Free Workshop and Coaching for Jobseekers Over 50
Get the support and strategies you need to regain employment. It all starts with a free workshop. We offer expert guidance and a helping hand to workers over 50 who are unemployed and living on a limited income.
Find A Workshop
By selecting “Next” you agree to receiving email with AARP Foundation resources and information, and you
agree to AARP Foundation’s Terms of Service.
Or, call our Work Resources Hotline
1-855-850-2525
Speak to a representative
Monday–Friday,
9 a.m.–6 p.m., Eastern Time
Se habla Español
You Have the Experience.
Now Regain the Confidence.
Being over 50 can make it harder to find a job. If you’ve been out of work for some time, AARP Foundation can provide expert guidance for your job search. Our BACK TO WORK 50+ program offers progress check-ins, virtual interview tips, and support from career coaches in your community or online. Get back on track with professional job search coaches who understand the challenges jobseekers over 50 may face.
BACK TO WORK 50+
Got Me Back to Myself
After leaving her job to care for her ailing mother, Jacquie returned to a tough job market. She signed up for a BACK TO WORK 50+ workshop where she learned how to fine-tune her résumé, become more active on LinkedIn, do mock interviews, and network.
Jacquie credits the program’s career coaches for helping her focus on what really mattered. “They got me back to myself,” she says. Thanks to their guidance, she wound up with multiple offers — and a job she loves.
Our Partners
- Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency
Atlanta, GA - Capital Area Workforce Development Board (in collaboration with NCWorks Career Center)
Raleigh, NC - CareerSource Brevard
Rockledge, FL - Tri-Parish Works Workforce Solutions
Slidell, LA - Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Chicago, IL - City of Refuge, Inc.
Atlanta, GA - The LGBTQ Center of Durham
Durham, NC - Goodwill Southeast Georgia
Savannah, GA - Jefferson State Community College
Birmingham, AL - Northampton Community College
Bethlehem, PA - El Camino College
Torrance, CA - Youth Co-Op, Inc.
Miami, FL
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this free program work?
BACK TO WORK 50+ is a free, nationwide program that equips workers over 50 with the skills and confidence to compete in today’s fast-changing job market. We offer free in-person and online workshops on best practices and strategies to get hired.
Every month, AARP Foundation hosts online workshops and coaching sessions through online webinars over Zoom. Together, we’ll build your job search skills, fill in knowledge gaps about today’s job market, and improve your job-hunting confidence.
What do I get during the program?
When you participate in the BACK TO WORK 50+ program, you’ll receive:
- A copy of Your Job Campaign Workbook
- Practical guidance on tailoring your resume to today’s job market and knowing what to say in an interview
- Tools for understanding your value to employers and how to market yourself in today’s competitive, fast-changing job market
Who is this program for?
If you feel like your age is making it harder to find a job, you’re not alone. AARP Foundation developed BACK TO WORK 50+ to equip unemployed jobseekers over age 50 with the skills and confidence to compete in today’s fast-changing job market — and overcome age bias or age discrimination.
This program is tailored for people over 50 who did not expect to be out of work at this point in their lives, including those who:
- Moved to a new city to be close to family and need to start a job search from scratch
- Haven’t worked in a long time but need and want to work
- Feel stuck in their job search — submitting applications but not getting interviews
- Are caregivers who need to work from home so they can care for their spouse
- Were laid off from a job they’ve had for decades
- Work for an hourly wage and need less physically strenuous work
BACK TO WORK 50+ has helped jobseekers over 50 find employment in all kinds of fields, from customer service and administrative roles, to accounting, IT, healthcare, and human resources positions. We serve AARP members and non-members alike.
If you’ve ever wished there was someone who could help you update or refine your job search and interviewing skills, you’ve come to the right place. Thousands of jobseekers have benefited from job search coaching through AARP Foundation.
Who provides the job search coaching?
AARP Foundation is AARP’s charitable organization. We serve vulnerable people 50 and older by creating and advancing effective solutions that help them secure the essentials.
Since 1961, we’ve helped tens of millions of older adults go from surviving to thriving. BACK TO WORK 50+ connects 50+ workers with information, training, support, and employer access they need to get back into the workforce and sustain their income through employment.
Our free workshops are hosted by AARP Foundation or by a local community partner near you. Professional career coaches who understand the challenges of jobseekers over age 50 lead the program, which is designed to make a real difference in your search.
Why does AARP Foundation offer employment programs like BACK TO WORK 50+?
As the charitable affiliate of AARP, AARP Foundation serves vulnerable people 50 and older by creating and advancing effective solutions that help them secure the essentials. As part of our mission to help vulnerable older adults increase their economic opportunity, we develop, and support initiatives designed to help them return to the workforce or advance to better jobs.
According to an AARP survey, 40% of older adults say they lack the skills for available jobs, and older workers have a tougher time getting back into the workforce after being unemployed. One of our primary goals is to help them get the training and support they need to get back to work.
How can I get more information?
Call our confidential Work Resources Hotline at 1-855-850-2525 to speak to a member of the AARP Foundation team. We’re open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Eastern Time. Se habla Español.
When you call, you’ll learn the details for upcoming workshops offered by AARP Foundation or through their Community Partners. Plus, you’ll be connected to additional community resources and government programs that may help you meet basic needs.
Find A Workshop
By selecting “Next” you agree to receiving email with AARP Foundation resources and information, and you agree to AARP Foundation’s Terms of Service.
Or, call our Work Resources Hotline
1-855-850-2525
Speak to a representative
Monday–Friday,
9 a.m.–6 p.m., Eastern Time
Se habla Español