Boot camps that aim to “retire retirement,” vacations that let you try out dream careers and a new crop of life coaches are flourishing as boomers seek help making the transition to their encore careers.

“Sometimes a big turn in your life requires more concentration than we get on a daily basis,” Judy Goggin, vice president of Civic Ventures, told The Wall Street Journal. “The idea of going away for a week – and stepping out from your regular world – can be really appealing.”

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.

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

“Successful Professionals Achieving in Nonprofits,” a one-day program, is designed to help retirees and those nearing retirement identify where their expertise and experience may fit in a nonprofit organization.

The Center for Nonprofit Management reports that an estimated 78 million American baby boomers plan to work beyond retirement age, with half interested in exploring encore careers in nonprofit and charitable organizations.

The Dec. 5 program is designed for those with experience in corporate, business or public fields who are interested in exploring the nonprofit sector.

A successful switch to a nonprofit career depends on your success in identifying work that feels personally fulfilling. Before you update your resume and begin answering hiring managers’ questions, take the time to explore what issues you are passionate about and identify the skills you have to offer to a nonprofit.