Switching career paths allows retired people an opportunity to have new experiences, as well as several other benefits. Related: Top Tips for Starting a New Career Benefits of an encore career These jobs are typically in service fields such as education, healthcare, environment, social services, nonprofits and the government sector. These jobs combine one's passion, skills and experiences so they can help fulfill needs in the community. Encore jobs offer the chance for individuals to pursue a position of meaning related to their interests after retirement. An encore career is a job in the second half of one's life, typically once someone is 50 years old or older.