Resources for Job Seekers! Click on each category to reveal listed items.
AARP
AARP: AARP represents the needs of nearly 38 million members with lifestyles and political views as diverse as any group in the United States. Developing public policy recommendations that serve such diversity is a formidable task. We concentrate on the issues most important to those in the 50+ community as they age: economic security; health care; access to affordable, quality long-term care; creating and maintaining livable communities; consumer protections; caregiving; and ensuring that our democracy works better for all. AARP
Adult Learning
BroadbandSearch: 20 Essential Internet Learning Resources for Adults – Where should you start online if you want to learn? Here are 16 of the top resources for you to review and see if they are for you…with tips for you to get the most out of your learning experience! 20 Essential Internet Learning Resources for Adults
BOUNCE PROGRAM. The Bounce Program™ is one of Australia’s leading soft skills training companies, delivering world-class, life-changing programs to jobseekers, businesses, companies, and government departments all over Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. If you’re a resident of the City of Worcester, you can take advantage of this program. The Bounce Program
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE: Changing the Narrative just released Guidelines for Age-Inclusive Communications. It covers language, messaging and visuals to use—and what to avoid. Guidelines for Age-Inclusive Language
Artificial Intelligence
AI’s Influence on Decision-Making: What Leaders Need to Know The Role of AI in Decision-Making: A Business Leader’s Guide explores how AI is reshaping decision-making processes for business leaders, offering valuable knowledge and strategies for leveraging this technology effectively. The Role of AI in Decision-Making: A Business Leader’s Guide delves into:
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An overview of the evolution of AI
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A statistical look at the current state of AI use in business
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How different sectors use AI to enhance performance
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10 ways AI can help leaders make better decisions
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The risks of AI
Bilingual Resources
Affordable Health Insurance: Guide to Medicaid: How to Qualify and Apply for Medicaid. For many families, navigating our healthcare Medicaid system can feel overwhelming, especially if English is not the natively spoken language. As a resource center (Note: we do not sell or provide healthcare plans), we are working diligently to make Medicaid accessible to all by eliminating issues cause by language barrier. With the help from our insurance experts, our new guides walk individuals through the qualifying process for Medicaid in their state, how to apply, and more importantly, offering it in the language that is natively spoken in their home. You can view them here:
- https://www.affordablehealthinsurance.com/medicaid/
- https://www.affordablehealthinsurance.com/medicaid/spanish/
Bellevue College; Who Can Take an ESL Class? Immigrants, refugees or U.S. Citizens over 18 years of age whose first language is not English. Bellevue College provides English language classes to students with a college or career goal. Bellevue College
Berlitz: Learn a language. Open your world. Get the language skills, cultural understanding and confidence to open up your world with Berlitz. Berlitz
edX: Improve your English skills with ESL courses to prepare for the TOEFL and IELTS language tests. Learn English vocabulary, writing and conversation to prepare for these important English proficiency tests with online classes. edX
JVS Rapid Employment Programs: If you are a recent refugee arrival (within 5 years of their date of entry to the country), working with anyone that is a recent refugee arrival or another refugee eligible population within 5 years since their entry (asylee, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), Cuban Haitian Entrant (CHE)) who is looking for a job and ESL classes, please contact: Lena Thomas at LThomas@jvs-boston.org. For an overview of the programs: JVS Refugee Rapid Employment Programs.pdf
Medicare Plans: Navigating the healthcare system can feel overwhelming and seemingly impossible to navigate, especially for those who are not native English speakers. As a Medicare plans resource center (Note: we do not sell or provide healthcare plans), we are working diligently to make Medicare accessible to all qualified seniors by removing the language barrier that can potentially prevent them from learning about coverage to support their long term health. We aim to deliver fact-based, expert-reviewed information about Medicare that can help provide support to our Spanish speaking communities.
