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Retirement

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Original poster

Job suggestions after retirement

48 replies

BG2015 · 24/10/2024 18:42

I'm a primary teacher and I'm retiring next July after 29 years in education. I'll only be 56 so I'm going to get a part time job to boost my pension and give me some structure until I'm 60 and my DP retires.

I've just done a quiz that the National Careers Service runs and guess what the top job is I'd be great at? .......Education and teaching🥴 mmmm don't think so.

OP posts:
vincettenoir · 24/10/2024 18:48

It sounds like you want something very different so be led by that. Think about the parts of your current career that you want to avoid going forward and the other skills you want to develop and explore and that should be a good starting point.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 24/10/2024 18:52

My steps dad does invigilation but appreciate you may not want to back into a school!

Fatbottomgardener · 14/11/2024 23:47

I have signed an exam invigilation contract. It is minimum wage basically probably 2 months if that as I am part of a pool of invigilators.

Depends how much you want to earn. Have you considered tutoring for maybe a couple of days a week after school?

olderbutwiser · 15/11/2024 00:04

Do you have a hobby you could turn into something that pays eg gardening?

SlB09 · 15/11/2024 00:06

Totally out of teaching?

PermanentTemporary · 15/11/2024 00:13

Phlebotomist
Manager for a community centre
Bookkeeper (I don't think the training is too long)

Agree about gardening, though it can be quite physical
Companion carer

Original poster
BG2015 · 15/11/2024 07:05

Totally out of teaching.

Don't want to work evenings or weekends. I've been looking at NHS administrator roles and have just started doing a free online business administration course which I'm enjoying.

OP posts:
27TimesAway · 15/11/2024 07:13

I do exam invigilation and really love it. I invigilate for the children with extra access arrangements so often scribe or read.

I also signed up to a temp agency and do a range of things. Sometimes as little as a 4 hour assignment writing up minutes to an AGM, to a 3 month stint working as a receptionist for a law firm. I have also worked on a project for a charity that lasted about 9 days.

It's tremendous fun. I earn about an extra £10 k a year and it adds to my private income and I use it as days out money.

FWIW I used to be a senior professional and burnt out at the age of 50. Now I love picking and choosing what jobs I take. I like meeting new people, doing new things and if the situation is toxic or unsatisfactory then its not for long. It helps that I am really flexible. I have just said yes to Christmas work on a shop counter. I get offered alot of stuff because I don't make demands around only accepting work at the level of my former profession (could not cope with that sort of stress again ever!).

  • edited to add- that's an extra 10K before tax. Days out and holidays are important because I have a child with severe LDs and I really focus on enrichment activities for him.
Original poster
BG2015 · 15/11/2024 07:53

I just want a bit of extra money like you to pay for holidays and weekends away.

It sounds ideal, setting your own criteria is definitely the way to go.

OP posts:
Mumof1andacat · 15/11/2024 08:02

Nhs admin (you could try nhs professionals for bank work), hospital porter, librarian or work at a local theatre helping back stage or front of house (cheap tickets!)

EffinMagicFairy · 15/11/2024 08:03

Following for ideas, as I hope to retire from the corporate world within 2 years.

27TimesAway · 15/11/2024 08:03

I really love it. The recruitment agency I am with (It's a little one just for our area with about 4 staff) are really good and professional. They treat me well and take care of tax and NI. Of course I have to add it to my other income and send that to my accountant when I do my tax return and they make whatever adjustments are required.

I've done all sorts of things and met some really lovely people. A couple of my assignments have been back to the same companies as they ask for me. It's a total blessing to me to not have the awful stress I had and to be able to say yes or no to work as I want.

MJOverInvestor · 15/11/2024 08:13

registrar for births, deaths and marriages - often advertised on a casual basis near me…

Willooth · 15/11/2024 08:13

What about a speech and language therapy assistant? They are often part time.
Or a community support worker for people with learning disabilities or mental health problems?
You have loads of transferable skills for these roles

Kwiaenrker · 15/11/2024 08:13

Our LA has a pool of casual workers for libraries..they work as and when needed at different libraries

newdiamondring · 15/11/2024 08:16

27TimesAway · 15/11/2024 07:13

I do exam invigilation and really love it. I invigilate for the children with extra access arrangements so often scribe or read.

I also signed up to a temp agency and do a range of things. Sometimes as little as a 4 hour assignment writing up minutes to an AGM, to a 3 month stint working as a receptionist for a law firm. I have also worked on a project for a charity that lasted about 9 days.

