by Lin Schreiber

 photo by Firmbee

Career coach Lin Schreiber offers her top website picks for information and inspiration on encore careers

Whether you want to (or have to) continue working, or you're set financially and eager to donate your time, wisdom, experience and resources to a cause that you find worthy, don't waste this opportunity to create your ideal encore career. Here are my picks for the top eight websites where you’ll find information and inspiration (not listed in any particular order):

Encore Careers. Not interested in endless years of leisure? Want to resurrect your youthful idealism and put it to work for the greater good? Is having an income still an important part of your financial picture?

Encore.org promotes careers that combine personal fulfillment, social impact and continued income, enabling people to put their passion to good use in real jobs tackling real problems and that make a real impact. A 2008 Civic MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures survey found that more than 5 million people ages 44 to 70 have begun encore careers. Of those not already in encore careers, half say they want them. Are you one of them?

AARP Working Options. Are you changing careers, job hunting, or thinking about starting your own business? You'll find a terrific collection of resources for workers 50+ here. It's a constantly changing, evolving, potpourri of timely information.

Best 50+ Employer. If you're job hunting, you'll definitely want to check out this site which is updated annually. And, if you're thinking about moving abroad, take a look at the best international employers list.

Vocation Vacations. Have an idea of what you'd like to be doing, but don't have a clue if you'd really like it? What if you could immerse yourself in this job on your next vacation? What would it be like to test drive your dream job and see if it's worthy of going the distance? Now you can at Vocation Vacations. Experience any career from winemaker and TV broadcaster to B&B owner and shoe designer, usually priced from one to three days. How cool is that?

Bizstarters.com. Are you an entrepreneur at heart, age 50+? Do you have a great idea for your own business? Could you use some solid guidance? I highly recommend The Ultimate Boomer Business Start-Up Guide. Owner Jeff Williams is a living, breathing example of a successful 50+ entrepreneur. He's been there and done that and can help you avoid costly mistakes. Biz-starters loves helping entrepreneurial Boomers successfully launch and run their own small businesses by combining a disciplined planning process, a shared community, carefully selected products and services, a committed interactive dialogue, and a sincere desire to witness successfully launched businesses.

BizSmartMedia.com. Want to own your own business, but want the freedom of being able to go where you want, when you want? What if you could take what you know and market it on the Internet in a successful virtual business? Donna Gunter has taken her wealth of Internet marketing knowledge, her thirst for staying on top of the latest Internet marketing trends, and her desire to help Boomers create meaningful, successful, thriving Internet businesses, and created a must-see website for everything you need to know about creating a thriving online business.

Experience Corps. This award-winning national program, engages people over 55 in meeting their communities' greatest challenges. Two thousand (2000) members of Experience Corps tutor and mentor in 23 cities across the country, providing literacy coaching, homework help, consistent role models and committed, caring attention. Independent research shows that Experience Corps boosts student academic performance, helps schools and youth-serving organizations become more successful, and enhances the well-being of older adults in the process. It’s a win-win-win for everyone!

Volunteer Match. This is a terrific site for finding the perfect volunteer opportunity - both ongoing and project based – in your community. Not to worry if you live in a more rural area. I do, too, and I found three web pages filled with great volunteer openings.

If you know of an inspirational site not listed here, please let me know. Meanwhile, may your journey discovering your ideal encore career be joyful, and may you find the perfect fit that ignites your passion, and provides purpose and pizzazz in your life!

Certified Retirement Coach Lin Schreiber, author of the popular ABC's of Revolutionizing Retirement, helps self-reliant women reinvent themselves in the next stage of life, formerly known as "retirement," by designing a new encore life that includes a fulfilling encore career.