Michelle V. Rafter

Michelle V. Rafter

SecondAct contributor Michelle V. Rafter writes about business and workplace issues for a variety of national publications. She is based in Portland, Oregon.

Latest Posts by Michelle V. Rafter

10 Tips: Use Pinterest to Get a Job

June 4, 2012

Get Your (Online) Game On

May 29, 2012

Study: Workplace Ageism is Rampant

May 29, 2012

Crack the Hot Jobs Code with Tech Training

May 22, 2012

Blogging Their Second Acts

May 18, 2012

10 Secrets to Asking for a Pay Raise

May 15, 2012

6 Ways to Energize Your Job Search

May 8, 2012

Hot Topics: Jobless Rate Dips; Older Workers Fare Best

May 4, 2012

6 Things to Know About Modern Master's Programs

May 1, 2012

Hot Topics: Social Security Roulette

April 27, 2012

My Vacation: Train Trek to Montana

April 27, 2012

References: Don't Assume an Old Boss Still Loves You

April 24, 2012

6 Tips for a Green Job Hunt

April 18, 2012

Film 'Marigold Hotel' Portrays Reinvention on a Budget

April 16, 2012

8 Ways to Make a Reverse Mentorship Work for You

April 10, 2012

Hot Topics: U.S. Jobless Rate Holds Steady at 8.2 Percent

April 6, 2012

Where the Jobs Are

April 3, 2012

Reading List: 10 Insightful Books for Career Changers

March 27, 2012

Workout: Try Anti-Gravity Yoga

March 24, 2012

Hot Topics: Facebook Says 'No' to Password Sharing

March 23, 2012

Survey: Recession Stalled Encore Career Changes

March 21, 2012

What Job Hunters Should Know About Career Assessment Tests

March 20, 2012

6 Tips to Connect With the Right Career Coach

March 13, 2012

Japan One Year Later: An Expat's Life Post Quake

March 12, 2012

5 Secrets to Use Twitter for Job Hunting

March 6, 2012

Hot Topics: Helicopter Parents Invade College

March 2, 2012

How to Use Kickstarter

February 29, 2012

Survey: Employee Referrals No. 1 Tool for New Hires

February 28, 2012

How to Win a $100,000 Purpose Prize

February 22, 2012

9 Ways Midlife Career Changers Can Be (More) Tech-Savvy

February 21, 2012

4 Facebook Apps for Job Hunters

February 14, 2012

Hot Topics: Debunking the Flex Time Myth

February 10, 2012

7 Savvy Questions to Ask During a Job Interview

February 7, 2012

Hot Topics: January Job Growth Exceeds Expectations

February 3, 2012

Comebacks for Tricky Job Interview Questions

January 31, 2012

8 New Gas-Saving Car Trends

January 27, 2012

How to Craft a Great Cover Letter

January 24, 2012

SecondAct Asks: What's Your Frugal Living Secret?

January 20, 2012

Job Search 2012: Do You Need an Interactive Resume?

