Wear Your Pajamas to Work

4. Personal Care Assistance:There are organizations and people who might hire you to babysit, provide elder care, walk pets, and house-sit. The work may not be in your home, but you’ll work close to home. Care.com is an Internet site where you can register as a certified-care provider. The company would schedule your assignments to babysit, care for elders, and perform other personal-care tasks. There are several large and reputable eldercare providers, such as Home Instead Senior Care, Right at Home, and HomeWatch CareGivers. You would be paid by the hour, and your pay would reflect your qualifications—including training in medical nursing.

Q: I worked as a teacher for 30 years. I’d like to take advantage of my lifetime of experience, but I don’t want to work for an organization and commute five days a week. I don’t have a clue how to build up a list of clients, and I’m not inclined to be a salesperson and promote myself. There must be organizations who would hire me to work from home on projects and assignments several days a week. – Kevin, Duluth, Minn.

A: Employers are increasingly willing to hire retired professionals to perform contract or project work from home. There are several professional fields that lend themselves to working at or close to home:

1. Writers and Editors – Many people want to be freelance writers or editors, working from the comfort of their sun-filled back porch and sipping tea while earning “big” money. There is work available, but it’s likely you’ll not earn more than $15 to $20 per hour, at best. Still, there are a number of organizations you should contact to arrange assignments, including WritersMarket, MediaBistro, Associated Content, Freelance Writing Jobs, and Writerfind. You might also be able to find assignments or part-time work through traditional employers, though the competition is fierce.

2. Tutoring: You can work in the local office of an educational company, such as Kaplan or Sylvan Learning, or you can get involved with the new world of online tutoring, in which tutors use the Internet and the phone. This is a rapidly growing area and has a number of legitimate opportunities, including Tutor.com and the National Tutoring Association.
    You could also consider starting your own tutoring business. With the right qualifications and experience, you can establish your own in-home business. Advertise in your community newspaper, craigslist, and by word of mouth. Private tutors can earn $25 to $60 per hour, but you’ll earn less if you work through an agency or tutoring company—probably $12 to $20 per hour.

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