Some Digital-Age Jobs Know No Age

Discussion in 'Senior Employment' started by Louis Ruiz, Jan 26, 2015.

  1. Louis Ruiz

    Louis Ruiz Veteran Member
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    Something I find interesting about digital-age jobs such as webmaster, graphic designer and programmer: they don't really have a mandatory retirement age. As long as a person can deliver the goods, he or she can be employed remotely regardless of age.

    The great thing about it: there are many online marketplaces open to anyone who want to become self-employed in this sector.

    There is also no age-limit to learn. If you are good with computers, you can devote the next 3-5 years to become as proficient as the next young guy in line.

    This is nothing like being a pilot or working in the security sector. I relate some digital-age jobs more to some traditional ones such as being a singer or songwriter: as long as you can deliver, you can do it.

    Some marketplaces:

    Freelancer.com
    Guru.com
    oDesk.com
     
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  2. Ruth Belena

    Ruth Belena Veteran Member
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    I work as a digital content writer. I've been doing this for 7 years now and it's something I definitely think I do better in my senior years. I enjoy writing for different people and companies who own websites or blogs, and for any other clients who need written content to publish online. I love being self-employed, working from home and choosing my own hours of work.
     
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  3. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    I really would like to continue to work at home. If I could just find my niche I believe I could make it successfully. I've been looking into some job listings sent via email from the unemployment office but haven't found anything locally yet in case I'd have to go in for an face to face interview.
     
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  4. Pat Baker

    Pat Baker Supreme Member
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    I would like to be more proficient with the few things I do know how to do on the computer to be able to make more money online. I would like to be able to Blog but I have no idea what to talk about. I work as an insurance agent in the senior market working with medicare and final expenses for seniors but there really is not that much to talk about that has not already been said.

    There are digital jobs that can be fulfiled by a teenage if they knew what to do or a senior which is cool.
     
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  5. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    Having earned our living almost entirely online for more than fifteen years now, my wife and I learned is that one of the keys is to look for as many income streams as possible. We still do some of it, but we used to do a lot of web design and search engine optimization, and had the US Mint, Nokia, and K-Mart as our clients at one time. Although I wouldn't turn it down if it were to come my way again, the problem with that is when you're being paid a few thousand a month by one customer, you tend to focus on that one customer, letting a lot of other things slide. Then, when the contract comes to and end, and it is not renewed, you're broke.

    Now, if we get a big job, we take the amount of time that we need to take in order to do that job but we don't view it as a full-time job, retaining and taking in new clients at the same time, even outsourcing if we have to. In that way, when a contract comes to an end, we still have several smaller revenue streams coming in, and can afford food and other necessities.

    We have several websites online, so AdSense and Amazon.com associate revenue pays our online expenses, such as Internet access, domain fees, hosting costs, and software. At one time, these were high enough to make our house and auto insurance payments as well but I really need to update some of my sites to bring that back up again. I have several websites that are not monetized at all, which is probably foolish, but it saddens me when I come across people whose only purpose online is in making money, since I'd like to also enjoy it here.

    We both work 30 hours a week for one web directory, being paid by the hour, and are paid by the edit by another directory, and I am trying to keep another one on the hook if I need it. Plus, we do a number of other things online, here and there.

    Although it's not actual money, my job with the web directories require me to make searches throughout the day, every day, and I make a point of using Bing. The results that I get from Bing are as good, or better, than those that I get from Google, but I can earn gift cards for Amazon.com and several other online shopping places. The following link is a referral link, in the event that you were unfamiliar with Bing Rewards.
     
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  6. Corie Henson

    Corie Henson Veteran Member
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    One job that will suit a retiree is to be an online writer. Especially for those who are good in the keyboard, writing is a good mental exercise. From time to time, I am saying that I joined forums not really to earn money but to hone my writing skills especially my command of English. My work is replete with communication chores like regular daily meetings and writing memos and other business writing needs like procedures.

    I was really surprised that you can earn money by writing online. Posting short articles in some websites can earn money. But I am not fond of writing articles so I was advised to join forums instead. And I have been to more than 10 forums already that half of the number I find interesting. Now I am spending my time in the internet wisely and not just playing games.
     
