You’re never too old to fill out a job application. Local agencies and community groups are seeing a rise in job searching for older individuals. Experience Works, a local nonprofit organization, helps low-income individuals aged 55 and older obtain the training they need to find jobs in their communities.
HERMINA KNEIP was at the end of her rope when she finally met Lavada Dockens, employment and training assistant at Experience Works in Temple, Texas.
Kneip had been out of work for awhile and was living off her savings and disability.
Experience Works is a national nonprofit organization that helps low-income mature individuals obtain the training they need to find jobs in their communities. It is designed to help this population enter the workforce, secure more challenging positions, move into new career areas or supplement their income.
Kneip, 55, discovered Experience Works on her birthday last year when she visited Workforce Solutions of Central Texas. Workforce staff suggested Kneip talk to Dockens.
“That’s when they put my information into the computer system and got me all ready … boy was I grateful,” Kneip said. “The longer you’re out of work the harder it is.”
Kneip said she had applied for jobs all over town, but got nowhere. She didn’t know if her age was the cause, but suspected as much.
Kneip had extensive experience, having been employed by the county for a number of years. She worked in the district clerk’s and county attorney’s offices and at the sheriff’s department. King’s Daughter’s Clinic, Scott & White and Kingsville school district had also employed her.
“I had experience, but the (Experience Works) program helped me get trained on updated computer programs and on new fax machines and copiers,” she said.
Kneip has transitioned out of the Experience Works program and is employed by Spherion, an employment agency, and is assigned to Workforce Solutions child care services division. She is now working 40 hours a week, which provides a livable wage.
“With everybody cutting back I am so lucky to be here … I am more than blessed,” Kneip said. “Work is so good for the mind and spirit.”
After being out of work for so long, finally feeling some self worth is invaluable, she said.
Dockens said Kneip was in tears the first time they met.
Experience Works is not an employment agency but a skills and training program funded by the federal government under the Older Americans Act.
Dockens places program participants with host agencies, and Experience Works provides the salary. The agencies have to be tax exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Experience Works employees, who can stay in the program for two years, come to the program with varied skills. Some have to be taught how to fill out time sheets and learn what the different elements on a pay stub signify. Today, all jobs require some computer knowledge, even if it’s just to clock in.
“This population has workers who are responsible,” Dockens said. “They arrive on time and are not there just to get a paycheck, they’re there to make the business a success.”
On occasion, Dockens said she will get a call from a business that is not a host agency, but is looking for someone with particular skills. If she knows of an Experience Works participant who has the appropriate skills, Dockens will let them know about the opportunity.
Experience Works has job clubs that provide help in developing resumes and learning interview skills.
“We do everything in our power to get them ready to get out there and get a job they want at the salary they want,” Dockens said.
Dockens has 23 participants and 21 host agencies. The workers are paid minimum wage and are limited to a 17-hour workweek.
“I need more host agencies,” she said. “A lot of people out there don’t know about the program.”
Most though, are receptive, Dockens said, once they receive information about the program.
It’s a win-win for the agency and the worker, she said. The agency gets an employee with Experience Works paying the salary and the worker gets on-the-job training.
The host agency is required to provide a certain amount of supervisory support to the Experience Works employee.
Once assigned to an agency, Experience Works training continues. After about a month, when the workers have become comfortable in their new positions, Dockens will continue to test and assign tasks to the participant depending on individual needs.
Dockens doesn’t only assign work to her charges, but sets goals for herself. She’s planning on putting her feet to the pavement this week to drum up some additional hosts and sell them on the idea of hiring mature workers. [rc]
Copyright © 2009, Temple Daily Telegram
August 17, 2009
USA: Return to the workforce - It's never too late
.
TEMPLE, Texas / Temple Daily Telegram / August 17, 2009
By Janice Gibbs | Medical Writer
You’re never too old to fill out a job application. Local agencies and community groups are seeing a rise in job searching for older individuals. Experience Works, a local nonprofit organization, helps low-income individuals aged 55 and older obtain the training they need to find jobs in their communities.
HERMINA KNEIP was at the end of her rope when she finally met Lavada Dockens, employment and training assistant at Experience Works in Temple, Texas.
Kneip had been out of work for awhile and was living off her savings and disability.
Experience Works is a national nonprofit organization that helps low-income mature individuals obtain the training they need to find jobs in their communities. It is designed to help this population enter the workforce, secure more challenging positions, move into new career areas or supplement their income.
Kneip, 55, discovered Experience Works on her birthday last year when she visited Workforce Solutions of Central Texas. Workforce staff suggested Kneip talk to Dockens.
“That’s when they put my information into the computer system and got me all ready … boy was I grateful,” Kneip said. “The longer you’re out of work the harder it is.”
Kneip said she had applied for jobs all over town, but got nowhere. She didn’t know if her age was the cause, but suspected as much.
Kneip had extensive experience, having been employed by the county for a number of years. She worked in the district clerk’s and county attorney’s offices and at the sheriff’s department. King’s Daughter’s Clinic, Scott & White and Kingsville school district had also employed her.
“I had experience, but the (Experience Works) program helped me get trained on updated computer programs and on new fax machines and copiers,” she said.
Kneip has transitioned out of the Experience Works program and is employed by Spherion, an employment agency, and is assigned to Workforce Solutions child care services division. She is now working 40 hours a week, which provides a livable wage.
“With everybody cutting back I am so lucky to be here … I am more than blessed,” Kneip said. “Work is so good for the mind and spirit.”
