IN THIS ARTICLE
01/ Career advice, resumes & interviewing
02/ Skill-building and training
03/ Finding jobs
When you were younger, the idea of reading an article about career resources for women over 50 would probably have been the last thing on your mind. You may have assumed that you would be retired by the time you were 50 or 60. Or maybe you never envisioned yourself working much at all. Maybe you got divorced and realized that you need to work or need to keep working for longer than you imagined.
Whatever your specific circumstances, if you are looking for a job or wanting to figure out how to stay relevant in the workforce, you are not alone. More people than ever are working into their later years. In fact, nearly “one in three of the 65-69 cohort and one in five of the 70-74 cohort are in the labor force.” Perhaps, this is because people are living longer and need to supplement their retirement income or perhaps they are looking to remain engaged in their community (or both!).
So, while you may want to get a job or stay in the workforce longer, there can be challenges to doing so when you are older. Fortunately, there are some great career resources that can help; some specific to older workers, as well. They highlight everything you could want to know about finding and keeping a job when you are over 50, including how to best position yourself when it comes to: resume writing & interviewing, training & skill-building and finding jobs.
Career Advice, Resumes & Interviewing
There are some really good career resources for women over 50 to get general career guidance, and specific tips for resume writing and interviewing. A few of the most helpful websites are listed below.
Career One Stop is a comprehensive website with resources for career exploration, training and jobs. This site also offers guidance for older workers regarding overcoming stereotypes, understanding career options, interviewing if you’re “over-qualified,” and explaining gaps in your resume.
AARP is, of course, a huge organization that does a great deal to promote the well-being of older adults. One way they do this is by providing a variety of career resources for those over 50. The site features information on resumes, cover letters, career advice and job search strategies.
What’s Next is committed to helping people create “a rewarding, future-proof, and satisfying career path from age 18 through to retirement and beyond.” The site takes a unique approach, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help you discover what career you are best suited for, now.
Skill-building and Training
Participating in skill-building programs and training increases your opportunity for getting a desirable job and/or staying relevant in your current position. To that end, there are a variety of programs that offer in-person and online training and skill building. Some of the online programs listed even offer diplomas or certificates for specific careers.
Alison.com is an interesting site featuring free online courses for learning basic and specialized workplace skills for a variety of careers. You can earn certificates and diplomas through the site, as well.
GCFLearnFree.org offers a variety of skill-building opportunities on its site. From brushing up on math skills, to best practices for navigating different workplace cultures, there’s a lot to be gleaned from this site. There is even information on the ins and outs of different software programs (including the Microsoft Suite and Linux).
Microsoft Office Training is a helpful website for learning about the basics of the Microsoft Office Suite, including: PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Word.
Coursera offers many different options on its site. You can learn “the latest skills, like business analytics, graphic design..and more.” Or you can prepare for a new career “in high-demand fields like IT, AI and cloud engineering.”
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a program specifically aimed at helping those who are over 55 years old, low-income, and unemployed find work. They connect potential workers with part-time training positions at non-profit organizations. This allows participants to gain skills and confidence and earn a modest income at the same time. Participants’ experiences typically lead to permanent employment.
Finding Jobs
You can know all there is to know about how to position yourself as an older worker, and have topnotch skills, but actually finding a job can be a different story. Traditional networking is still a great way to get your foot in the door. LinkedIn or Indeed can also be good online platforms where you can find potential jobs or potential employers can find you.
Then, there are employment websites geared specifically towards those 50 or 55 and over. Finding a job on a platform aimed specifically at older workers can take some of the worry or explaining, you may otherwise feel is necessary, out of the picture. Employers posting on these websites clearly recognize the value and experience of mature employees. Some of these sites include:
Workforce50.com has jobs listed by state or employer name and is, as the name would suggest, is specifically for those 50 and older.
RetiredBrains.com is a fairly comprehensive website featuring work from home jobs, full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs and information on how to start your own business. The site is aimed at those 55 and up.
The National Older Worker Career Center (NOWCC) is a little different in that it features jobs for older workers who are interested in working in the National Resources Conservation Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. This could be your opportunity to try out a whole new career!
Seniors4Hireoffers a platform where you can post a resume and employers seeking older workers can post job listings. The website is geared to job seekers 50 and over.
As you have read, there are a number of different career resources for women over 50. Whether you are trying to identify a second (or third career), build skills for your next career or simply just find your next job, there is a site to meet that need.
If you find any of the resources mentioned particularly helpful (or not) or have any suggestions of other career sites that you have found especially helpful, please send us a line.
