Baby Boomer Careers: Second Time Around

Many baby boomers have worked in long, prosperous careers only to find they need to keep working. In fact, a whopping 74 percent of today’s workers plan to get another job after they retire, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

For financial reasons or just to keep busy, many are seeking new careers the second time around. Often, they reinvent themselves while looking for something they enjoy, according to author Marci Alboher of The Encore Career Handbook.

Retirees who held corporate positions may have established relationships with companies they can continue to consult with. Volunteer positions at hospitals or non-profits can also lead to new part-time or flex-time job opportunities for this older sector.

In the March 2012 Bloomberg Businessweek, college counselors and funeral directors were noted as comfortable careers for seasoned veterans. Teachers and bloggers also fit the needs of older workers who typically have a lot of experience to share.

Check out resources available to those over 50 looking for second careers. Online websites, such as Work Imagine and LinkedIn, list career opportunities for this age category. Also, AARP offers a Best Employers for Workers Over 50 program that highlights those employers embracing the over-50 generation.

Professional certifications have become a great choice for this generation, and many colleges have designed programs specifically for the older workforce. So if you’re looking for a career a second time around, there are several great options to consider.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Older Workers, Second Careers, and Success

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

1. The Best Interview Tips for Older Job Seekers
"You have a track record, and it demonstrates your capacity to create further accomplishments if given the opportunity."

2. 9 Great Second Careers that Don't Require 4-Year Degrees 
"You want to make a career change, but you don't have a bachelor's degree and don't have the funds or the interest in getting a four-year degree. Here are nine good jobs that don't require a bachelor's."

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3. 21st Century Career Reinvention for Boomers
"In the 20th century, we thought of life in three broad stages: Education, Career and Retirement. In the 21st century however, I believe that these three need to be replaced by Self Awareness, Creation, and Service."

4. What Successful People Do With the First Hour of Their Work Day
"Remember when you used to have a period at the beginning of every day to think about your schedule, catch up with friends, maybe knock out a few tasks? It was called home room, and it went away after high school. But many successful people schedule themselves a kind of grown-up home room every day."

5. How to Move from a Winning Interview to a Job Offer  
"Prepare to ask about things of interest to you. Learn about the person, position, company, industry, interview process, etc."