Entrepreneurship
Adobe: Adobe has created a guide to serve as a go-to resource for freelance business owners who want to learn how to organize and manage their important documents such as certifications, licenses, contracts, and more. Running your own business can prove challenging, and we hope to ease that difficulty by providing this resource. Our goal is to help freelancers confidently pursue the freedom and success of managing their own businesses. Guide for Freelance Business Owners
Senior Entrepreneurship – The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Business Later in Life: Niels Bohrmann’s guide includes inspiration from successful entrepreneurs, business ideas, market statistics, and considerations for potential challenges in starting your own business for people who are 50+. Senior Entrepreneurship
Intergenerational
CoGenerate: We are creating a COMMUNITY that treats the viewpoints, wisdom and contributions of people of all ages and backgrounds with HONOR; that brings innovators, visionaries, leaders, practitioners, partners, individuals and colleagues together for LEARNING and seeking common-sense SOLUTIONS; and where the power of young and old is a source of OPTIMISM that together we can create a better future for future generations. https://cogenerate.org
Encore Network’s Age-Friendly Employer Guide: This guide documents the benefits to employers of including older adults in their talent pipeline strategy. Age- Friendly Employer Guide
Maximising Teamwork and Collaboration: A Senior Leaders’ Guide is a new guide published by Admincontrol.com to promote a cooperative culture for business success. Maximising Teamwork and Collaboration: A Senior Leaders’ Guide includes:
Part 1: The importance of teamwork and collaboration
Part 2: Identifying four main communication styles in business
Part 3: Strategies to enhance collaboration, from staff to management/board level
Part 4: Additional resources for improving teamwork
nextavenue: public media’s first national journalism service for America’s booming older population. Their daily content delivers vital ideas, context and perspectives on issues that matter most as we age. Their mission is to meet the needs and unleash the potential of older Americans through the power of media. www.nextavenue.org/
Job Search
AARP: If you are looking to launch a new career, AARP has many resources to help you get started. They offer a Job Board, Online Career Fairs, Workshops, Guidance on starting your own business, and ideas for great Second Act Careers.
Diversity Jobs: At DiversityJobs.com, they believe that true happiness comes from aligning what we do at work with who we are as people. Their mission is to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace by creating a space where diversity-minded employers engage the best and brightest diverse talent.
Fiverr: A business solution designed for teams
Upgrade to a curated experience packed with tools and benefits, dedicated to businesses
- Connect to freelancers with proven business experience
- Get matched with the perfect talent by a customer success manager
- Manage teamwork and boost productivity with one powerful workspace.
FlexJobs makes it easier, faster, and safer to find a job that better fits your life:
- Remote jobs that are full-time and part-time
- Employee and freelance jobs
- On-site jobs including flexible and alternative schedules
All job opportunities are professional, fully vetted, and with a flexible work option.
Flex Professionals: Flex Professionals matches companies looking for seasoned part-time employees with professionals looking for meaningful part-time or flexible work.
Freelance: Initiate, simplify, animate and secure the relationship between companies and their external talents.
Glassdoor: A unique job search website where current and former employees anonymously review companies. In addition to searching and applying for jobs, users can submit and view salaries anonymously as well.
Idealist: Launched in 1996, it’s the largest job search site for nonprofit jobs and volunteer opportunities.
Indeed: A Google-like search engine for jobs, and one of the most efficient since it aggregates information for job boards, news sites and company postings.
Intelligent.com: According to a report by the Prison Policy Initiative, only 4% of ex-offenders have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, and they experience an unemployment rate of 27%. Studies show that having stable employment and a higher-education degree can reduce recidivism. Intelligent.com created a guide for people with prior convictions to learn about going to college. They provide information about various grants and scholarships, advocacy programs and resources for ex-offenders, and other vital information to help them earn a degree.