It's tremendous fun. I earn about an extra £10 k a year and it adds to my private income and I use it as days out money.

FWIW I used to be a senior professional and burnt out at the age of 50. Now I love picking and choosing what jobs I take. I like meeting new people, doing new things and if the situation is toxic or unsatisfactory then its not for long. It helps that I am really flexible. I have just said yes to Christmas work on a shop counter. I get offered alot of stuff because I don't make demands around only accepting work at the level of my former profession (could not cope with that sort of stress again ever!).

  • edited to add- that's an extra 10K before tax. Days out and holidays are important because I have a child with severe LDs and I really focus on enrichment activities for him.
Edited

I feel like you! Burnt out and knackered.

When you signed up with the agency what did you request work-wise and how did you find the exam invigilating work.

You mentioned private income so you aren't living off this money? Presumably you have a good pension too? I'm trying to work out when I can retire too.
Thanks.

Rainbow321 · 15/11/2024 08:29

How about part time library work ?

Shittybobbins · 15/11/2024 08:43

My sister suffered a bereavement and decided she could never do a stressful job again. One of the things she now does to keep a small income is work on the bank for the Council. She tends to work shifts at the theatres taking tickets, bar work or ushering. There is also the option to work shifts at the art gallery and cafe, and special events. It's apparently a good bunch and she enjoys it. She often gets tickets for £5 when shows aren't sold out.

I think I'd quite enjoy working part time in a garden centre or nursery if I'm able to step down from my senior job.

27TimesAway · 15/11/2024 08:45

newdiamondring · 15/11/2024 08:16

I feel like you! Burnt out and knackered.

When you signed up with the agency what did you request work-wise and how did you find the exam invigilating work.

You mentioned private income so you aren't living off this money? Presumably you have a good pension too? I'm trying to work out when I can retire too.
Thanks.

Show quote history

When I signed up I gave them my CV and we discussed it and I said I was up for pretty much anything. My main criteria was that I needed to mostly sit as I have arthritis in my spine and struggle to stand. I have a seasonal job coming up where they said I can sit at the till so that will be okay I think.

I don't have a very good pension at all sadly. I spent most of my career working in various freelance consultancies abroad (and was constantly travelling) and I always pushed off sorting out a pension for 'later'. I regret that now as you can imagine. I only have 8 years UK-based work of pension. What I did when I met DH was to move in with him, and rent out my flat. DH is retired and he had a decent pension. The rental brings in enough that when I had a breakdown I could quit my job and rest and recover for a couple of years. So I am a really lucky position. I am also very conscious of how fortunate I am. We don't have alot of disposable income which is why when I was better I started temping- because we had been unable to afford any luxuries like holidays and I wanted so much for DS1 to be able to do things.

The exam invigilation came about via the school newsletter at DS2's school. They were reaching out to parents first before widening it. I have done it for 4 years now and really enjoy it. We have a good small invigilation team of 11 people and the same ones sign up each year. I have however, seen invigilation jobs advertised via our local LA website.

Kwiaenrker · 15/11/2024 08:47

Rainbow321 · 15/11/2024 08:29

How about part time library work ?

This will almost certainly involve weekends..and or evenings

BizzyMissy · 16/11/2024 12:48

@27TimesAway Can I ask how you found the temp agency you work with? I'd love an arrangement like that but wouldn't know where to start finding an agency like that even though I live in London so would assume there are several such agencies. Thanks!

SweetSakura · 16/11/2024 12:53

Tutor for homeschooled children ?
(Or after school tutor? My two both have tutors at 4pm)

SweetSakura · 16/11/2024 12:55

It's pocket money really but I enjoy election work (the count/polling stations and you can also canvassing if you enjoy walking)

Fedupwithneighbours · 16/11/2024 12:56

What about university admin? student support, academic administration etc

27TimesAway · 16/11/2024 16:55

BizzyMissy · 16/11/2024 12:48

@27TimesAway Can I ask how you found the temp agency you work with? I'd love an arrangement like that but wouldn't know where to start finding an agency like that even though I live in London so would assume there are several such agencies. Thanks!

It's really local and they advertise in our local paper. :) I'm in a small town that has 3-4 small villages in the environs.

They are really professional though. There is another temp agency in the next town and I don't hear good things. You might need to shop around for a good fit that makes you feel comfortable.