50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Groups©
Empowering Massachusetts’ “Forgotten Job Seekers”
The 50+ Job Seekers program addresses a critical gap in employment services by specifically supporting professionals aged 50 and older who have been overlooked by traditional job placement resources. This comprehensive program serves individuals across various employment situations, including:
- Recently unemployed professionals seeking new career opportunities
- Underemployed workers looking to maximize their skills and earning potential
- Retirees who wish to return to meaningful work, whether by choice or necessity
- Career gap returners re-entering the workforce after extended absences due to caregiving, health issues, or other life circumstances
- Career changers exploring new industries or roles later in their professional journey
Addressing Age Discrimination Head-On
Regardless of their specific circumstances, all participants share a common challenge: navigating age bias and discrimination throughout their job search and hiring processes. The 50+ Job Seekers program acknowledges this reality and provides targeted strategies to overcome these systemic barriers.
Comprehensive Support and Resources
Our program offers participants:
Strategic Job Search Tools
- Proven networking techniques tailored to mature professionals
- Age-neutral resume and LinkedIn profile optimization
- Interview preparation focused on addressing age-related concerns
- Salary negotiation strategies that leverage experience
Educational Content and Workshops
- Industry-specific job market insights
- Resources for technology skills enhancement for modern workplaces
- Personal branding and online presence development
- Employer research and targeting methodologies
Ongoing Support and Community
- Peer networking opportunities with fellow job seekers
- Access to age-friendly employers and hiring managers
- Regular program updates and job market intelligence
- Accountability partnerships and progress tracking
Flexible Access Options
Current Program Locations:
- In-person sessions for hands-on learning and direct networking
- Virtual/online programs for convenient access regardless of location
Connect and Network
Join Our Professional Community: Expand your network through our active LinkedIn group, which connects job seekers with peers and age-inclusive employers who value experienced professionals.
LinkedIn Group: www.linkedin.com/groups/8467280
Stay Informed: Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest job opportunities, program updates, and career resources specifically curated for the 50+ job seeker community.
The 50+ Job Seekers program recognizes that experience, wisdom, and professional maturity are valuable assets in today’s workforce. We’re committed to helping seasoned professionals showcase these strengths while successfully navigating an evolving job market.
The 50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Group’s mission is to empower individuals aged 50 and older by providing group support and resources to help them secure meaningful and fulfilling employment.
Through personalized guidance, skills development, and partnership with employers, we create opportunities for our members to continue thriving in their careers and contributing to their communities.
We are dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect, and to advocating for the valuable skills and experiences that mature workers bring to the workforce.
Respect for Experience
We honor the diverse skills, insights, and professional backgrounds that mature candidates bring to the workforce, and encourage employers to see these as assets.
Inclusivity and Age Diversity
We champion age diversity in the workplace by creating an inclusive environment that values contributions from all ages.
Empowerment
We strengthen the confidence of mature workers by helping them recognize their value and providing resources to support skill-building, self-advocacy, and career adaptation.
Continuous Learning and Growth
We promote lifelong learning by providing or connecting candidates with upskilling and reskilling opportunities, enabling them to stay competitive and adapt to evolving job markets.
Equity and Advocacy
We stand against age-related discrimination by advocating for fair hiring practices, equal pay, and opportunities, working to address implicit and explicit biases in the hiring process.
Adaptability and Resilience
We encourage adaptability, helping mature workers become comfortable with workplace technologies, trends, and cultures to increase their employability.
Community and Networking
We foster a sense of community where mature workers can build connections, share experiences, and access mentorship or peer support, creating a support system for career transitions.
Transparency and Integrity
We maintain honest, clear, and open communication about job opportunities, challenges, and the job market, empowering mature candidates with realistic expectations and support.
Purpose and Fulfillment
We promote the idea that work can bring purpose at any age, helping mature candidates find roles that align with their skills, interests, and values.
Collaboration with Employers
We partner with employers to promote the benefits of hiring mature workers, providing guidance on how to integrate, support, and retain them effectively.
