I am retiring dec/07. I want to do a course,which will allow me to work from home on my PC. any advice anyone?

Question

I enjoy working on my PC and wish to learn something that will allow me to earn enough to compensate the drop in my income. I am 52 years old and taking an early retirement as I really hate my current job. As I enjoy and spend a lot on time on computer, I am hoping to do a course to learn something useful and apply that knowledge to earn some money, which will allow me to maintain the same living standard. However, the problem is I just don't know where to start or what to look for, and so am asking for your help. A useful guidance towards an appropriate course would be highly appreciated. Thank you

Answer 1

Except for entertainment, like wandering through this forum or surfing the web, a computer is simply a tool that is used to make something else happen. There's nothing magic about it and no great demand for people with minimal skills.

You say that you hate your job, but one of the best ways to earn a little extra cash after retirement is to do the same type of work you were doing, but do it as a consultant or on a part-time basis. Consider what parts of your present job, or some of the jobs around you, could be done by an independent contractor for less expense to the company. Just remember that any company is in business for just one purpose -- to make money. If you can save them a few bucks, they may very well consider it.

After I retired at age 60, I did some projects for my previous two employers. I happened to be a database developer and systems manager in those jobs, so that gave me some advantange. It made financial sense for them to call me whenever they wanted something modified. I earned far more on a per-hour basis doing that kind of work than I did working full-time. Just be aware that being self-employed requires a lot of other things you may have never thought about like tax and social security issues (double payment on SS!!) that your government demands that you pay.

You almost certainly have some marketable skills already or you wouldn't be working. Start with those and let your imagination do the rest. Good luck in your retirement.

Answer 2

I don't know what you're retiring from, but you may want to consider doing something else. Computer careers have been pretty rough and tumble since Sept. 11 and the bursting of the internet bubble for those of us who have worked with computers our whole lives. Here in Kansas City, Sprint laid off several thousand tech workers a few years back, and the local economy is just now absorbing all the talent back into the workforce while many have had to move to other cities to find tech jobs. If you're really serious about it, take at least a year of intensive classes at your local junior college or tech school, or get a college degree in computer science.

Answer 3

Depending on your aptitude and what you will be comfortable with first decide on what kind of work you would like to do:
1. Home based Customer support Voice or Email.
2. Freelance web design / graphics
3. Outsourced data processing / digitization jobs like medical transcription etc..
For options 1 & 3 you will have to approach the job consultants who introduce you to companies which do this kind of job & all trainings are provided by the company.
For option 2 you can attend one of the many web design & development & dedign programs or multmedia courses avaliable. But make sure yu have the necessary creative aptitude for this.

Answer 4

A decent web design course might be the way to go. Then you can go about creating your own sites or market your design services to other people and companies.

Without knowing roughly where you are it's difficult to recommend a course, but the HTML Writers Guild (www.hwg.org) has any number of courses available online. Your local higher education colleges will undoubtedly also run suitable courses.

Answer 5

If you are really serious try tutorvista.com.