Career Center - Volunteer Work

When you fully retire, you can often lose the sense of purpose in your life that your career provided. For many, dedicating themselves to their own leisurely pursuits is unfulfilling and dissatisfying. Volunteering is a rewarding way to maintain a sense of purpose while giving back to a local, national or global community. Years of experience, a wealth of knowledge and an informed perspective are just some of the many things retirees have to offer.

No matter what industry you worked in, your skill set can be put to use in various volunteer projects. Score.org is a non-profit organization to support small businesses. SCORE’s thousands of volunteers, many of whom are retired, counsel entrepreneurs for free. Through mentoring business owners in their community, SCORE volunteers are able to reap the emotional and spiritual rewards of contributing to others and participating in a professional community. To give back in a more global humanitarian fashion, many retirees are also opting for the Peace Corps and similar alternatives.

The Peace Corps places volunteers in underdeveloped areas around the world for 27-month assignments. Once an organization that primarily targeted younger volunteers, the Peace Corps is now aiming some of their efforts at acquiring older volunteers who can bring their skills and experience to emergent economies.

For those who are not prepared to dedicate themselves to a 2+ years of international volunteer service, there are many organizations such as Cross-Cultural Solutions, United Planet and International Executive Service Corps, which shorter volunteer opportunities in a variety of areas. Don’t overlook local volunteer opportunities after retirement. There is a need for volunteers everywhere and giving to your local church or community center can provide the same fulfillment as volunteering a world away.