Staff & Group Leaders
Eric Elmendorf
Program Manager 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts
Eric serves as the Program Manager for the Massachusetts Council on Aging’s (MCOA) 50+ Job Seekers program, bringing a wealth of experience from both sides of the hiring table. His unique perspective stems from two complementary career paths: extensive experience as a Human Resources professional and his personal journey as a mature job seeker following retirement.
Throughout his career in Human Resources, Eric gained valuable insights into recruitment processes, employment trends, and hiring decisions across various industries. He witnessed firsthand how organizations evaluate candidates and understood the subtle biases that can influence hiring outcomes.
Following his retirement, Eric unexpectedly found himself navigating the challenges of age discrimination in the job market. Despite his impressive qualifications and extensive professional background, he encountered the very obstacles that many mature job seekers face—limited interview opportunities, salary negotiations complicated by experience level, and implicit biases about older workers’ adaptability and technological proficiency.
This dual perspective—from both the employer’s hiring chair and the mature job seeker’s position—has given Eric an unparalleled understanding of the employment landscape for professionals over 50. He leverages this comprehensive knowledge to develop targeted strategies, workshops, and resources that address the specific challenges mature job seekers encounter.
In his role with the MCOA’s 50+ Job Seekers program, Eric combines practical expertise with genuine empathy to help participants navigate today’s competitive job market. He approaches this work with both professional confidence and personal humility, recognizing that each success story represents not just employment secured, but dignity and purpose restored.
Eric remains committed to advocating for age-inclusive workplaces while empowering mature professionals to showcase their valuable experience, adaptability, and ongoing contributions to the workforce.
Melody Beach
Group Leader
Melody has over 20 years of experience as a Human Resources professional supporting, implementing, and executing all tactical aspects of human capital strategies, increasing organizational effectiveness aligned with goals and objectives. She collaborated with key stakeholders, senior leaders, and cross-functional managers coaching on talent management areas to include performance management, training and development, total rewards and succession planning.
Working within the corporate manufacturing for the past 28 years, Melody has served in several roles including generalist, manager, business partner, facility security officer and executive assistant. Melody provided strategic business level consultation to client departments on a broad range of human resource issues i.e. for over 500 employees in 4 business sectors in 8 locations across NA.
Most recently Melody started Melody L Beach Consulting Group which is a central Massachusetts based company that provides human resources services to small and medium size companies and transitional coaching for individuals either in transition or looking to make a change. She is a licensed group leader for three 50+ Job Seekers Networking Group program which provides transitional coaching, skills assessment and informational topics to the attendees. In addition, Melody is a board member of the nonprofit “One Child Foundation”, a Treasurer of the Woonsocket Elks, Lodge 850 and volunteers for AARP as one of their speakers in the “Speakers Bureau” program and Worcester Volunteer Committee (WVC).
Melody earned her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Management at Newbury College and her Masters of Science in Leadership & Human Resources Management from Northeastern University. Melody is professionally trained and certified through The Center for Application of Psychological Type (CAPT) as a Certified Practitioner of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, MBTI Step 1 and Step II.
Melody lives in Central Mass with her husband and three fur babies. She loves gardening, meditation and yoga. She spends much of her spare time riding her Harley Davidson on the country roads of CT and Western MA or hiking and camping in the Berkshires with her husband.
George Armstrong
Group Leader
As a certified Career Development Coach, George’s goal is to help people and organizations solve for “why” so they can get aligned with their purpose and move forward with confidence.
In this encore career, George draws on three decades of experience in sales and marketing for Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries serving businesses of all sizes. That work included developing and coaching national and local sales teams and leaders, facilitating training programs and consultatively selling to help his clients succeed.
George is a freelance and volunteer coach and facilitator with extensive experience working with and participating in job search networking groups including Metro West Networking Group, MCOA 50+ Networkers and MASSHIRE. He also recently earned his CCSP (Certified Career Services Professional) credential from the NCDA (National Career Development Association).
In his work as Support Group Facilitator for the BIA (Brain Injury Association) of Massachusetts, George works to provide a safe and resourceful forum for brain injury victims and their families.
George enjoys spending time with his growing family, seasonal life in New England and reading Historical Fiction.