Civic Ventures’ new Get Started Guide answers 12 of the questions most commonly asked by individual seeking encore careers that offer income doing work that is personally fulfilling and has social impact.

Among the questions answers are “How can I update my job skills,” “How do I finance the transition to an encore career?” and “How do I transition from a corporate job to a nonprofit one?”

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.

Whether you are a nonprofit employer interested in further developing your workforce or someone who is interested in an encore career but has not previously worked at a nonprofit, a new report, “A Perfect Match? How Nonprofits are Tapping into the Boomer Talent Pool”, by Jill Casner-Lotto of The Conference Board, provides “actionable advice” for both.

“When you look at us, you see we’re all different: We’re male and female, black and white and Hispanic. But we all speak with one voice: We all want to work!” said Rosa Hannah, 60, of Rochester, New York.

Hannah was among five other panelists at Experience Works’ press event to highlight its new study, “Overlooked and Underserved: An In-depth Look at the Challenges Facing Low-income Older Job Seekers.”

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.

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.

GreenBiz.com has a terrific collection of green job listings. You can search for jobs, post a resume, view resumes, and use career tools. The site also features energy and climate news and multiple blogs.

The AARP.org Jobs Search Engine is powered by RetirementJobs.com. It screens employers to make sure they have age-friendly hiring practices and lists jobs for workers over age 50.

RetiredBrains.com is a job and information resource for retirees and people planning their retirement. The site connects experienced workers with employers seeking to hire them.

The goal of the Harvard University Advanced Leadership Initiative is to prepare experienced leaders to transition from their primary income-earning years to community and public service for their next years of life. The Fellowship is designed to enhance and leverage the skills of already-accomplished leaders for maximum impact on significant social problems, including thsoe that affect health and welfare, children, and the environment.