#RecruitmentFocus: Online careers for retirees

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During Entrepreneurship Month, which runs each year in November, retirees are being encouraged to turn to the internet to make money to help supplement their golden years. The web allows a flexible schedule and the ability to work from home, perfect for someone who doesn’t want to face traffic or needs a reduced work day. All you need is an internet connection and an online presence to get started.

When it comes to how to make additional income online, the key is to think about what skills you have to offer and then use online targeting to tap into a niche market. He offers the following ideas for post-retirement careers:

• Homestay host or tour guide – retirees make for excellent Airbnb or homestay hosts and tour guides for their cities. An online presence where people can read about you, see some testimonials and get a sense of your experience goes a long way for establishing trust.
  
• Online store owner – with a simple website, you can set up a virtual store selling crafts, refurbished electronics, collectables or antiques. If you are business-minded you can find and resell excess stock from a local factory for a profit.
  
• Home-based services – turn a hobby into a home-based career by offering cooked meals, baby- or pet-sitting, repairs or short courses from home. All of these services can be managed, booked and paid upfront online.
  
• Blogger – setting up a well-designed blog able to host revenue-generating adverts is very affordable. Depending on your skills, you can blog about anything from gardening to business strategy, carpentry or cooking. Affiliate programmes, where you earn commission on sales for goods mentioned on your blog, are another way to generate income. The New York Times recently ran a feature on the glamourous grannies of Instagram – with a bit of pizazz, you could even become a celebrity!

Internet usage is not only a means of topping up savings and being entrepreneurial into one’s 80s, it is also strongly associated with lower rates of depression among the elderly. Research published in leading medical and psychological journals has shown that social networks and support that can be found online lifts mood and keeps retirees busy and engaged well after they leave the office.