January 18, 2012

Software for Social Media Junkies

January 13, 2012

12 Steps To a Smart Resume

January 11, 2012

Hot Topics: Save (and Spend) Like Warren Buffett

January 6, 2012

December Unemployment Dips to 8.5 Percent

January 6, 2012

10 Workplace Trends to Watch in 2012

January 4, 2012

12 Tips for Trading Places in 2012

January 3, 2012

Hot Topics: 2011's Most Admired People

December 29, 2011

Cheap Chic: Frugal Living Tips for 2012

December 27, 2011

Southwest Airlines Tops Best 401(k) List

December 20, 2011

Hot Topics: Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Tips

December 16, 2011

Your 2012 Job Hunt Checklist

December 14, 2011

Sculpting an Artistic Second Act

December 13, 2011

How to Be a Micro-Philanthropist

December 7, 2011

Hot Topics: November Jobless Rate Falls

December 2, 2011

Top Boomer Business Ideas

November 30, 2011

Survey: Interest in Encore Careers Spikes

November 29, 2011

Hot Topics: Intel Offers Encore Career Stipends

November 23, 2011

8 Jobs To Find or Create Yourself

November 22, 2011

8 Simple Tips to Start Canning

November 18, 2011

5 Creative Ways to Bankroll Your Dream Gig

November 14, 2011

How to Write Off Your Job-Hunting Expenses

November 9, 2011

Hot Topics: Jobs Report Offers Glimmers of Hope

November 4, 2011

Purpose Prizes Honor Innovators

November 3, 2011

Hot Topics: Economy Forces Americans to Stay Put

October 28, 2011

How Opera Got Its Groove Back

October 26, 2011

Employers Embrace Age-Diversity Initiatives

October 25, 2011

Top Sites for Nonprofit Jobs

October 18, 2011

Eco-Adventures: Volunteering on an Organic Farm in Italy

October 17, 2011

Facebook Gets a Fresh Face

October 12, 2011

Hot Topics: Employment Stages Modest Comeback for Workers Over 45

October 7, 2011

8 Tips for (Really) Frugal Living

October 5, 2011

'Pursuit of Happyness': Chris Gardner on Reinventing Yourself

September 29, 2011

What's Surprised You About Life After 50?

September 29, 2011

5 Ways to Spot Home-Based Job Scams

September 26, 2011

'Slashers' Find Challenges, Satisfaction in Multiple Jobs

September 21, 2011

Hot Topics: Nonprofits See Improved Jobs Picture

September 16, 2011

My 'Slasher' Life: One Person, Many Jobs

September 14, 2011

SecondAct Asks: Will Obama Jobs Plan Help Older Workers?

September 9, 2011

As Obama Preps Jobs Plan, Employment is Topic No. 1

September 6, 2011

Hot Topics: Gloomy Employment Report Sets Stage for Obama Jobs Plan

September 2, 2011

At-Home Jobs Change With the Times

August 31, 2011

Top Tools for Finding Tunes

August 24, 2011

Germany's Angela Merkel Tops List of Most Powerful Women

August 24, 2011

Hot Topics: Wall Street Dumps Midcareer Employees

August 19, 2011

Pizzeria Owners Pop into Specialty Sodas

August 18, 2011

5 Need-to-Know Trends in Today's Job Market

August 16, 2011

10 Things to Know Before Your Freshman Starts College

August 8, 2011

Jobs Report Quells Market, But Older Workers Miss Out

August 5, 2011

From Finance Manager to Career Coach

August 3, 2011

2011 Employment Snapshot: Where the Jobs Are

August 1, 2011

4 Ways to Job Hunt Online

July 27, 2011

Hot Topics: Longshot Darren Clarke Shakes Up Golf Tour

July 22, 2011

Roseanne Barr Goes 'Nuts'

July 20, 2011

How to Navigate a Job Fair

July 15, 2011

Google+: Testing the Waters

July 12, 2011

Jobless Rate Climbs For Older Workers

July 8, 2011

Co-working Offers Home-Office Alternative

July 6, 2011

Hot Topics: Aging American Cities, IMF's New Chief, Billie Jean King Returns

July 1, 2011

How to Negotiate a Flexible Work Schedule

June 30, 2011

From Businessman to Bestselling Ebook Author

June 27, 2011

10 New Need-to-Know Features on LinkedIn

June 23, 2011

Hot Topics: Aging in Place or Stuck in Place?

June 17, 2011

The Booming Market for English Teachers in China

June 16, 2011

Hot Topics: The Battle Against Rampant Ageism

June 10, 2011

6 Women Who Smashed the Glass Ceiling

June 9, 2011

10 Steps to Start on Twitter

June 3, 2011

Weak Jobs Report Rekindles Economy Worries

June 3, 2011

Debating the Peak Age for Entrepreneurship

June 2, 2011

New York Remaking Itself as the Big Age-Friendly Apple

May 30, 2011

Blogging Their Way to a Midlife Makeover

May 23, 2011

Hot Topics: LinkedIn IPO Makes Co-Founder an Almost-Billionaire

May 20, 2011

Top Reasons Boomers Delay Retirement

May 18, 2011

Libraries Retool for Boomers

May 16, 2011

My So-Called Retail Life

May 9, 2011

Hot Topics: Boomer Unemployment Drops to 2-Year Low

May 6, 2011

10 Questions Couples Need to Ask Before Retirement

May 4, 2011

Turning a Layoff into 'Lemonade' and Now, 'Lemonade: Detroit'

April 28, 2011

Hot Topics: Running Trendsetters, Pension Boom and a Microsoft Tell-All

April 22, 2011

The Online Games Grown-Ups Play

April 21, 2011

Hot Topics: Best Cities for Older Workers

April 15, 2011

Expat's Japan Quake Update

April 15, 2011

Help These Empty Nesters Choose Their Next Road Trip

April 11, 2011

Dressing for Success After 40: Yoga Pants Be Gone!