Jobscan: Over 90% of large companies use Applicant Tracking Systems [ATS]. These systems analyze resumes to surface candidates that best match the position, but qualified applicants slip through the cracks. When James Hu found himself on the job hunt in 2013, he discovered that the powerful resume portals that companies were using for hiring were simply parsing, ranking, and filtering resumes with an algorithm based on keywords. He built Jobscan from scratch to automate the process and now it can help you get noticed. www.jobscan.co
Jooble: An international job search website used daily by millions of people in 71 countries.
The company has been operating in the online recruitment market since 2006. In its 14 years of existence, the company has gone from a startup founded by two students to a global employment platform.
LinkedIn: Officially launched in 2003 and still ranked as the largest professional networking site, with nearly 660 million users in 200+ countries. It is a powerful networking tool for job seekers, and widely used by recruiters and hiring managers more than any other job search site to connect with potential job candidates. In December 2016, LinkedIn was acquired by Microsoft.
LinkUp: To date, this is the only job search engine that indexes jobs exclusively from company websites. Updated daily, the 3+ million jobs in their search engine are always current with no duplicates or job pollution.
Mass.gov: State government relies on skilled individuals to serve those who live in, work in and visit Massachusetts. Consider working for the state if you would like a challenging and rewarding internship, job or career.
Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA): MSA strives to be an anti-racist State Service Commission that centers justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into the work and mission of our organization. We are committed to creating and supporting equitable and inclusive service and volunteerism opportunities that are available to all people in Massachusetts and reflective of the diversity of our communities.
Monster: One of the oldest job board sites (founded in 1996). The site includes loads of free content from resume and cover letter writing to interview tips and sample resignation letters.
My Move: 10 Women-Owned Moving Companies to Use For Your Next Move. Women-Owned moving companies | Top 10 | MyMove.com
NEHRA: The New England Human Resources Association offers free articles and resources for job searches, and job openings for Human Resources Professionals and options for career counseling at a fee.
Rat Race Rebellion: Specializing in remote jobs, Rat Race Rebellion states you’ll find work faster, and that they have over 1 million jobs posted.
RetirementJobs.com: RetirementJobs.com’s goal is to identify companies most-suited to older workers and match them with active, productive, conscientious, mature adults seeking a job or project that matches their lifestyle. Whether you are here seeking to supplement your income, a new challenge, a way to get out and meet people, or another reason, they welcome you!
SCORE Boston provides business mentoring from experienced advisors and free workshops at convenient locations. From startups to existing businesses looking to grow, the expertise SCORE provides helps entrepreneurs like you succeed.
SimplyHired: Another Google-like search engine which also aggregates information. One advantage over Indeed is that job listings display the Job Seeker’s LinkedIn connections related to each job listed.
Toptal: Toptal is an exclusive network of the top freelance software developers, designers, finance experts, product managers, and project managers in the world. Top companies hire Toptal freelancers for their most important projects.
Upwork With millions of jobs posted on Upwork annually, freelancers are earning money by providing companies with over 5,000 skills across more than 70 categories of work.
USAJobs: The government’s official site for federal jobs and information about eligibility, compensation and benefits for federal employees.
Wall Street Journal Careers Site: This site is packed with content for job seekers as well as links to the WSJ’s financial jobs website and their “At Work” blog that includes more great career content.
We Work Remotely They advertise themselves as the largest remote work community in the world. With over 2.5M monthly visitors, WWR is the #1 destination to find incredible remote jobs.
WAHVE: WAHVE is a unique contract staffing talent solution that brings companies and retiring professionals together across the country to meet their work needs. Companies get the right matched talent and vintage experts get to extend their careers working from home.
ZipRecruiter: a leading online employment marketplace that leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered smart matching technology to actively connect millions of employers and job seekers. 9+ million active job postings available to search.
