Fulfilled at 50: Finding a Remote Part-time Role

Until recently, if you wanted a part-time role to fit around other commitments, the options were pretty limited. Now, thanks to the normalisation of home working due to the pandemic, there are a whole range of part-time job opportunities. Here’s how to take advantage of them.

The Rapidly Changing World of Remote Work

The popularity of remote and hybrid (roles combining remote and on-site) working has grown significantly in the last five years – around 22% of workers do so remotely at least one day a week, and around 13% do so exclusively. Management and professional services have the highest levels of home working

Another major trend is flexibility. Flexible working can encompass everything from where you work (remotely, hybrid or on-site) to the hours you work (flexible start and end times and job sharing). It goes hand in hand with remote work, where people often want to balance jobs with responsibilities at home. Many jobs now offer flexible hours by default, so if you’ve got caring responsibilities, don’t let that be a barrier to getting your dream job.

The Advantages of Remote Working

There are lots of advantages that are specific for the over-50s. Here are the three biggest benefits:

1. Enjoy the Flexibility

We're the sandwich generation - often caring for children or grandchildren, juggling work and other commitments while supporting elderly parents or other family members.

Adaptability is the mantra, as anything can crop up at the last minute - from an emergency hospital appointment to the need to drop everything and be there for a loved one.

Remote working can provide this much-needed flexibility. Working less leaves more time to support your family, while remote working means you can open your laptop anywhere at any time - a coffee shop, the back of an Uber or, in fact, anywhere around the country.

2. Work From Anywhere in the World

On the other hand, if you're an empty nester with more freedom, remote working opens up the possibility of working from another location – or even a different continent. In fact, since Covid, many companies have introduced the ability to work from different geographical locations for part of the year as an employee perk.

Why not enjoy skiing in the Alps, holidaying in Greece or sampling the best of the Caribbean around your day job?

3. Make the Most of Your Second Home

Lucky enough to have a second home, but hardly get to see it? With a part-time remote job, you could bid goodbye to flustered Friday evening drives.

Working remotely, you could spend weeks – or even months – checking into the office comfortably from your second property. Part-time hours mean you’ll have more time to get out and about to explore the local area on weekdays when it’s quieter. What’s not to like?

So What's Available?

Ready to take the leap? Here's a selection of some of the best part-time remote roles for the over 50s.

Set Yourself Up as a Consultant

If you have specialist knowledge in an area such as business, accountancy, marketing or technology, becoming a consultant could be a real possibility. It is flexible, satisfying and often well paid. Other businesses can reap the benefit of your years of expertise.

Why not reach out to relevant consulting firms? Many of these companies are interested in specialists. However, if you’d prefer to go it alone, be sure to work on your LinkedIn profile. It’s one of the best places to make contact with high-level clients.

Become a Writer or Editor

If you’re a talented wordsmith, becoming an editor, writer or proofreader could be a way to follow your passion. The benefit of these jobs is that they are almost always remote and you can often work flexible hours (providing you hit your deadlines), so it’s an attractive option if you want to travel or have other commitments. Browse a job board and see what catches your eye.

Worried it’s too late to start a writing career? After working in the advertising industry for most of his life, Dave Woods was 59-years-old when he co-founded an online publishing company, while novelist Mary Wesley started her writing career at 71.

Become a Private Tutor

Private tutoring can be one of the most rewarding part-time remote jobs available. You’ll get to watch your students progress with each session, and see first-hand the impact you can have on someone else’s life.

Most tutoring jobs tend to be outside school hours – so late afternoons, evenings or weekends – but it’s up to you exactly when you’ll work. Think carefully about where your passion and expertise lies, and go from there. You'll need to ensure you understand the requirements of the National Curriculum and what students need to know.

Make a Difference as a Charity Fundraiser

Looking for a job with a purpose? Many charities rely on experienced workers to support their fundraising efforts.

Becoming a charity fundraiser is a great way to meet new people, improve your wellbeing and give back to society. You can earn money as a fundraising manager, volunteer manager or community outreach specialist.

Set up as a Virtual Assistant

Organised but don't want to deal with office politics? Why not become a virtual assistant? It’s the perfect remote role if you have a great eye for detail.

Your duties will depend on your employer but are likely to include organising schedules, making calls, updating and maintaining records, and preparing presentations or reports. You might also have to write blog posts or update the company website.

The hours may be less flexible than other part-time roles, as you will probably need to sit in on some remote meetings and make calls during conventional work hours. That said, if flexibility is important to you, it’s always something you can negotiate at the outset. Browse a job board to see what is available.