Savvy Senior: Employment resources for older job seekers

Looking For Work

DEAR LOOKING: While the U.S. job market has improved slightly over the past year or so, challenges persist for many older job seekers. Fortunately, there are a number of free online tools and in-person training centers scattered across the country today that can help you find employment. Here's what you should know.

Online resources

If you have Internet access, there are a number of 50-and-older employment networks online that can help you connect with companies that seek hiring older workers.

Two of the best are workreimagined.org, a resource developed by AARP that combines career advice, job listings and online discussion tied to LinkedIn's professional networking platform. And retirementjobs.com, which offers a job search engine that lists thousands of jobs nationwide from companies that are actively seeking workers over the age of 50. It also provides job-seeking tips and advice, helps with resume writing and allows you to post your resume online for companies to find you.

Some other good 50-plus job seeking sites to try are workforce50.com, retiredbrains.com, retireeworkforce.com, and encore.org a resource that helps older workers find meaningful work in the second half of life.

In-person help

Another good place to get help finding a job is at a Career One-Stop center. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, these free job resource centers can help you explore career options, search for jobs, find training, write a resume, prepare for an interview and much more. There are around 3,000 of these centers nationwide. To find one near you, call (877) 348-0502 or go to careeronestop.org.

Depending on your financial situation, another program that may help is the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).

Also sponsored by the Department of Labor, SCSEP offers access to training and part-time job placements in a variety of community service positions such as day-care centers, senior centers, governmental agencies, schools, hospitals, libraries and landscaping centers.