The Family Y Employment Resource Centre is finding success with a program for older job seekers.
Program Director Susan Seifert says of the 70 people who have participated in the program so far, 90 per cent have gone on to find employment.
Seifert says the program was created just over a year ago by the government, to help communities affected most by the recession, where there had been a lot of layoffs.
She says workers over 55 years old have different needs than younger people to get back on their feet.
She says most older workers have been with one employer for 20 or 30 years and now that they’re out of work, they’re out of touch with modern job search skills.
Seifert says they might have found employment when times were different, and may not even know how to create a resume or where to look for jobs.
The program starts with six weeks of basic resume writing, interview and job search workshops, and includes computer classes and opportunities to gain certifications for things like First Aid, or Safe Food Handling.
Then Seifert says they can tailor to each individual’s needs — maybe by providing a re-training course or job placement subsidies for up to nine months.
You can find out more about the program and sign up for it by contacting the Family Y Employment Resource Centre in Owen Sound or Hanover.
