Encore: Work that matters in the second half of life.

Q. You’ve spent your career in a profit-making business but want your work to be more in line with your personal values… Is this the right reason to make a switch?

Eilene Zimmerman tackles this and other questions about encore transitions to the nonprofit sector in her “Career Couch” column in the New York Times.

In her answer, she quotes Steven Pascal-Joiner, midcareer transitions coordinator for Idealist.org. “It’s not enough to say, ‘I want to work for a nonprofit,’” he said. “You need to know what kind of organization you want to work for, the role you want to play and why.”

Zimmerman says encore careers in the nonprofit sector won’t necessarily mean shorter hours or an easy job. “Many people are surprised to find the hours longer and stress greater than in the corporate world,” she writes.

Career coach Jean Erickson Walker told Zimmerman, “In most nonprofits you’ll be expected to work longer hours – including evenings and weekends – for less money.” PayScale.com figures entry-level nonprofit jobs at 5 to 10 percent lower than those at for-profits, mid-level jobs at 20 to 25 percent lower and executive director positions at 50 percent lower or more.

The column also suggests:

• Retooling your resume to play up team projects and flexibility, as well as volunteer experience.
• Working your way into an organization by volunteering first.
• Meeting with the leadership to understand the organization’s finances and challenges.