From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Encore career
Second career focuseed on "giving back"
Second career focuseed on "giving back"
An encore career or second career is paid work later in a person's life that combines continued income, greater personal meaning, and social impact. These jobs are often in public interest fields, such as education, the environment, health, the government sector, social services, and other non-profits.
The phrase 'encore career' was made popular by Marc Freedman, who founded Civic Ventures, an organization involved with the work-life of senior citizens.
Popular use of the term
Nicholas Kristof, writing in the New York Times, notes that Bill Gates' switched to working full-time for his foundation "is part of a booming trend: the 'encore career' as a substitute for retirement. Definitions are still in flux, but an encore career typically aims to provide a dose of personal satisfaction by 'giving back.'" Kristof writes: "If more people take on encore careers… the boomers who arrived on the scene by igniting a sexual revolution could leave by staging a give-back revolution. Boomers may just be remembered more for what they did in their 60s than for what they did in the Sixties." Ellen Goodman cites Al Gore as a "poster child, the model for what Marc Freedman calls the 'encore career.'"
Research
In 2008, Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc., surveyed 1,063 Americans about their interest in encore careers. This survey found that 5.3 million to 8.4 million people were then in encore careers: "The survey results suggest that the number of people choosing encore careers could grow rapidly. Of those not already in encore careers, half say they are interested in moving into jobs in such fields as education, health care, government, and the nonprofit sector." A companion survey found that half of nonprofit employers found hiring encore workers "highly appealing." Those with experience hiring older adults were most enthusiastic about doing it again.
In 2011, Penn Schoen Berland conducted research on interest in encore careers. The research – which included a telephone survey of 930 Americans and an online survey of 1,408 Americans, ages 44 to 70 – found that as many as 9 million Americans in that age range are in encore careers and another 31 million Americans want encore careers. Those in encore careers, on average, started to think about their encores at age 50 and took about 18 months to make the transition. The research also found that nearly 67% of those in encore careers experienced reduced or no income during the transition.
References
References
- "About the Book | Encore: Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life".
- "Encore.org".
- Kristof, Nicholas. (2008-07-20). "Opinion {{!}} Geezers Doing Good". The New York Times.
- ''Boston Globe'', "Second Acts," Oct. 19, 2007
- "Encore Career Survey: Millions in Encore Careers | Encore Careers".
- "Tapping Encore Talent {{!}} Encore Careers".
- Civic Ventures and MetLife Foundation. (November 2011.) Encore Career Choices: Purpose, Passion and a Paycheck in a Tough Economy. http://www.encore.org/files/EncoreCareerChoices.pdf
- Civic Ventures and MetLife Foundation. (March 2012.) Bridging the Gap: Making it Easier to Finance Encore Transitions. Online: http://www.encore.org/files/BridgingTheGap.pdf
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Encore career — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report