I guess I’m a little scared.

Yes, I’m older and have many of the little aches and pains and forgetfulness typical of my peers but I dred and resist the stereotyping of older people like me.

Maybe because I don’t fit the mold and probably never have.

I’m 63 but have no children and consequently no grandchildren.

I didn’t work for one company for 30 years and don’t have a tidy little pension.

I live my life as if I’m just a person – not a woman of a certain age – just a woman trying to survive in the world.

By Steven Pascal-Joiner with Meg Busse. Action Without Borders, 2008
This essential resource for encore jobseekers outlines how to move from volunteering to rewarding nonprofit careers. Author Steven Pascal-Joiner digs into the differences between nonprofit work and jobs in other sectors, helping readers reframe their resumes and find meaningful employment. A free download is available at www.idealist.org. The print edition, $55.70, is available from Lulu.com.

Stanford Center for Social Innovation is located at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. The organization publishes the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

The Partnership for Public Service is working to make the government an employer of choice for talented, dedicated Americans. The Partnership has a particular interest in encouraging boomers transitioning from the private sector to make encore careers in government service.

By Laura Gassner Otting. Kaplan Publishing, 2007. This book provides an overview of the sector. The author is the head of the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group. Price: $16.95. Available online.

The NonProfit Times Annual Salary Survey lists salaries in the nonprofit world. Price: $24.95. Available online at http://shop.nptimes.com.

Salary.com’s Salary Wizard provides typical salaries by job title and location and offers a quick way to benchmark your salary expectations for particular jobs in specific regions.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has a wealth of information on accelerated programs that provide a fast track to careers in nursing.

By Shelly Cryer. Fieldstone Alliance, 2008
This book offers a clear and comprehensive overview of nonprofit careers. It includes a wide range of profiles that give readers a glimpse into the day-to-day realities of nonprofit work. Q&As with nonprofit luminaries provide deeper insight into the nonprofit sector. Price: $16.95 Available online at www.nonprofitcareerguide.org

By Samuel Greengard. Sterling Publishing Company, 2008