To find a job after retirement, start by deciding what you want from the work and how much it needs to pay. Then tell people you’ve worked with that you’re looking. Update your résumé for how employers hire now, and search job boards built for older workers.
The same steps work if you’re in your 50s and changing jobs before you retire. Unemployed workers 55 to 64 had been out of work for an average of 27 weeks in 2025. For those 65 and older, it was 31 weeks. The average across all ages was 23 weeks, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Give yourself a cushion before you need the paycheck.
1. Decide What You Want From the Job
Retirees go back to work for different reasons, and the reason shapes the search. If you need the income, focus on pay and steady hours. If you want structure or company, a part-time job a few days a week may be enough.
Answer a few questions before you apply:
- Do you want part-time, full-time, seasonal, or project work?
- Do you need health insurance from the job, or do you already have Medicare or other coverage?
- Would you rather stay in your field or start an encore career in a new one?
- Do you want to work from home, or would you rather get out of the house?
2. Figure Out How Much You Need to Earn
Know your number before you talk about pay. A job that covers your monthly bills lets your savings stay invested longer. A job that brings in less can still help if it lets you delay Social Security or skip early withdrawals.
Working in retirement can also change your benefits. Before full retirement age, Social Security holds back part of your benefit once your earnings pass a yearly limit.
In the Boldin Planner, you can enter what a job would pay and see how it changes your savings.
3. Know Why the Search Can Take Longer After 50
Older job seekers run into a few common hurdles. Knowing them ahead of time helps you answer them in an interview.
- Pay: Your last salary may be higher than what the new role pays. Decide your floor before you apply, and ask whether flexible hours or extra time off can make up part of the gap.
- Skills: Employers want to see that you use current tools. A short online course or certificate shows you’ve kept up.
- Younger managers: You may report to someone your kids’ age. Show that you’re glad to work for them and learn from them.
- Age bias: Some hiring managers assume an older hire will retire again soon or cost more in health benefits. Talk about how long you plan to stay and what you can start doing on day one.
Federal law protects workers 40 and older from age discrimination in hiring at employers with 20 or more employees.
4. Start With People You Already Know
Your first calls should go to former coworkers, clients, and managers. They know your work, and they can vouch for you before a hiring manager sees your résumé.
Tell friends, neighbors, and people in your clubs or volunteer groups what kind of work you want. Be specific. “I’m looking for 20 hours a week of bookkeeping” gets you more leads than “I’m looking for something part-time.”
Call your old employer too. Some companies bring retirees back as contractors or part-time staff. If you get a pension from that employer, ask how going back would affect your payments before you say yes.
Update your LinkedIn profile before you reach out. Recruiters search it for candidates, and a current photo and headline show you’re active.
5. Update Your Résumé and Cover Letter
Keep your résumé to two pages and focus it on the last 10 to 15 years of work.
- Match the wording in the job posting. Many employers screen résumés with software that looks for those terms.
- Drop graduation dates and early jobs that don’t relate to the role.
- Use an email address with your name at a current provider, and list your cell number.
- Add your LinkedIn URL.
- List recent training, certificates, and the tools you use, such as Excel, Zoom, or Slack.
In your cover letter, speak to what the employer worries about. A manager filling a part-time role wants someone who’ll stay. Say why the schedule fits your life, and say you’re glad to learn new systems.
6. Use Job Boards and Programs for Older Workers
General sites like LinkedIn and Indeed have the most listings. These sites focus on older workers or flexible jobs:
- Workforce50 posts jobs from employers looking for experienced workers.
- RetirementJobs.com lists jobs from employers that recruit workers over 50.
- RetiredBrains links to part-time, seasonal, and temporary jobs.
- FlexJobs screens remote and flexible listings and charges job seekers a subscription.
Free government help is available too. Your local American Job Center offers job search help at no cost, whatever your income. If you’re 55 or older with a low income, the Senior Community Service Employment Program offers paid, part-time training.
7. Consider Working for Yourself
If you can’t find the right job, you can create one with a business of your own. Consulting in your old field, freelancing, and tutoring all let you set your own hours and rates.
You’ll owe self-employment tax on most of your net earnings. It covers both the employee and employer shares of Social Security and Medicare.
8. Steer Clear of Job Scams
Scammers target people looking for flexible or work-from-home jobs. The FTC’s warning signs include any offer that:
- Asks you to pay for the job, training, or a starter kit
- Sends you a check and asks you to send part of it back or buy gift cards
- Promises high pay for little work
- Asks you to receive and reship packages
How Does a Job Fit Into Your Retirement Plan?
A job fits best when your plan still works after the paycheck stops. Add the income to the Boldin Planner and test different end dates. You’ll see how long your savings last if the job ends sooner than you expect.
Frequently Asked Questions About Finding a Job After Retirement
Is it hard to find a job after 50?
Finding a job after 50 can take longer. Older job seekers stay unemployed for more weeks on average, and some run into pay gaps, outdated skills, or age bias. Reaching out to people who know your work, updating your résumé, and using job boards for older workers can shorten the search.
What websites help retirees find jobs?
Job sites for retirees include Workforce50, RetirementJobs.com, and RetiredBrains. They’re smaller than LinkedIn or Indeed, so use them alongside the big boards. FlexJobs charges a subscription for vetted remote and flexible jobs, and your local American Job Center offers free help.
Can I go back to work for my old employer after I retire?
Retirees can go back to work for a former employer, and some employers rehire them as part-time staff or contractors. If you collect a pension from that employer, the plan may pause your payments for any month you work 40 or more hours for it. Ask the plan administrator before you accept.
Should I leave graduation dates off my résumé?
Leaving graduation dates off your résumé makes sense in most cases. Employers care more about your recent experience than when you finished school, and dates can invite age bias. Keep your degree and school, drop the year, and focus on the last 10 to 15 years of work.
How can I tell if a work-from-home job is a scam?
Before you apply, look up the company’s name with words like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” Never pay to apply, train, or buy equipment. An employer that sends you a check and asks for part of it back is running a scam.
