Experience works

Program offers many opportunities for those over 55

SIKESTON - For some, getting older means retiring, tossing the alarm clock aside and finally doing what you want when you want.

But others see it as an opportunity to continue putting their years of experience to good use and they're finding their niche with the help of an organization called Experience Works.

Funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Experience Works was established in 1965 as Green Thumb. It was renamed in 2002 as a national, nonprofit organization that offers training, employment and community service opportunities for individuals who are age 55 and over.

"Some people are placed directly into employment, some benefit from training and others work in community service assignments such as public agencies and nonprofit organizations," explained Bob Mott, field operations coordinator. "For someone living off $600 a month, a part-time job could make huge difference."

A retired Burlington Northern brakeman, 66-year-old John Walker was without work and facing mounting medical bills. He was also finding an inactive retirement to be an unfulfilling experience.

For the Chaffee resident, seeing the information about Experience Works posted at his church was an answer to prayer. He contacted the organization, was interviewed to determine his work skills and interests and a search began for available job openings.

Today, through Experience Works, Walker delivers medical supplies for a health care service.

"This is exactly what I wanted. The work is not too physical and the hours are flexible," he said, averaging 20 hours a week.

"So many people, when they get up in years, feel that there is no place for them in the job market," added Mott, who pointed out there are 140 participants in the 10-county area he covers, 35-40 of whom are in Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Stoddard and Pemiscot counties.

"One of our jobs at Experience Works is convincing these people and their potential employers that there is a wealth of work-oriented talent among this nation's senior citizens," Mott said. "These people know how to work and are excited about another opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the economy."

The organization includes a variety of programs to help mature individuals enter the work force, secure more challenging positions, move into new career areas or supplement their incomes.

One of the programs is the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCEP), the largest program offered by Experience Works. Funded under Title 5 of the Older Americans Act, it enables Experience Works to help low-income individuals, age 55 and older.

Through the program, job-ready seniors are placed directly into employment, while other seniors benefit from training, counseling and community service assignments at nonprofit organizations and public agencies in their communities, before re-entering the work force.

Experience Works Training Services offers a variety of technology-training services which may involve classrooms, computer labs, packaged training or training via the Internet. It also offers several job-related training programs for areas such as home health care, agriculture, security, customer service and small-business development.

Through Experience Works Staffing Services, skilled, mature individuals are placed in temporary, temporary-to-permanent and direct employment that makes the most of their experience.

In addition to its national capabilities, Experience Works also offers a variety of services targeted to the unique needs of local markets such as home health care, landscaping, home repair, administration of work force centers, welfare-to-work programs and a statewide older worker information clearinghouse.

Most recently, Experience Works launched Geezer.com, a service to help seniors sell their handcrafted goods over the Internet, whether they own a computer or not.

"We're able to work on a personal basis with participants and their employment needs. We put people to work who have a financial need to work," Mott said.

For more information write to: Bob Mott, field coordinator, 600 East Washington, Hayti, Mo., 63851 or call 1-800-368-7569.