Returning to work with a remote part time job

But, when the time comes around, a lot of retirees soon realise that the life of retirement is not for them. Whether it’s because of financial difficulties, loss of structure or the desire to make a difference, many retirees change their minds and want to return to work.

In what we call the Unretirement Uprising, we’re seeing more and more retirees rejoin the workforce – though perhaps in a different way. Remote work is here to stay, and many reverse retirees find that part time remote jobs offer the perfect solution.

In this article, we’ll detail the current job market, trends for people in their 50s and 60s and how midlifers can apply for remote part-time roles.

Working Past the Age of Retirement

Retirement is continually evolving and is no longer a one-size-fits-all system. Whether it’s delaying retirement or “semi-retiring,” we’re seeing a variety of approaches to work in later life.

Much of this is due to “unretiring,” where retirees decide to rejoin the workforce. At the end of 2022, we witnessed a record high level of people returning to work, in what has now been deemed the “Great Unretirement.”

While the cost of living is often deemed as the cause, unretirement can also be attributed to the availability of more flexible and remote working opportunities. Workers now have more options available to them, which has resulted in a more fluid retirement where workers are dipping in and out of employment in later life.

Understanding the Remote, Part-Time Job Market

Remote working initially saw a spike during the pandemic, when most employers had to resort to remote working in order to keep the business running.

As a result, the job market saw far more remote working options than ever before. But is remote work here to stay? And are many businesses continuing to accommodate flexible working options?

The answer is yes. New legislation from the government means workers now have the option to request flexible work from day one of their employment. This is part of the government’s wider plans to make flexible work the default.

This will mean that workers have a greater say in when, where and how they work. Whether it’s job-sharing, working remotely or having flexi-time, workers can expect flexible work opportunities to become the new norm.

Where Do People in Their 50s and 60s Fit Into the Trend?

Older workers are generally more likely to adopt flexible working than their younger counterparts.

According to the ONS, 44% of all UK workers report either home or hybrid working. Interestingly, those in higher age brackets reported more flexible working than those aged between 16 to 24.

Plus, workers in professional occupations (and therefore in higher income brackets) are also the most likely to adopt remote or hybrid working.

This means that professional midlifers are the most likely group to have a remote part-time job. There are many reasons for this, including benefits such as:

Extra income to bolster your pension pot
The ability to work from anywhere, meaning that you can fulfil all your travel dreams
Fit your work around other responsibilities, such as childcare
You can pursue other hobbies and interests, such as art classes or sewing

How to Apply for Remote Part Time Jobs in Your 50s and 60s

Are you interested in adopting a more flexible retirement? Here are some tips to consider when applying for remote part time jobs in your 50s and 60s:

1. Think about what career path you want to follow

Do you want to find a remote job in your current career path? Or are you considering a complete career change?

It’s quite common for midlifers to desire a new career, but many are held back by the idea that it’s “too late” to make the switch. But in reality, there’s nothing holding you back but yourself.

Take Redefiner Stephen Charlton, for example. After a long career working in the design agency world, he decided to take up his lifetime ambition of becoming an artist. Stephen, around 20 years later, is now a renowned painter and sculptor.

If you’re unsure about what your next step should be, complete our Purpose Finder to help you redefine your journey.

You can also check out this article which should help you decide whether to upskill, change careers or start a new business.

2. Get Your Job Application in Shape

Before applying to any jobs, there are several things you’ll need to get sorted. This includes your CV and a draft cover letter that you can update for each application.

Once these are sorted, you can think about posting yourself on a job listing website. For example, you can create a personal CV on our website, where you can be found by age-inclusive employers.

You can also use these job listing sites to actively seek out potential job opportunities. To find thousands of roles with age-accredited UK employers, have a look at our jobs portal.

3. Countering Ageism in the Interview and Recruitment Process

There are many challenges of working within an ageing population, the most notable being ageism.

Despite the Equality Act protecting workers from discrimination, ageism is unfortunately relatively commonplace during the recruitment process. Employers, perhaps unknowingly, often assume older applicants are less ambitious, less adaptable and less capable of undertaking certain roles – when in reality that simply isn’t the case.

