Encore Careers

ou worked hard to get here. You built your career, gained experience, earned respect, navigated changes, raised families, met deadlines, solved problems, and probably handled more than anyone will ever know. So why does the career you worked so hard for sometimes leave you wondering…

As a long-time single woman, I usually assess “big risk” questions purely on gut instinct and my stubborn belief that I will ultimately handle any problems or hiccups that may arise. This time, however, I wanted a smart, experienced, truth-telling team of women who would help me look at a business opportunity from every angle…

“I think I want to do something different, but am I too old to change careers?” It’s a question I hear often as a career coach for women over 40. I work with women who know something needs to change. Some are considering a career pivot, while others are wondering if it’s finally time to explore something entirely new…

Forty years ago, in the early years of my career as a funeral director – and after doing a little modeling on the side to make extra money — I accepted an offer to pose for Playboy. I was told my career would be over. The pronouncements weren’t quiet or subtle. They were direct. Colleagues and friends alike predicted that my life in funeral service would come to a screeching halt…

In the classic movie American Beauty, Lester explains to his daughter that he didn’t “lose” his job. He explains that if this were true, he could have found it again. If this were the case for all of us who’ve experienced losing a job, we wouldn’t be…

In my recent article,“Four Questions Answered About Encore Careers,” I discussed how encore careers are less about starting over and more about building forward into work that feels purposeful and aligned with who you are today…

If you’ve been thinking, “What’s next for me?”, you’re not alone. More and more people are exploring encore careers: meaningful work pursued in the second half of life that blends purpose, flexibility, and often a new sense of identity. If you’re curious but unsure…

For many women, retirement isn’t the finish line we once imagined. Instead, it often becomes a moment of reflection, a chance to ask, What’s next? More women today are working after retirement, not because they have to, but because they want to stay engaged, contribute their experience, or create a new sense of purpose.

Imagine how many candidates are reviewed by recruiters and hiring managers annually. Now, imagine how many of them bring their biggest personality quirks and issues into the room. This happens at the resume stage…

Over the years, I’ve had my share of odd jobs. As a teenager, I took them to make pocket money for the essentials – glossy magazines with pinups of the day’s hunks and disco dance lessons. I did everything from babysitting to working at a dry cleaner’s to typing invoices…