10 jobs for retirees you can apply for today

There are plenty of people who cannot imagine working in retirement. They may be counting the days until they can finish in their current role, and consider changing careers at this late stage as an opportunity to earn very little doing something they know nothing about.

However, with 1.2 million people over the age of 65 still in work, you may just have to face the prospect of a few more years at the grindstone. Fortunately we've found some jobs that may make it less of a hardship.

1. Freelance Cat Sitter
If you have owned a cat for at least five years, and can pass a criminal records check, then there's a London cat sitting company looking for freelancers. You won't get regular work, but when someone in your locality needs a cat sitter, you'll be called up. You'll be expected to visit the cats in their homes every day during each assignment - and may be asked to work for a day or two, or a few weeks. For a cat lover this doesn't sound too stressful.

2. Lunchtime dog walker
If you're more of a dog person, a Calcot-based pet care company is looking for people willing to walk dogs. They are offering 1-3 hours a day (mainly over lunchtime) and are paying between £7.70 and £10 per hour (Including a travel allowance). This is more arduous than cat sitting, because you can't cry off in the rain and sleet, but if you love walking and dogs, it could be right for you.

3. Book seller
Bookmark, based in Bristol, is looking for someone to sell their books on stalls at conferences (although they promise they're not looking for a hard sell). They are only looking for someone on occasional days - usually weekends - but they are expecting to need help more often as time goes on. They say it would suit someone who is retired - as long as they are fit and healthy enough to move the books around. And they're paying £8 an hour.

3. Tea lady/man
The Eastbourne Academy is looking for a 'staffroom helper', to make teas and coffees and socialise with staff for an hour a day in the middle of the morning. They've said they are after someone who is energetic and outgoing - and that the role would suit a retired person. It's not the most taxing work in the world, it's only five hours a week, and you'll get all the school holidays off. The pay is £1,669 a year.

5. Part-time viewing assistant
Online estate agency Purplebricks, is looking for someone to show people around properties in certain parts of London - and they have specifically said that retired people are encouraged to apply. You'll be responsible for all viewings at a number of properties, and will be expected to schedule them yourself. They're looking for people who have experience in the property industry, and have their own car and computer.

6. Driver
Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa in Newmarket is looking for someone to drive corporate clients to and from the hotel, and keep the car spotless. You'd be expected to pick them up between 8am and 9am to drive them to the hotel, then collect them from the hotel between 5pm and 6pm and drive them home. You'd get £8 an hour, and they have suggested the role would be good for someone who is retired.

7. Driving instructor
A Harlow-based school of motoring is looking for instructors, and suggests retired people - or people approaching retirement - might want to consider the role. You need to have held a driving licence for at least three years - and have no more than five penalty points on your licence.

8. Painter and decorator
Wheelgate Park, a theme park in Newark, is looking for a 'painting and decorating ranger'. They say it would suit someone semi-retired who fancies earning some extra money, and they are happy to be flexible about the hours you work.

9. Window cleaner
A cleaning company in Martham (near Great Yarmouth) is looking for someone who could work 16-20 hours a week (or longer if they wanted). It pays £7.40 an hour, and you'd need to be prepared to drive the van. They suggest it would be a great job for someone who is active and recently retired,

10. CEO
The Litus Foundation is looking for a CEO-designate to advise and help build the organisation - which develops energy efficient technologies. They say the role would suit someone who is recently retired - or who has just sold a business - and they are happy to tailor the hours around the right candidate. Of course, you'd need to be an experienced executive, with lots of handy contacts in Europe, and experience in industry or finance, but for the right person this is just the kind of thing to stop retirement becoming boring.