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Find Your Encore Career

Put your experience to work with free advice, resources and job listings

Then ; Now
Retired Professor ; Nonprofit Founder
Michele McRae
Fargo, ND
2008 Purpose Prize Winner

More Encore Careers

Start your own nonprofit

Start small. A pilot project lets you build capacity as your knowledge base and resources grow.

Check out the Foundation Center’s extensive resources for starting a nonprofit.

Find social service organizations in your area.

Read articles in Stanford Social Innovation Review about how to run a nonprofit or socially responsible business.

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Get Started Guide

The Wall Street Journal calls it “essential reading.” If you are just beginning your search for an encore career, check out our new Get Started Guide, which offers expert advice, helpful books and Web sites, tips and success stories – plus answers to your questions about how to pursue careers in education, health care, government and the environment.

Encore Career Advice

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How to Negotiate Your Encore Compensation Package

Posted 11/13/2009 - 12:40pm

Even in these tough economic times, many boomers are exploring ways to earn a living while serving their communities. Many are willing to give up some financial benefits for the psychic benefits of meaningful work.

These intrepid explorers need not be martyrs for the common good. The financial hit they take when moving into the nonprofit lane can be softened considerably by some smart negotiating. Lane changers who now enjoy nonprofit careers shared some surprising pointers about negotiating their new compensation packages.

by: jjelenko | Read more >>

What Is Driving Your Encore Career?

Posted 09/11/2009 - 12:28am

By Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners

We are a nation of doers, so when we think about changing careers the first impulse is to ask, “Where do I want to work?” We’ve discovered through our research that the most successful transitions occur when people take the time to discover what makes them tick.

by: Jeri Sedlar | Read more >>

Ace That Interview: How to Land a Job After Age 50

Posted 09/11/2009 - 12:31pm

By Joe Turner

“I was fully qualified and it makes no sense” is the most common complaint. “They simply don’t know how to hire” is another one. Or, “They told me that I was overqualified.”

Randy Block, a seasoned career transition coach and consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area, often hears comments like these. He knows that the ultra-competitive job search process in today’s economy is especially hard for experienced individuals seeking encore careers. He advises them to think and act differently during interviews in order to succeed.

by: turnerjo | Read more >>

Networking on Steroids Opens Doors to Encore Careers

Posted 08/14/2009 - 2:43pm

Well before the current economic downturn, I cautioned against making the mistake of sitting back passively and waiting for job opportunities to come to you. Although you need to be open to the forces of serendipity putting new options in your path, you must attack the process of discovery with an active mindset.

by: jjelenko | Read more >>

How to Maximize Your Social Security Check

Posted 07/14/2009 - 2:43pm

An encore career combining social impact and continued income can help you get the highest possible Social Security payouts when you do eventually retire.

The New York Times and U.S. News & World Report both recommend waiting as long as possible (up to age 70) to begin claiming your benefits, if you can do so without draining your retirement savings. So an encore career that provides enough compensation to at least match what you could receive in Social Security benefits (and enables you to avoid drawing down retirement assets) can help you boost your monthly income — for the rest of your life.

by: Terry Nagel | Read more >>

Encore Career Resources

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Night Owl Companion job searching guides

Posted 03/02/2009 - 3:15pm

Three practical guides from Night Owl Companion Publishing offer practical tips to individuals seeking work that aligns with their values and skills. Although these books are not specifically directed at people seeking encore careers, they break down the process of finding a job into manageable tasks that are helpful to all job searchers.

by: Terry Nagel | Read more >>

Encore.org Calendar

Posted 05/07/2009 - 10:50am

Check out events in your area that can help you find an encore career. Visit the Encore.org Calendar. To suggest an event for the Calendar, send details to Terry Nagel at tnagel@civicventures.org.

| Read more >>

Boomster.com

Posted 02/20/2009 - 7:41am

Boomster.com is an information and social networking Web site for people 45+ interested in new careers, starting their own business or jobs in the nonprofit arena, as well as adventure travel, voluntourism and meeting people who share their interests.

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What Color Is Your Parachute? For Retirement

Posted 02/04/2009 - 1:22pm

By Richard N. Bolles and John E. Nelson. Ten Speed Press, 2007.
What Color Is Your Parachute? For Retirement helps you plan ahead for an encore career, with exercises that help you build a framework that builds on your personal strengths, financial realities and emotional needs.

| Read more >>

Mature Worker Connection

Posted 12/11/2008 - 11:24am

The Pima County Council on Aging in Arizona created the Mature Worker Connection, which offers free job placement services for people over 50. The organization won a BreakThrough Award from Civic Ventures.

| Read more >>