Networking Groups
MassHire Career Centers
The MassHire Department of Career Services provides job seekers with a variety of job assistance services, including working with experienced career counselors, attending workshops and short-term training, accessing up-to-date local, statewide, and national job listings, developing resumes, writing cover letters, and more. Find one of the 28 MassHire Career Centers near you and check out their monthly calendar for classes, workshops and events: www.mass.gov/masshire-career-centers/locations
Operation ABLE
Since 1982, Operation ABLE, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, has provided job seekers with training programs and employment services. They offer a variety of services including occupational and computer skills training, workshops, job search training and support, coaching and counseling. www.operationable.net
Financial Executives Networking Group (FENG)
A 501(c)(3), founded in 1991 as a forum for senior financial executives to share job opportunities and experiences. FENG has grown from a small Connecticut based organization to one with over 40,000 members spread across the US and internationally. It is the largest networking group of its type in the entire world. www.thefeng.org
Metrowest Networkers Group
Westford Job Seekers Network
The J. V. Fletcher Library offers a weekly service at the library on Wednesdays from 2-4:30 pm. For additional info: www.westfordlibrary.org
Neurodiversity
Disability inclusion in the workplace… In an increasingly digital and remote working environment, it’s important to focus on inclusivity. This guide explores the key aspects of disability in the workplace in depth, providing insight into how inclusive company policies and working styles tend to be (or tend not to be), as well as showcasing key data. We’ll also look at what methods companies can use to ensure a more inclusive culture. By making disability inclusion a priority, businesses can help drive motivation, engagement, and talent retention at work. The definitive guide to disability inclusion in the workplace
Neurodiversity in the Modern Workplace: https://www.helloezra.com/neurodiversity-modern-workplace/ provides an overview of the benefits and challenges of a neurodiverse workforce, as well as guidance on supporting neurodiverse employees.
Managing Employee Well-being: https://www.jam.co.uk/responsible-screen-time-employee-wellbeing/ provides information on the relationship between screen time and well-being, how to improve emotional and physical health through responsible screen time, and encourages two-way conversations between employees and managers.
The Amazing Advantages of ADHD at Work: For over a year, Marlee’s neurodiverse team had this ongoing survey that explores the significant impact brought by individuals with ADHD in the workplace. We’ve compiled our findings into this easy-to-digest piece titled ‘The Amazing Advantages of ADHD at Work,’ which highlights how individuals with ADHD contribute unique strengths such as creativity, hyperfocus, and adaptability to certain job roles. We believe it could offer a fresh perspective on workplace neurodiversity, providing valuable insights for your audience and help spread the word that neurodiverse individuals are active participants in the overall success of businesses and organizations. The Amazing Advantages of ADHD at Work
Arielle Executive: Guide for individuals with disabilities interested in working remotely. Working remotely offers several benefits for individuals with disabilities. Our article, Remote Work Resources For Individuals With Disabilities covers those benefits, as well as:
How To Remodel A Remote Workspace For An Employee With Disabilities
Best Accessibility Software And Technologies For Remote Work
Becoming A Remote-Ready Candidate/Employee
How Management Can Support Employees With Disabilities
Our article also discusses creating a telework-friendly workspace, how to find a job at a telework-friendly workplace and how to write a resume and cover letter for a remote job. The full guide can be found here: https://arielle.com.au/work-from-home-disability/
Resume Builder, Resume and Employment Guide for People With Disabilities: People with disabilities encounter numerous challenges in securing employment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 17.9 percent of persons with a disability were employed compared to 61.8 percent for persons without a disability. Our resource is focused on helping people with disabilities create a strong resume that would help increase their chances of getting hired. Important information such as laws that protect their rights and dealing with workplace discrimination and harassment are also included to help them prepare for employment. Resume and Employment Guide for People With Disabilities
NVISION Eye Centers: Although people who are visually impaired work in as many different job sectors as people with normal vision, the unemployment rate of visually impaired people is significantly higher. The rate of employment of visually impaired individuals has been steadily increasing, but more opportunities need to be made for these highly qualified and skilled individuals to enter the workforce. https://www.nvisioncenters.com/education/careers-for-visually-impaired
Publications
Looking for a job is tough at any age. When you’re over 50, it’s even tougher. The books listed below deserve a place on the bookshelf of every job-hunting boomer. Each one guides you through the new employment landscape with its own mix of inspiration, advice and true tales from the trenches.