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  7. Eilynne Medalla

    Eilynne Medalla Veteran Member
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    Thanks so much, Corie. You have profoundly encouraged and enlightened me with your post. This is my very first time to join a forum and enjoying it immensely. I have been scammed so many times doing home-based virtual assistant jobs. Very frustrating! Writing at my own pace with no stress, no pressure is something that gives me joy. I would like to be more active in some other legitimate forums. Any advice, please.
     
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  8. Hannah Davis

    Hannah Davis Veteran Member
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    I have to agree digital work is one of the few ways that someone isn't discriminated for their age. The only problem with digital work is that is unpredictable. You can have a job one week and not the next. Take my word for this I have been doing this kind of work for years and have seen all the ups along with the downs. I recently had a job that was great online and out of nowhere it was gone, no notice, just gone. So, this is the main draw back to digital work, it's not stable work, but then is there such a thing as stable work.
     
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  9. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    My wife will quit her full-time job when we move next June. Since she has co-workers that "work from home", using their home computers, she told me that she might be interested in getting a job like that where we move to. However, I do know that a company will monitor when she would be online working and not. That is how she'd get paid. When I asked her before about "working from home", she didn't want to do it because of this "monitoring" the home computer. We haven't got anything to hide, but she just wasn't a fan of using her computer at home for company stuff.

    I would think that a company would like to know how old the home computer is, how fast, etc., etc.. Think so? Unfortunately, our laptop (she definitely doesn't want to use our fairly new desktop) is some 11 years old and very, very slow. It still runs Windows 7, but no updates for that Windows anymore. By the time we decided to get the "free" version of Windows 10, the offer was over and Windows 10 cost too much to put into an old computer.

    So, I'd think, if she does want to look for a "in home" job for a company using a computer, we will have to shell out some $1,500 dollars for a nice speedy new laptop.

    What do you think about this "work from home" thing for a Senior and buying a new laptop to accommodate what a company would require...…….a new computer.
     
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  10. Beatrice Taylor

    Beatrice Taylor Veteran Member
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    I would not spend any money until I was sure I had a legitimate job that I enjoyed and was good at.

    When I worked we had some people that worked from home and our company provided the equipment to ensure that it and the software if contained were all up to date, licensed, etc...

    I myself would be skeptical of any job that required me to use my own equipment.
     
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  11. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Well, we both get tired at how slow our laptop is. I'm constantly hearing her complain about it. The company she currently works for does not provide any employee with a computer or software. Don't know exactly how it works, but the co-workers that do work from home sometimes, use their own computer. They simply sign-in, as an employee, to the company website, go to the same area they would if at the job and start working. One of her former co-workers, works from home, on his home computer, 90% of the time.

    A new laptop would be a very nice Christmas gift and I could set it up for her. However, still thinking about the cost and what we still have to buy/pay for before we make our move next June. But, if we buy it now, while it's on sale for $250 less, we wouldn't have to worry about buying one later.

    One thing I definitely know...…...my wife is excellent at finances, whether it be working AR, AP, financial analyst or anything else dealing with finance.
     
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  12. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    If you’re set on buying a new computer then you might wish to think about one that has been refurbished. They’re about half the price and if it’s a reputable company it should come with a pretty good guarantee and the latest OS.
     
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  13. Babs Hunt

    Babs Hunt Supreme Member
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    If your wife feels the income she would make from working at home would be worth her doing it...then she should have the computer equipment she will need to do that job even if it costs more than you might want to pay. It's an investment in future earnings for y'all and well worth it if she decides she does want to work from home.
     
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  14. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    Well, now she is somewhat changing her mind, against getting it right now. It's a darn nice computer, but the thought continues...…."we could use the money in other ways, including adding to the cost of transporting our boat to Colorado as well as renting a spot to put it". So, just don't know, however we do know that a company would not allow her to work from home with the laptop she currently has. It's just too old and slow.

    Bobby, she definitely doesn't want a refurbished one, no matter how good the condition is should be in.
     
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  15. Holly Saunders

    Holly Saunders Supreme Member
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    I don't understand , Cody. if you can buy a new laptop now while your wife is still employed, then she could work from home until you move , and she'll still be earning and therefore replacing the money you spent on the laptop, whereas if you wait until you relocate not only will the laptop cost you more, there's no guarantee she'll get a job, much less one that will refill the coffers enough to recover the cost of the laptop plus your boats costs etc...
     
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