You’re older and looking at a job search for something that doesn’t require experienced workers or fancy degrees. There are plenty of great entry level jobs for older adults, including jobs for seniors and younger job seekers. In this blog post, we’re exploring 5 of the best options on the job market, from retail clerk to human resources assistant.
These jobs usually offer average wage, flexible hours, and the chance to start a brand new career path. They also hire seniors! Even better, many of them value the maturity and life experience that you bring to the table. Read on to discover the best options for you and your skills.
Retail Jobs: Sales Associate, Cashier, Stocker
Let’s start with retail jobs, these could be ideal for older adults.
Sales Associate
As a sales associate, you’re helping customers find what they’re looking for and ringing up their purchases. It’s a role well-suited for friendly people with communication skills. The average hourly wage is usually around $10 to $15 a hour. You don’t usually need any experience to land an entry-level sales associate job, just a positive attitude and willingness to learn.
Cashier
Cashiers work cash registers, handle payments, and often bag or wrap purchases. Most retailers provide on-the-job training. Cashiers typically make between $10 to $15 an hour. The hours can vary and often include evenings, weekends, and holidays. If you’re looking for simple part time jobs with a flexible schedule, becoming a cashier is a good option.
Customer Service Representative Jobs: Call Center, Help Desk, Receptionist
Next, let’s dive into customer service roles.
Providing Support
Whether working at a call center, help desk or as a receptionist, your role is to assist customers. You will be handling account questions, technical issues, returns or exchanges and general inquiries. Learn your company’s products, services and policies inside and out so you can provide accurate information to customers. Be prepared for some upset callers and practice patience. Having a pleasant and helpful attitude goes a long way. Have resources on hand to help resolve issues. With experience, you’re going to get better at calming irate customers and troubleshooting problems.
Administrative Tasks
There are also administrative duties, like data entry, managing schedules, and overall office work. Greet visitors, announce guests, and direct people to the appropriate employees or departments. Staying organized and detail-oriented will help ensure messages are delivered and appointments are scheduled correctly.
Plenty of Room For Growth
While entry-level, customer service jobs provide valuable experience and opportunities for career progression. Many call centers and companies promote from within, allowing you to move into leadership roles like supervisor, trainer or manager. The skills you build, like communication, problem-solving and time-management, are transferable to other jobs. And with more experience comes higher pay and greater responsibility.
Overall, customer service roles, though demanding, can be rewarding work. If you enjoy helping others, these jobs could be a great match when getting your foot in the door at a company with opportunities for career growth over the long run. Check job boards occasionally to find opportunities.
Food Service: Restaurant Server, Barista, Host/Hostess
If you’re searching for more low-responsibility jobs, consider the food industry.
Restaurant Server
As a restaurant server, you’re going to be responsible for greeting customers, explaining the menu, taking orders, and serving the food. The pay typically includes tips, likely only a job interview is required, and no formal education is required, though on-the-job training teaches you the specifics of that restaurant’s menu and processes.
The hours can be long, especially at dinner time, but the ability to choose a schedule around your own hours suits many older workers looking for part-time work. If you’re personable, detail-oriented, and can handle the physical demands of the job, serving tables at a restaurant may be a great entry-level option.
Barista
Do you love the smell of freshly brewed coffee? If you’re a barista, you’re going to make and serve coffee and espresso drinks, explain the menu to customers, and operate the cash register. Baristas typically don’t need any formal education or certification to get started. Receive on-the-job training to learn how to properly make coffee drinks, use the equipment, and provide good customer service.
The hours are often flexible –jobs typically include early mornings though. If you enjoy chatting with customers, whipping up lattes and cappuccinos, and working in a fast-paced environment, becoming a barista could be a rewarding job.
Administrative or Virtual Assistant: Data Entry, Scheduling, Mailroom Clerk
Administrative tasks could also be a good option for older workers. Such as:
Data Entry
Much of an admin assistant’s day involves data entry, meaning transcribing and inputting information into digital forms and spreadsheets. This could be an office job or even government jobs. You would be updating customer contact details, logging expenses, or entering product inventory into a database. While the work can be repetitive, it’s also flexible enough to do remotely. Accuracy and speed are important, so you’ll want to be comfortable typing and have a knack for details.
Managing Schedules
Helping to schedule meetings and manage calendars is another significant part of the job. Coordinate with your manager or team members to find convenient times for them to connect with colleagues and clients. Strong organizational skills are key here, as you’re going to be responsible for avoiding any scheduling mishaps or double bookings. You should also feel at ease communicating with people at all levels of seniority, to avoid the risk of age discrimination.
Entry-Level Healthcare Jobs: Transporter, Dietary Aide, Patient Care Tech
Trying to start or advance your medial career? Consider some entry-level healthcare work:
Dietary Aide
Dietary aides assist in hospital or care facility kitchens and cafeterias. They help prepare, cook and serve meals to patients and staff. Like transporters, this role likely requires a high school education and pays $10 to $15 an hour. Daily tasks include washing dishes, cleaning spaces, and making sure meals meet dietary requirements. You don’t need prior food service experience, but you should enjoy working as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
Patient Care
Patient care techs, also known as nursing assistants, provide basic care to patients such as bathing, feeding and transporting them. This role typically requires completion of a state-approved training program and pays between $12 to $20 an hour. Daily duties include monitoring vital signs, helping patients walk and exercise, serving meals, assisting with personal hygiene like bathing or dressing wounds, and reporting any changes in a patient’s condition to nurses. Strong interpersonal skills and a desire to help others are essential for this role.
While the pay for these entry-level healthcare jobs may be on the lower end of the scale, they provide an opportunity to gain valuable experience, build your resume, and advance your career. Many people start in one of these roles before becoming a nurse, medical assistant, or pursuing higher healthcare certifications. If you enjoy helping others, don’t mind physical work, and want to get your foot in the healthcare door, these older adult or seniors jobs could be a great place to start.
Start Working Today With EASY Wireless!!
If you’re reading this blog, you’re likely trying to find some entry-level work. Well, you’re going to need a couple things to start finding roles. Luckily, EASY Wireless is here to help!
Partnering with connectivity programs such as Lifeline, we’re offering FREE phones with data to eligible individuals just like yourself. Whether you need to keep in touch with friends & family or you want to just save money on your current plan, here’s what we’re offering:
EASY Wireless Unlimited Plan
FREE Unlimited Data
FREE Unlimited Talk
FREE Unlimited Text
FREE SIM Card Kit and Activation
Choose to Keep Your Number or Get a New One
To start with EASY Wireless, apply online by clicking the below:
Start Saving Today!
Or you can come to one of the EASY Wireless’s retail stores, where our customer service agent will help you apply for your benefits.
