There are lots of reasons why you may be seeking a part-time work-from-home job as an older adult. Maybe you’re recently retired but not quite ready to let go of the workforce. Perhaps you’re looking for a second career. Maybe you need another stream of income. Or, maybe you’re still staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and an online job you can do from home can help occupy your time.
No matter the reason, nowadays it’s easier than ever to work from home because of the changes that have happened since the pandemic started. Many adults have converted a part of their home to a workspace, and employers have had to become more flexible with allowing employees to work from home. Plus, there are many more jobs that are now done over the phone or online.
Here are some of the best work-from-home jobs that are ideally suited for retirees and older adults who want a little more flexibility in their schedule and the ability to work from home:
1. Virtual Assistant
Traditionally, an office assistant works in person to assist a manager with administrative tasks. Nowadays, many professionals are hiring virtual assistants who can complete admin work from the comfort of their home, making this one of the best work-from-home jobs for older adults. All you usually need is a phone, knowledge of various computer programs (such as Microsoft Word and Excel), and reliable internet access. You also will want to have a good rapport with the professional who is hiring you to be their virtual assistant, as you’ll be managing their schedule and working with their personality quirks.
Places to find work-from-home virtual assistant jobs: International Virtual Assistants Association, Upwork.com, and Team Double-Click.
2. Coach
If you like to encourage others to reach their goals and you have experience in finance, psychology, and fitness or nutrition, then coaching is another potential work-from-home option. With your own website or by working with a company that offers virtual coaches, you can grow your business. To work successfully as a coach, you’ll want to be comfortable with online meeting programs (such as Zoom), as many of your client meetings may take place that way. Naturally, you’ll also want to enjoy working with people.
There are various coaching certificate programs online that could help your coaching skills, including life coaching and health and wellness coaching.
Places to find work-from-home coaching jobs: Upwork or Indeed.
3. Online Tutor
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way the world learns, with so many students having to turn to virtual learning. Yet even before the pandemic, many students had already turned to online platforms to take classes. If you enjoy helping others and have specialty knowledge in a certain academic area, you can work as an online tutor. Teaching experience is not always required, but it is a plus. Common online tutoring topics include foreign languages, English as a second language, science, math, and test prep (such as for the SAT or GRE).
Online tutoring can be rewarding, but in certain fields, it also can be competitive. For instance, there may be several hundred English tutors vying for students on an online platform. If you have more of a niche – say, knowledge of a less common foreign language or a science background – you may find it easier to find students.
Taking advantage of your hobbies or interests and applying them to tutoring can make this one of the top work-from-home jobs for an older adult as you have the experience that you need to help others.
You can work as an online tutor through an established platform that connects students with tutors, or you may set up your own website and marketing materials. Make sure to research average hourly rates charged in your subject area as they can vary widely by subject and according the competitiveness of tutoring work.
Places to find work-from-home online tutoring jobs: Tutor.com, Cambly (a platform for English language learning), and the National Tutoring Association.
4. Customer Service Representative
Think about the last time you called customer service for assistance at a company. The skills needed in that job – speaking with and helping others, tracking orders, and providing some technical support – are ideal for an older adult who wants to work from home as a customer service rep. You’ll need a reliable internet connection, a quiet workspace, and basic computer skills.
The nice thing about working as a customer service rep from home? There seems to be a never-ending demand for this type of work, hence why it makes the list for the top work-from-home jobs for older adults.
Places to find work-from-home customer service representative work: Many companies use firms that specialize in setting up virtual call centers, such as Sykes, Arise, and Working Solutions. However, there’s an almost endless number of larger companies that also hire customer service reps on their own, so you can check the websites of large airlines, hotels, banks, etc.
5. Bookkeeper
Do you have experience in finance, accounting, or payroll? Then a part-time work-from-home job as a bookkeeper could be right for you. Plus, you don’t need years and years of accounting experience to get the job done. Organizational skills and the desire to help business owners manage their day-to-day money and reconcile their bank account are the most prominent skills you’ll need. Of course, working well with numbers while using a computer and popular money-management programs are also required. As every industry needs bookkeepers, there is a steady need for this type of at-home work, particularly for older adults who are trustworthy.
Places to find work-from-home bookkeeper jobs: FlexJobs.com, Belay Solutions.
The Wide World of Work-From-Home Jobs for Older Adults
The world has changed dramatically over the past decade. With the influx of new technology and the normalcy that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the work-from-home environment, you can do nearly anything from the comfort of your couch these days. Consider your many skills and just start searching sites like Upwork, LinkedIn, Indeed, or any of the various job sites for work-from-home jobs for older adults that may fit your passion.