While ageism is certainly frustrating, remaining aware of stereotypes can help you during the recruitment process. Some ways you can overcome ageism include:

Keeping a Positive Mindset

76% of workers in their 50s and 60s are put off applying for jobs when they experience ageism, and 68% lose their confidence.

If you experience ageism during the recruitment process, try to keep in mind that you’re perfectly capable of doing the job and that the problem is with them, and not you.

Prepare For The Interview

If you’re out of practice, take some time to brush up on your interview skills. Have a think about what they might ask you, and plan how you may respond to them.

Consider Editing your CV

Your CV is the first point of contact that recruiters have with you, so it’s important it leaves a good impression. However, including jobs from more than 15 years ago may indicate your age to the employers, so it may be worth removing them if they’re not relevant to your current role.

Also, make sure that the copy of your CV is up-to-date with any current terminology and industry standards. If anything looks outdated on your CV, then employers may assume you aren’t knowledgeable about the way things are now.

Remain Confident and At Ease During the Interview

We’ve all had it: an interviewer asks a question, and you feel caught out and not sure how to answer.

If this happens, try not to feel disheartened. Instead, let them know that you don’t understand, and ask them to rephrase the question. Also, avoid making self-deprecating comments about your age – this might give interviewers a reason to believe you may not be capable.

Sometimes, an interviewer will make an inappropriate comment or question in relation to your age. If this happens, remain polite and try to steer the conversation back to the job role and your capabilities. Though, it may be worth keeping the comment in mind – would you really want to work for an employer who has negative stereotypes about older workers?

Keeping a positive attitude throughout the interview will let the recruiter know that you are resilient and capable of overcoming barriers in the workplace.

Express Your Willingness to Both Lead and Follow

As an older candidate, you don’t want to give recruiters the idea that you’re stuck in your ways.

Make sure you communicate your desire to collaborate, your ability to work with a variety of people and a willingness to both lead and follow. This will indicate that you’re a well-rounded employee who will be a valuable addition to the team.

4. Build Up Your Current Skill Set

If you’ve decided on a new career path, you may need to build up your skill set with some training or courses.

Our guide on retraining in your 50s outlines some helpful resources to help you build up your skill set, and you can also check out our CPD-accredited online training courses.

For more tips on applying to work-from-home jobs, check out our article Job Seeking in Your 50s? Here’s How To Get Flexible Work From Home Jobs.

5. Consider Signing Up to a Recruitment Agency

If you’re not up to undertaking a job search, then you should consider signing up to a recruitment agency.

By having a quick chat with a recruitment consultant, they should be able to develop an understanding of what kind of job you’re looking for. Then, they can keep you posted on any job opportunities they think you might be a good fit for.

Recruitment agencies can also reach out to companies where they think you might be a good fit, even if they’re not officially hiring. This will open the door for many more job opportunities that you wouldn’t have access to otherwise.

6. Sign Up to Our Jobs Board

To keep up-to-date with the latest roles with age-accredited employers from across the UK, make sure you sign up to get alerts from our jobs board. This means you will be the first to know about any new and exciting job opportunities that we have.

You can also join our newsletter where we will send you our latest career advice and inspiration for seeking new job opportunities in midlife.

Wondering What Jobs to Apply For?

Finding part time jobs when you’re in your 50s or 60s can be challenging, but it’s certainly not impossible.

If you’re stuck for job ideas that you can do remotely, we’re here to help. The following articles feature some great job ideas, from consulting to mentoring, and what experience you will need to pursue them:

Some other helpful resources for your job search include:

Jobs/Redefined portal: A jobs portal for age-inclusive work opportunities for mid-lifers
Life/Redefined careers: Advice and resources to help you make a career change
Age Pioneers: A series of webinars that discusses the challenges arising out of an ageing population and what this means for the future of work
Online Training Courses: Created in partnership with Maguire Training and ProAge, our CPD accredited training courses help to empower midlifers to live their most dynamic lives at 55 and beyond
Job Interview Skills for the Over-50s: Can help you prepare for your next job interview, including what questions you can expect to be asked