April 8, 2011

Hot Topics: Unemployment Dips for Older Workers

April 1, 2011

"The Big Shift" Recasts the Third Age of Life

March 31, 2011

Hot Topics: Mind Games of "Moonwalking with Einstein"

March 25, 2011

An American Expat in Tokyo Recounts Quake, Aftermath

March 21, 2011

Hot Topics: Searching for America's Next Middle-Aged Supermodel

March 18, 2011

12 Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill

March 14, 2011

Hot Topics: Bill Gates Drops to No. 2 on Billionaires List

March 11, 2011

Help Wanted: Take These Steps to Avoid Job Scams

March 9, 2011

Hot Topics: Unemployment Drops to 7.3% For Workers Over 45

March 4, 2011

Civic Ventures Names LaunchPad Winners

March 2, 2011

How Not to Be the Charlie Sheen of Your Office

February 28, 2011

10 Commandments of Frugal Chic

February 22, 2011

Hot Topics: Social Security, Mick Jagger, Dara Torres and Lance Armstrong

February 18, 2011

ReServe Pairs Experienced Workers With Nonprofits

February 15, 2011

Hot Topics: Encore Fellowships, Eons.com and 'Dallas' Returns

February 11, 2011

8 Ways to Freshen Your Resume

February 9, 2011

Herschel Walker: From Football to MMA

February 4, 2011

Hot Topics: January Jobs, Boomer Headlines, Farah Fawcett's Swimsuit

February 4, 2011

Launching Your Green Job Search

February 2, 2011

Hot Topics: David Hockney Revels in iPad Art

January 28, 2011

You're Overqualified -- Get Over It

January 26, 2011

Hot Topics: Google CEO Reboots

January 21, 2011

Mobile Apps for Job Hunters

January 19, 2011

2011 CES: Innovations a Boon for Boomers

January 14, 2011

From Poet to Dotcom Pioneer to Documentary Filmmaker

January 12, 2011

Hot Topics: Unemployment Dips, But Not Much

January 7, 2011

12 Steps Toward Reinventing Yourself in 2011

January 4, 2011

Hot Topics: Fretting Over Medicare's Future

December 30, 2010

10 Dos, 10 Don'ts for a New Year's Job Search

December 27, 2010

Hot Topics: Billionaires and Boomers Dig Deep

December 24, 2010

In 2010, Reinvention Was the Name of the Game

December 20, 2010

My Favorite App: 15 Cool Tech Toys for Your Phone

December 13, 2010

Case, Milken, Icahn, Others Pledge to Donate Billions

December 9, 2010

Dad Has Dementia: A Daughter's Story

December 8, 2010

Hot Topics: Job Scene Setback For Workers Over 40

December 3, 2010

Tips For Holiday Season Job Hunting

November 29, 2010

Must-Buy Tech Gifts for The Holiday Season

November 24, 2010

TSA Full-Body Scans: What Travelers Need to Know

November 19, 2010

Helicopter Parents Hover Over Kids' Job Hunting

November 16, 2010

Hot Topics: Raising Retirement Age, Staying Healthy, Social Innovators

November 12, 2010

An Early Gift for Job Seekers: More Companies Are Hiring Holiday Help

November 10, 2010

Boomers and Mobile Tech: The Good, the Bad, and the Apps

November 5, 2010

To Cut or Not to Cut? The Great Hair Debate

November 2, 2010

Life After 60: The New Reality

October 29, 2010

What Nobody Tells You About Becoming an Empty Nester

October 25, 2010

2010 Minerva Awards Honor Women Who Make a Difference

October 25, 2010

How Midlife Job Seekers Can Respond to "You're Overqualified"

