Third act and encore careers: Why senior citizens are punching the clock again

By Steven V. Dubin

Retirement, as it turns out, isn’t for everyone.
Some people spend a few months blissfully gardening, perfecting their pickleball dink, or binge-watching British crime dramas, only to discover that daytime television is not quite the life purpose they imagined.
And so, a growing number of senior citizens are heading back to work – not because they have to, but because they want to. It makes them sane, solvent, and relevant.
Some call them “encore careers.” Others refer to “act three.”
Mike Dwyer, founder of Emplana Career, specializes in helping seniors navigate shifting workplace dynamics, advancing technology, and the aftershocks of corporate restructuring.
He speaks to those ambitious individuals ready for their next chapter, yet unsure how to stay current or map out a meaningful path ahead in a world full of automation and bots.
Dwyer, a Hingham resident with offices in Boston, brings actionable insights, from how to fight back against impersonal job searches, to strategies for entering new roles without starting over, and the importance of authentic networking.
“I am the wrong guy to talk to if you need counseling about whether you want to work or not. That might be a better conversation for spiritual or financial advisor,” notes Dwyer, adding: “But if you have a burning desire to do something meaningful and interesting, I can assess what you have, develop what you don’t, and get some good shots on goal.”
It turns out that when the pressure of climbing the corporate ladder, raising a family, and paying off mortgages is behind you, work starts to look a little different. It can actually be… fun. Additionally, work can be meaningful and a chance to give back.
The Emplana Career approach offers practical tools for career retrospection, planning, and connection that are especially relevant as seniors look to align deeply with organizations or causes that match their values and work style.
Urgency is critical to many. You can receive personal coaching or utilize the Emplana Career Workbook and Tool Kit. In five days, the Emplana Career Workbook and Tool Kit can help provide readers with a new perspective, new direction, and new opportunity. Dwyer put together a 60-page career workbook released for Amazon Kindle. It takes the form of a five-day, Monday-to-Friday, set of guided activities that move from career retrospection to exploration to developing a short-term plan.
Either route you choose, what ties these encore careers together isn’t necessarily money (although extra cash never hurts), but meaning. A chance to learn, contribute, and occasionally remind younger generations that, yes, vinyl records sound better and no, nobody needs another app for that.
About 15 years ago, a friend innocently asked Mike Dwyer to look at his resume. And somehow that became an occasion to do more than the usual supportive critique and morphed into a conversation along the lines of “would it make sense for you to look at this or that direction?”
That deepened Dwyer’s interest in workplace issues – how people navigate their careers and a personal challenge on how he might continuously prepare to help people with their careers.
Looking for a fresh start? A new gig? A new reason to be?
It might be worthwhile to have a conversation with Mike Dwyer. I did. To hear a recent South Shore Senior Network podcast featuring Mike Dwyer, click on https://southshoresenior.com/2025/07/senior-encore-harvest-your-dreams/.
He can also be found at www.EmplanaCareer.com or email mikedwyer@emplanacareer.com.

If you know of a senior who is doing something interesting with their retirement, I look forward to hearing from you! Please email me at SDubin@PRWorkZone.com 

Steven V. Dubin is the founder of PR Works, a lightly used public relations firm based in Plymouth which helps small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies navigate the overwhelming options of advertising. Steve lives in Plymouth with his wife, Wendy. He is a contributing author to “Get Slightly Famous” and “Tricks of the Trade,” the complete guide to succeeding in the advice business. He recently authored “PR 101,” an E-book.