55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal: Your Guide to a Better Life by Elizabeth White – A practical plan for the millions of people in their fifties and sixties who find themselves out of work, unable to find a job, and financially incapable of retiring, Elizabeth White shows how to get past any blame or shame, overcome denial, and find a path to a new normal.
A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment by Spring Washam; Foreword by Jack Kornfield – With stories from south central LA to the jungles of Peru, A Fierce Heart offers deep and honest reflections on compassion and suffering by one of the country’s most powerful mindfulness teachers.
Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0: How to Stand Out from the Crowd and Tap Into the Hidden Job Market using Social Media and 999 other Tactics Today by Jay Conrad Levinson and David E. Perry – In this modern world, you often need to take unusual steps to market yourself and stand out in the job market. This book shows what works in today’s competitive marketplace with tips and commentary from top recruiters.
How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – This book is a must read for everyone. It’s especially crucial when you are looking for a job. It’s sold more than 15 million copies and stayed on best seller lists for ages because it contains rock solid advice about climbing the ladder of success at work and in life.
I Don’t Know What I Want, But I Know It’s Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work by Julie Jansen – A huge number of people are unhappy with the jobs they have but don’t know what they want to do. Jansen looks at this epidemic of job dissatisfaction and offers up career assessment quizzes and personality exercises to help you figure out your career situation and future. If you weren’t happy in the job you lost this is a great book to pick up in order to decide what kind of job you should pursue next.
Job Hawk: A Job Searching Blueprint for Any Economic Environment by Matthew J Kelly; Contributing Writer-Susan D Kelly – With so many job searching books on the market to choose from, what differentiates Job Hawk? The answer is simple, the author. Kelly shares with his readers the same methods which have helped him advance his career, and secure numerous employment opportunities over the years. The content within Job Hawk was accumulated over eleven years and six successful searches, two of which Kelly conducted in the midst of the Great Financial Recession. In this three part book, appropriate for any career level, Kelly covers an array of job searching techniques which he breaks down into a series of achievable steps. Readers will learn how to generate job leads, build a network, prepare for interviews and networking calls, optimize job searching efforts, evaluate job offers, negotiate a starting salary, and more. Job Hawk also provides templates for networking engagements as well as post-interview follow-ups. There’s no doubt that a job search requires sacrifice, hard work, and perseverance.
Little Victories: Conquering Unemployment by Tom Brophy – This unemployment industry veteran has helped thousands of professionals negotiate the emotional and financial trauma of unemployment, and shows you how to deal with the rejection and depression that unemployed people must deal with.
Rebound: A Proven Plan for Starting Over After Job Loss by Martha Finney – One of the nation’s leading workplace experts uses personal stories and insights from research to create a sympathetic guide to starting over after losing a job. She deals with the emotions as well as the practical steps to move forward from the trauma.
Second-Act Careers: 50+ Ways to Profit from Your Passions during Semi-Retirement by Nancy Collamer – A career guide that rethinks the golden years, this handbook offers 50+ income models for creating flexible, fulfilling, and profitable work during the encore stage of one’s career.
What Color Is Your Parachute? 2006: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard Nelson Bolles – Often called the Job Hunting Bible, it’s the best-selling job hunting book in the world and continues to top lists for it’s practical and inspiring plan.
Your Blue Flame: Drop the Guilt and Do What Makes You Come Alive by Jennifer Fulwiler – Break out of that rut and fall in love with your life again by joining stand-up comic, SiriusXM host, and mom of six Jennifer Fulwiler in finding your blue flame.
