Women over 60 are exploring new possibilities in life. For many of us, this means working in retirement. The reasons may surprise you.

Jobs for Seniors Aren’t Just About Money

Although many women over 60 are definitely interested in making their retirement savings last longer, the number one motivator for working in retirement is not always “to make money.” Whether we need the money or not, many women over 60 want to stay active, stay involved in the world, and keep making a meaningful contribution to an organization or cause that we care about.

If you’re looking for a part-time job in retirement, here are a few ideas for how to put yourself in position for success in finding the right job:

Update your Resume

Every job search starts by updating your resume. Give your career history a hard look and try to find ways to update your resume to show all of the skills, talents and resources that you can offer to an employer. Ask for help from a talented friend or hire a professional writer to proofread your resume and suggest improvements.

Look for Transferable Skills

If you want to work in a different career field than the one where you’ve retired from, look for opportunities to convey your “transferable skills” – skills that are relevant and applicable to multiple careers and industries. For example, do you have project management skills, sales skills, negotiation skills, writing skills, presentation skills, training skills, leadership skills? Any or all of these skill sets (and more) can be useful in multiple career settings, regardless of which industry you are in.

Revisit Your Network

If you want a part-time job, start by asking 10 people who are close to you and who know you well, “Can you introduce me to anyone who can help me find the kind of job that I’m looking for?” Your inner circle will often be the best help to find you the right job – and every one of their contacts is a potential lead for your next job.

Volunteer First

If you want to break into a new career field or work at a non-profit organization, you might want to start by interning or serving in a volunteer capacity. This will give you a chance to get acquainted with the culture and pace of the organization and will let you know if you’re truly interested to do this work for the long-term. “Try before you buy,” so to speak.

Think About Freelancing

One of the challenges for women over 60 who are looking for part-time jobs is that many employers, sadly, just don’t know what to do with us. Age and gender discrimination is real.

One of the biggest myths about women over 60 is that we “don’t know how to learn new technology” or that we’re out of touch with the latest changes in the work world. This is unfair and ridiculous, but the truth is, women over 60 sometimes have a difficult time getting hired by companies.

If you have a hard time finding a company that recognizes your talents and appreciates the value you bring, perhaps you should consider working part-time as a freelancer or independent consultant. You can make a living working online and finding clients of your own, with your own skills, talents, energy and circle of contacts.

Instead of helping make bigger profits for a big company, you can devote all of your profits to your own financial goals.

Working part-time after 60 is a great way for women in retirement to make extra money or perhaps embark upon a “second act” career. Don’t let yourself feel limited by your prior experience – just because you worked in a particular career field or industry doesn’t mean you have to “only” do that type of work. Let go of your fears and self-limiting beliefs, draw upon all of your talents and skills and resources, and take a new leap.

There are plenty of good jobs for seniors out there. We just need to do our part and never give up!

Do you work part-time in retirement? How did you get your job? What do you think are the best part-time jobs for seniors? What advice would you like to share with our community?