely you’ll have some form of experience doing this type of work during your career. For example, teachers, lawyers and marketers all proofread on a daily basis.

However, if you don’t have any experience, then you will probably need to start at lower rates, build a portfolio and client base and build your way up from there.

5. Photographer

If you enjoy taking photos in your free time, you may be able to turn this hobby into a profession as a full-time photographer.

To get started, create a portfolio of your favourite photos which you can share with potential clients, and share your work on social media to see if anyone would be interested in paying you for a photoshoot. You can also build up your skill set by taking online courses.

You can find photography roles with age-inclusive employers on our job portal.

6. Driving Instructor

Becoming a driving instructor appeals to many due to its competitive wages and the ability to work the amount of hours you choose.

Driving instructors typically find themselves working around 20 to 25 hours a week, but where these hours fall may not always be conventional. For example, you will have to work around your learners schedule and their commitments to school or work.

You can learn more about becoming a driving instructor on the gov.uk website.

7. Receptionist

As a receptionist, you can expect to undertake responsibilities such as greeting new guests, answering phone calls and emails, and maintaining calendars for appointments.

Reception work is often carried out in shifts, so you can base your working week around other commitments. This makes it a great option if you’re looking for a job that gives you flexibility.

8. Tour Guide

Passionate about local art and history? Love travelling and exploring new places? Then a career as a tour guide could be perfect for you.

Tour guides often have flexible schedules, although they can include evenings and weekends. This makes it a perfect career choice for those who have commitments during conventional working hours.

9. Home Cook

Constantly complimented on your culinary skills? Then you should consider a career as a home cook.

There are several ways you can sell your own baked or cooked goods. One option is to approach local cafes or bakeries to see if they will stock your products. Alternatively, you can sell your baked products online using marketplaces such as Etsy or HomeCooks.

10. Event Planner

If you want a new career that has a creative edge, then you may want to consider a career in events.

To be an event planner, you will need to be organised, have great communication skills, and often leadership qualities if you’re working with a team. If this sounds of interest to you, have a look at our jobs portal to find events jobs with age-inclusive employers.

11. Freelancer

Becoming a freelancer is one of the most flexible career options out there. Rather than working for a company, freelancers are self-employed and tend to work on a contractual or project basis.

The main benefit of freelancing is the control it gives you over your work schedule. You are your own boss and have complete authority over what work you take on, and can complete the tasks within the hours that suit you – as long as you meet your client’s deadline.

With a long career behind you, it’s likely you’ve already got connections who would be interested in freelance support, so try getting in contact with them. Alternatively, you can join LinkedIn and build a network from there, or register to online freelance websites such as Upwork where people can contact you with appropriate projects.

12. Translator

Are you bilingual, or even multilingual? Then being a language translator may be perfect for you.

The BLS predicts that the salary for translators could grow 20% by 2031, which is a much higher rate than most other occupations – so it’s a worthwhile industry to get into.

13. Mentor

As a midlifer, you’ve got one big thing that can help others navigate through their challenges: your life experiences. Not only can you advise them on the struggles in their career, but also the major milestones that come throughout life.

Plus, if you’ve already had a long career in a particular industry, then what better way to utilise this experience than becoming a mentor?

If you think mentoring could be the right path for you, then have a look at our free online course that explains how to mentor effectively.

14. Lecturer

Lecturing provides a lot of flexibility as there are a variety of roles, from carrying out the occasional guest lecture to working full time.

Like consulting, this job also offers the opportunity for you to utilise the experience you already have to get a decent wage – the average salary of a lecturer is around £40,000.

To become a lecturer, you will also need to have a postgraduate degree – or at least be working towards one.

15. Exam Invigilator

As an exam invigilator, your duty is to ensure that all candidates behave within proper exam regulations. You can work either on behalf of the educational institution, or for a particular exam board.

Demand for exam invigilators ebbs and flows throughout the year, but there’s certainly potential to have a reliable stream of work in this industry. This makes it a great job role for those who are looking for a more casual, yet still flexible, career in later life.

There are no formal requirements for working as an exam invigilator, but you may be asked for a GCSE (or equivalent) in Maths and English.

16. Pet Sitting

Pet sitting is becoming more and more popular nowadays, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s a job that gives you great flexibility over your work schedule – plus, you get to spend all your time with people’s beloved furry friends.

As a pet sitter, you will be responsible for looking after someone’s pet whilst they’re away. How exactly you do this depends on an agreement between you and your customer, but it tends to occur within the customer’s home.

To build up your experience, find mutual friends or people in your local community who want someone to look after their pet, even if it’s just for a quick dog walk. In return, ask them to complete reviews that you can show to other potential customers to prove your capabilities.

You can also list yourself on a website that connects pet owners with pet sitters, including:

17. Childcare

Many of those in their 50s or 60s will have already raised their own family. If you love spending time with kids, then pursuing a career within childcare could be perfect for you.

If you choose to work in a nursery, then there are no set requirements you need to qualify. However, some may ask for an NVQ or BTEC qualification, as well as a DBS check as a safeguarding measure.

18. Transcriptionist

Being a transcriptionist involves converting live audio files or recordings into written form. Jobs in this area tend to be in the medical, legal or media industries.

To be a transcriptionist, you’ll need to be a speedy typer and have high attention to detail, and you may need to invest in specialist equipment, such as high quality headphones.

Extra Resources To Help You Find Jobs That Give You Flexibility

Want to take the next step in your search for a job that gives you flexibility? Here’s a few resources to help you get started:

Free Training: Have a look at our free online training courses to unlock your full potential
Job alerts: Search for your next dream job on our jobs portal, and sign up for job alerts to be notified when suitable job roles come up for you
Careers advice: Sign up to our newsletter to get all our latest advice on seeking new job opportunities in your 50s and 60s

Personality test: If you’re looking for a change, complete a free personality test to learn more about your key strengths and weaknesses

Jobs That Gives You Flexibility: 18 Jobs for 50 and 60 Year-Olds