Remote Work
Job Hunting in the Age of Remote Work: Virtual Interviews & Onboarding The guide covers:
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How remote working has changed job hunting, for better and for worse
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Starting a new job as a remote worker and how to ace a virtual interview
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What to do if something goes wrong in your new remote role
Work-Life Balance While Working From Home: As remote work has become increasingly popular, with many people preferring a hybrid model. To maintain a healthy work-life balance, it’s essential to establish a dedicated workspace, effective time management, and clear communication with colleagues. https://www.comparethemarket.com/mortgages/content/achieve-a-work-life-balance-working-from-home/
Retraining and Certifications
Alison is one of the world’s largest free learning platforms for education and skills training, diplomas and certifications. It is a for-profit social enterprise dedicated to making it possible for anyone, to study anything, anywhere, at any time, for free online, at any subject level. Founded in Galway, Ireland in 2007 by serial entrepreneur, Mike Feerick, its stated objective is to serve as a catalyst for positive social change, creating opportunity, prosperity, and equality for everyone. www.alison.com
The Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell: The Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell is a collaboration between Bank of America and Cornell University to deliver an online learning portal that provides women entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge and resources to build, manage, and scale a successful business. https://bofainstitute.cornell.edu/program.php
BNY Mellon Return to Work Program: The BNY Mellon Return-to-Work Program will give you the opportunity to work with some of the most accomplished professionals in the business, finance, and technology industry! BNY Mellon Return to Work Program
edX is the trusted platform for education and learning. Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX is home to more than 20 million learners, the majority of top-ranked universities in the world and industry-leading companies. As a global nonprofit, edX is transforming traditional education, removing the barriers of cost, location and access. Fulfilling the demand for people to learn on their own terms, edX is reimagining the possibilities of education, providing the highest-quality, stackable learning experiences including the groundbreaking online degrees and ceritifications with their MicroBachelors®, MicroMasters® and Professional Certificate® programs. www.edx.org
FutureLearn partners with leading universities and organizations around the world to offer our learners relevant, high quality courses across a huge range of topics. Whether you want to develop as a professional or discover a new hobby, there’s an online course for that. FutureLearn’s purpose is to transform access to education. https://www.futurelearn.com/
LinkedIn Learning [fka:Lynda.com] is a leading online learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. Through a paid subscription, members have access to the LinkedIn Learning video library of over 3000 engaging, top-quality courses taught by recognized industry experts. Many local libraries offer access to Lynda.com video courses free to library members. www.linkedin.com/learning
Mass.Gov Home Care Aide Training (PHCAST): The training encompasses 11 self-paced modules, is roughly 37 hours of training and can be taken on a laptop, tablet or phone and covers the topics and skills necessary to become a Homemaker. This is exciting because it now makes the training more accessible to a wide range of potential workers and allows them to take the course when it is convenient for them. This course is also the stepping stone to a career path that includes Personal Care Homemaker, nurse’s aide and other health care professions. By making this accessible to all, we hope to bring more people into these important professions, increase the number of homemakers in the workforce and help alleviate the wait time for consumers needing this important service. During 2021 we will be translating the online PHCAST into both Spanish and Haitian Creole and also converting the next level training for PC Homemaker into the same online format in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. Home Care Aide Training (PHCAST) | Mass.gov
MassHire Career Information System (MassHire CIS) is free on-line to all MA residents, and is designed to provide occupational and educational information to help people make better-informed career and school choices. It’s an online tool to help you explore careers and find the right education or training program once you have made your career decisions. MassHire CIS offers information on: career assessment and planning, occupations, the labor market, outlook, and educational options. www.masscis.intocareers.org
The MA Department of Higher Education grants a “categorical tuition waiver” to state residents age 60 and up [as well as veterans, active members of the military, Native Americans, and blind and disabled residents]. The value of this waiver is typically between 10% and 15% of the full cost of tuition, but the exact amount varies by school. The Office of Student Financial Assistance has a complete list of state schools and their current tuition waivers. Students are allowed to receive both a categorical tuition waiver and need-based financial aid if they qualify. However, the value of the two put together can’t be more than the total cost of tuition. www.mass.edu/osfa/programs/categorical.asp
Natick Service Council’s Brack Career Center Microsoft Word Classes: The Brack Career Center holds MS Word- Beginners and Advanced classes. Please check their website for upcoming offerings. Brack Center Also, check out the Brack Center’s on demand Excel training videos: Beginner Excel , Advanced Excel
reacHIRE: reacHIRE helps Returners transition back into the workforce with confidence. Find a role you want and apply. Once selected, you will join other a cohort of other returners, and you will spend the next six months working with one of our clients learning, networking, and ultimately growing your skillset. reacHIRE
SDM Foundation: We offer FREE individual and small group lessons. We focus on teaching people how to use technology, such as computers and the Internet, to enrich their lives. We also help small businesses and nonprofits learn to develop and maintain websites, social media, and other technology. SDM Foundation
Small Business Administration [SBA] helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Created in 1953, SBA continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations . The SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses. www.sba.gov
SCORE is America’s premier source of free business mentoring and education.