After being out of work for so long, finally feeling some self worth is invaluable, she said.
Dockens said Kneip was in tears the first time they met.
Experience Works is not an employment agency but a skills and training program funded by the federal government under the Older Americans Act.
Dockens places program participants with host agencies, and Experience Works provides the salary. The agencies have to be tax exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Experience Works employees, who can stay in the program for two years, come to the program with varied skills. Some have to be taught how to fill out time sheets and learn what the different elements on a pay stub signify. Today, all jobs require some computer knowledge, even if it’s just to clock in.
“This population has workers who are responsible,” Dockens said. “They arrive on time and are not there just to get a paycheck, they’re there to make the business a success.”
On occasion, Dockens said she will get a call from a business that is not a host agency, but is looking for someone with particular skills. If she knows of an Experience Works participant who has the appropriate skills, Dockens will let them know about the opportunity.
Experience Works has job clubs that provide help in developing resumes and learning interview skills.
“We do everything in our power to get them ready to get out there and get a job they want at the salary they want,” Dockens said.
Dockens has 23 participants and 21 host agencies. The workers are paid minimum wage and are limited to a 17-hour workweek.
“I need more host agencies,” she said. “A lot of people out there don’t know about the program.”
Most though, are receptive, Dockens said, once they receive information about the program.
It’s a win-win for the agency and the worker, she said. The agency gets an employee with Experience Works paying the salary and the worker gets on-the-job training.
The host agency is required to provide a certain amount of supervisory support to the Experience Works employee.
Once assigned to an agency, Experience Works training continues. After about a month, when the workers have become comfortable in their new positions, Dockens will continue to test and assign tasks to the participant depending on individual needs.
Dockens doesn’t only assign work to her charges, but sets goals for herself. She’s planning on putting her feet to the pavement this week to drum up some additional hosts and sell them on the idea of hiring mature workers. [rc]
Copyright © 2009, Temple Daily Telegram
You’re never too old to fill out a job application. Local agencies and community groups are seeing a rise in job searching for older individuals. Experience Works, a local nonprofit organization, helps low-income individuals aged 55 and older obtain the training they need to find jobs in their communities.
HERMINA KNEIP was at the end of her rope when she finally met Lavada Dockens, employment and training assistant at Experience Works in Temple, Texas.
Kneip had been out of work for awhile and was living off her savings and disability.
Experience Works is a national nonprofit organization that helps low-income mature individuals obtain the training they need to find jobs in their communities. It is designed to help this population enter the workforce, secure more challenging positions, move into new career areas or supplement their income.
Kneip, 55, discovered Experience Works on her birthday last year when she visited Workforce Solutions of Central Texas. Workforce staff suggested Kneip talk to Dockens.
“That’s when they put my information into the computer system and got me all ready … boy was I grateful,” Kneip said. “The longer you’re out of work the harder it is.”
Kneip said she had applied for jobs all over town, but got nowhere. She didn’t know if her age was the cause, but suspected as much.
Kneip had extensive experience, having been employed by the county for a number of years. She worked in the district clerk’s and county attorney’s offices and at the sheriff’s department. King’s Daughter’s Clinic, Scott & White and Kingsville school district had also employed her.
“I had experience, but the (Experience Works) program helped me get trained on updated computer programs and on new fax machines and copiers,” she said.
Kneip has transitioned out of the Experience Works program and is employed by Spherion, an employment agency, and is assigned to Workforce Solutions child care services division. She is now working 40 hours a week, which provides a livable wage.
“With everybody cutting back I am so lucky to be here … I am more than blessed,” Kneip said. “Work is so good for the mind and spirit.”
After being out of work for so long, finally feeling some self worth is invaluable, she said.
Dockens said Kneip was in tears the first time they met.
Experience Works is not an employment agency but a skills and training program funded by the federal government under the Older Americans Act.
Dockens places program participants with host agencies, and Experience Works provides the salary. The agencies have to be tax exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Experience Works employees, who can stay in the program for two years, come to the program with varied skills. Some have to be taught how to fill out time sheets and learn what the different elements on a pay stub signify. Today, all jobs require some computer knowledge, even if it’s just to clock in.
“This population has workers who are responsible,” Dockens said. “They arrive on time and are not there just to get a paycheck, they’re there to make the business a success.”
On occasion, Dockens said she will get a call from a business that is not a host agency, but is looking for someone with particular skills. If she knows of an Experience Works participant who has the appropriate skills, Dockens will let them know about the opportunity.
Experience Works has job clubs that provide help in developing resumes and learning interview skills.
“We do everything in our power to get them ready to get out there and get a job they want at the salary they want,” Dockens said.
Dockens has 23 participants and 21 host agencies. The workers are paid minimum wage and are limited to a 17-hour workweek.
“I need more host agencies,” she said. “A lot of people out there don’t know about the program.”
Most though, are receptive, Dockens said, once they receive information about the program.
It’s a win-win for the agency and the worker, she said. The agency gets an employee with Experience Works paying the salary and the worker gets on-the-job training.
The host agency is required to provide a certain amount of supervisory support to the Experience Works employee.
Once assigned to an agency, Experience Works training continues. After about a month, when the workers have become comfortable in their new positions, Dockens will continue to test and assign tasks to the participant depending on individual needs.
Dockens doesn’t only assign work to her charges, but sets goals for herself. She’s planning on putting her feet to the pavement this week to drum up some additional hosts and sell them on the idea of hiring mature workers. [rc]
Copyright © 2009, Temple Daily Telegram
