Seasonal Work in Retirement?

Albermarle

Nobody has yet mentioned Summer seasonal work.
If you live near one of the busier UK tourist attractions/seaside resort, there are usually plenty of hospitality type jobs available.

barnstar2077

Thank you for everyone's comments.  It all sounds very positive.  I don't plan on working after 55/57, but feel even better about my plan now knowing it shouldn't be too hard to find something if I want to at a later date.

Marcon

barnstar2077 said:

Thank you for everyone's comments.  It all sounds very positive.  I don't plan on working after 55/57, but feel even better about my plan now knowing it shouldn't be too hard to find something if I want to at a later date.

You might keep one thing in mind: the possible need for references at a future date. There are quite a lot of posts on the Employment forum from people who have never worked/had a career break or similar and are struggling to know how to deal with requests for the details of referees.  At the time you retire, it might be worth checking with your final pre-retirement employer who the 'best person is to contact if...' ?

Sarahspangles

Marcon said:

barnstar2077 said:

Thank you for everyone's comments.  It all sounds very positive.  I don't plan on working after 55/57, but feel even better about my plan now knowing it shouldn't be too hard to find something if I want to at a later date.

You might keep one thing in mind: the possible need for references at a future date. There are quite a lot of posts on the Employment forum from people who have never worked/had a career break or similar and are struggling to know how to deal with requests for the details of referees.  At the time you retire, it might be worth checking with your final pre-retirement employer who the 'best person is to contact if...' ?

That’s a good point, I have a couple of written references from previous contracts and I stay in touch with those managers - mainly because I like them. But it’s increasingly challenging now that many employers won’t allow staff to do more than tick ‘Did this person work for you’.

LHW99

Also, depending on your skill set, you may be able to work part-time as a self-employed consultant, picking those contracts that you want to do and working as many hours as you feel you need / like.

If you have that level of control over what you do, there should be no comeback with eg HMRC trying to suggest you are actually employed.

Moonwolf

My fall back is consultancy after I go in March. 

I have already been asked to consider a couple of short term contracts but they clash with things I have planned.  I reckon I have two years without working before I risk being a bit too stale and not having the contacts, but at the moment my SQL and Python development skills are quite in demand.  

However I m hoping not to need it.

SouthCoastBoy

Sarahspangles said:

Marcon said:

barnstar2077 said:

Thank you for everyone's comments.  It all sounds very positive.  I don't plan on working after 55/57, but feel even better about my plan now knowing it shouldn't be too hard to find something if I want to at a later date.

You might keep one thing in mind: the possible need for references at a future date. There are quite a lot of posts on the Employment forum from people who have never worked/had a career break or similar and are struggling to know how to deal with requests for the details of referees.  At the time you retire, it might be worth checking with your final pre-retirement employer who the 'best person is to contact if...' ?

That’s a good point, I have a couple of written references from previous contracts and I stay in touch with those managers - mainly because I like them. But it’s increasingly challenging now that many employers won’t allow staff to do more than tick ‘Did this person work for you’.

For all the companies I have worked for in the last 20 years, they give a minimal reference of dates and position. I don't think much else, they don't include pay.

If its seasonal work I would be surprised if they bothered with references. For the first 2 years of your employment my understanding is they can get rid of you relatively easily.

Secret2ndAccount

SouthCoastBoy said:

If its seasonal work I would be surprised if they bothered with references. For the first 2 years of your employment my understanding is they can get rid of you relatively easily.

What if they are handling money (cash or large financial transactions)? What if they are working with children or vulnerable adults? What if they are parking expensive vehicles? I can think of lots of reasons why an employer might want some idea of who they are taking on.

I have two stories from my time in the States:
1. A colleague of mine was fired for punching his boss in the face. A couple of days later, we received a phone call asking about him. My boss said "Just to let you know he was fired from here for punching his boss", to which the response came "I don't care about his right hook. Can he drive a truck?"

2. A local bakery had a fantastic equal opportunity hiring policy. The qualification was that you had to be able to complete the one-page application form with sufficient information that they could get in touch with you. When a job became available, they took the first application from the top of the pile, and contacted them. If they showed up, and made it through their first day, they had a job.

Sarahspangles

Secret2ndAccount said:

What if they are handling money (cash or large financial transactions)? What if they are working with children or vulnerable adults? What if they are parking expensive vehicles?

I don’t know if it’s formally set down anywhere but for employees moving between schools/academies references are always provided.

Nebulous2

Sarahspangles said:

Secret2ndAccount said:

What if they are handling money (cash or large financial transactions)? What if they are working with children or vulnerable adults? What if they are parking expensive vehicles?

I don’t know if it’s formally set down anywhere but for employees moving between schools/academies references are always provided.

Vulnerable adults in Scotland the expectations are very high. Full employment history, with explanations for any gaps, a reference from the most recent employer, and one other reference.