As a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs through mentoring, workshops and educational resources since 1964. They offer tools, templates, tips, mentors, and workshops to support small businesses. www.score.org
Volunteerism and Internships
VOLUNTEERISM
AARP Foundation Experience Corps is for those age 50 and older who want to dedicate their time to helping children improve their reading skills. The organization found that students who work with Experience Corps volunteers see as much as a 60% improvement in critical literacy skills compared to those in their age group. Volunteers are expected to donate an average of six to 15 hours each week during the school year. www.aarp.org
American Red Cross relies heavily on help from volunteers. These volunteers do roughly 90% of the organization’s humanitarian work. Some of the roles filled by Red Cross volunteers include assistance with first aid, disaster education, disaster services, administrative support, babysitting instruction, and help with fundraising and marketing. www.redcross.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America gives volunteers an opportunity to mentor youth who need an adult role model. There are several programs to choose from. Volunteers have a choice of working with community-based programs, children of military families, school-based programs, and children with incarcerated parents. www.bbbs.org
For One Child – Twice as Nice Thrift Shop Racquel Knight held the grand opening for For One Child – Twice as Nice Thrift Shop in January, 2022. Her main mission for the thrift store is to provide quality products to her customers while keeping prices affordable and raising funds to help kids in Jamaica. For One Child
JustServe is a web-based service where the volunteer needs of organizations and communities are posted and volunteers search for places to serve in the community, providing opportunities to help those in need and enhance the quality of life in the community. www.JustServe.org
RSVP of the Pioneer Valley is the easy and effective way to give back to your community. Whatever your background, skills, and interests, RSVP will match you with a rewarding volunteer opportunity. RSVP serves people 55+ living in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties, but branches of RSVP exist all over the state, and the United States. https://www.communityaction.us/program/rsvp/
Sixty and Me is a community of over 500,000 women over 60 founded by Margaret Manning. Their editorial team publishes articles on lifestyle topics including volunteering, fashion, dating, retirement, and money. https://sixtyandme.com/senior-volunteering/
Volunteer Match is an U.S.-based nonprofit organization and ranked as the #1 volunteer-engagement network in the US. Their mission is to strengthen communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect. www.volunteermatch.org/
PAID INTERNSHIPS
Empower Success Corps (ESC) is a nonprofit organization which seeks seasoned professionals for high-impact, skills-based volunteer opportunities. If you would like to use your hard-earned business or nonprofit leadership skills to give back in a meaningful way to the community you care about, become a part of a network of more than 175 ESC Fellows. ESC matches nonprofits with high-caliber, volunteer consultants who help organizations operate more effectively to better meet the needs of their communities. ESC Fellowships are time-limited assignments, usually full-time for six months or part-time for a year. ESC fellows receive a stipend paid for by the nonprofit or funded by a sponsor. www.empowersuccesscorps.org/
reacHIRE partners with both small and large companies [eg., Amazon, Ipsen] to create 6-month paid Returnship programs designed for professionals returning to the workforce after a 2+ year career break. It is a cohort-based model that allows individuals to re-enter the workforce in a supported way with a group of fellow returning professionals. reacHIRE provides an intensive onboarding specially designed to build the skills needed to successfully re-enter the workforce. This proven approach fosters camaraderie among colleagues, builds confidence and upgrades technology and professional skills that will be invaluable throughout this next phase of their career. Addie Swartz, the founder of reacHIRE believes that ”a career break shouldn’t be a career breaker.”™ www.reachire.com