October 20, 2010

Good Deal Hunting Spurs Growth of "Cities on the Cheap"

October 18, 2010

Oprah, Michelle Obama Top Power Women Lists

October 13, 2010

The Get-It-Done Guy on Working Less and Doing More

October 11, 2010

Survey: 40 Percent of Workers Plan to Delay Retiring

October 5, 2010

Marc Freedman's Encore Careers Reading List

October 5, 2010

Retirement Saving Tops Money Worries for 50+ Crowd

September 29, 2010

The Get-It-Done Guy on Working Less and Doing More

September 27, 2010

Smartphone 101: You Got the Phone, Now Learn to Use It

September 24, 2010

How to Land a Job in a New Industry

September 21, 2010

Deals! Discounts! Rebates! Cashing in on the Online Coupon Craze

September 17, 2010

How to Not Sabotage a Job Search

September 13, 2010

Changing Times at NASA

September 8, 2010

August Jobs Figures Include Bright Spots for 40+ Workers

September 3, 2010

Study: Dramatic Rise in 50+ Social Media Use

August 30, 2010

Older Workers Fill Jobs in Place of Teens

August 30, 2010

You're Never Too Old to Join This Marching Band

August 27, 2010

Young Entrepreneurs Get the Glory, But Boomers Start More Tech Ventures

August 24, 2010

Drawing Inspiration: Spielberg and Lucas Pay Homage to Norman Rockwell

August 18, 2010

Marketing Electronics to Boomers: Don't Call Us Old

August 16, 2010

George Washington's Gristmill and Presidential Second Acts

August 13, 2010

Top 10 Tips for Finding Temp Work and Contract Gigs

August 9, 2010

Manufacturing Offers Pockets of Promise for Older Workers

August 3, 2010

Paper Chase: Should It Stay or Should It Go?

July 30, 2010

How to Botox Your Resume

July 29, 2010

Could "Granny Flats" Be a Sandwich Generation Solution?

July 28, 2010

Immigrant Translates Her Way to Top 50+ Entrepreneur Award

July 23, 2010

Old Spice Man and Other Brands With New Looks

July 19, 2010

Should Retirement Age Be Raised?

July 16, 2010

Sandwich Generation Vacation Destinations

July 12, 2010

The Father of Geriatrics Acted Anything But Old

July 8, 2010

Hive Mind: What Bees Can Teach Us About Work

July 5, 2010

5 Tips for a Stress-Free Sandwich Generation Vacation

June 30, 2010

Retired Retailer Gives Back with SCORE

June 28, 2010

Encore Fellowships Help Execs Switch to Nonprofit Work

June 24, 2010

Jhobby, Playcheck and Other Boomer Lingo

June 22, 2010

What's Your Favorite Female Buddy Film?

June 19, 2010

Sex and the City 2 or How Not to Age Gracefully

June 17, 2010

5 Steps Women Over 40 Can Take to Rule the World

June 14, 2010

Presidential Primer on Medicare and Health Care Reform

June 9, 2010

Engineering a Career Change from Factory to Farm

June 7, 2010

By the Numbers: May 2010 Employment

June 4, 2010

Experts Weigh in on Older Americans and Work

June 1, 2010

Making the Right Moves in the Career Game

May 27, 2010

Finding Your "It"

May 24, 2010

To Get Ahead at Work, Think Like a Millennial

May 19, 2010

Protect Yourself From a 'Phishing' Expedition

May 17, 2010

Is Ageism Worst "ism" of All?

May 13, 2010

A Gov 2.0 Pioneer

May 11, 2010

Job Picture Mixed For Older Workers

May 7, 2010

Fashioning a New Career at Midlife

May 4, 2010

Mad (About) Science

April 29, 2010

When It Comes to the Web, You Might Not be as Smart or Safe as You Think

April 23, 2010

RetiredBrains Puts Experience to Work

April 20, 2010

Project Runway's Mature Designers Make it Work

April 17, 2010

The Social Network that Puts Work First

April 15, 2010

Older, Wiser and Tweeting, too

April 7, 2010

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