ReServe® is a national nonprofit that leverages talent, experience and commitment of retired professionals 50+ (“ReServists”) to strengthen their communities by matching their skills and passion with part-time service work in nonprofits and public institutions. ReServists are not volunteers. These dedicated and skilled professionals work for a modest hourly stipend, and the satisfaction of giving back to a worthy cause. Partners are nonprofit and government agencies who strive to make a positive impact in areas of health care, education, environment, workforce, poverty, arts & culture, at-risk youth and many other causes. www.reserveinc.org
Well Being
Prescription Advantage Program: Each year thousands of Medicare beneficiaries reach that gap in their Medicare prescription drug plan that is often referred to as the “donut hole”. If you reach that gap, you will see your prescription drug costs increase dramatically! Don’t let this happen to you. Prescription Advantage can help. Prescription Advantage is a Massachusetts state-sponsored program that supplements your Medicare drug plan to fill that gap.
Call Prescription Advantage today to learn more.
1-800-243-4636
Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
www.prescriptionadvantagema.org
StorageUnits.com: Our dedication to creating an all-encompassing guide led us to not only conduct thorough research but also collaborate with moving companies nationwide that specialize in assisting seniors. This effort has enabled us to address the diverse storage and moving challenges faced by aging adults. Our guide offers a curated list of moving companies that specialize in assisting seniors, as well as an extensive compilation of moving resources by state. This ensures seniors receive comprehensive support as they navigate through the significant transitions in their lives. Moving Companies and Resources for Seniors Guide
Testing.com: We are a global scientific and medical professional organization dedicated to better health through laboratory medicine. We work with our Medical Review Board, consisting of authorities in their medical and scientific field, to review cutting-edge medical research and developments. We provide people with trusted and reliable information to help them make informed health decisions. Our collection of approachable and actionable guides sheds light on important questions and helps individuals make informed health decisions. To learn about lab tests: https://www.testing.com/ For those assisting the elderly, please check out “Tips to Help the Elderly through Their Medical Tests”: https://www.testing.com/articles/laboratory-testing-tips-elderly/
What’sNext: What’sNext believe it’s possible for people to find and create a career path that is financially, emotionally, and even spiritually rewarding. Their mission is to re-invent the way people choose and find work by giving them the tools they need to create a rewarding, future-proof, and satisfying career path. The site provides online assessment tools, calculators, career guides, books, lots of articles filled with expert content, and career coaches – all available to help you figure out how to create the life you want. www.whatsnext.com
Workforce50: For the 50+ workforce, Workforce50.com has jobs and information to help navigate your job search or a search for a new direction. It provides content, job search functions, and a list of favorite age-friendly employers by industry. It also gives you the ability to sign up for job alerts. Not quite sure what’s next? Experts cover topics from finding your life’s purpose, to raising grandchildren, avoiding mistakes on LinkedIn or strategic résumé writing for a less than perfect work history. www.workforce50.com
Zety: Since 2016, Zety has helped millions of job seekers worldwide find employment. With a rapidly growing community of more than 40 million readers a year, Zety is one of the world’s fastest growing career advice website. From resume and interview advice to networking, our guides have been recognized by over 200 universities and organizations worldwide. They help job seekers write resumes and cover letters, and improve their chances of landing a job. Zety is powered by a team of 10 career experts featured in Forbes, Financial Times, CareerBuilder, and Glassdoor. https://zety.com/