50+ Job Seekers in MA Statewide Networking Groups©

The 50+ Job Seekers program is  for the “forgotten job seekers” – those in the 50+ demographic who find themselves unemployed, underemployed, retired or returning to the workplace after a gap in employment. Regardless of circumstances, are all dealing with the issues of age discrimination during their job search /employment process. The 50+ Job Seekers program provides job seekers with robust materials, strategies, content, and guidance to network and navigate their way through a successful job search.

Current Locations: In person and online.

Join our LinkedIn group supporting this program for great opportunities to network with other job seekers as well as employers who are age friendly: www.linkedin.com/groups/8467280

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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.

I think you have already achieved the status of being the best networking program in the State! I really enjoyed all of the topics and especially the breakout rooms to meet others in an informal way. Your program was a lifesaver during the COVID shutdown.

    

Jacqui T

I attended the 50+ Belmont Networking Group while I was unemployed and really appreciated the opportunity to keep my job search going. I’ve been gainfully employed at Azzur Group for over a year now and as usual, got it through my network.

    

Louis Z

50+ Job Seekers has been a wonderful resource during my job hunt. Ed, Melody and Debbi were great moderators/instructors. The 2021 program was a great resource, not just a “topic of the week”, but a well-organized and thought-out program of useful webinars that built on previous session’s subjects. Breakout sessions provided a practical discussion and practice of the week’s topics with the other networkers. The addition of the GTG sessions this year was another welcome addition to allow more practice and networking. The program really upped my search game, by helping sharpen my resume, LinkedIn, interviewing, networking skills and more. I highly recommend the program for all 50+ job seekers. 

    

Chris M

I sincerely want to thank each of you at the Over 50 Job Seekers Network Group!  I have accepted a part time accounting/admin position that will also allow me to balance accounting and volunteering regularly in the community.  YEAH!!! Although I have planned for this transition for 8 years (and a covid restructure allows me to begin 2 years early) I could not have done this without you and the Mass Hire workshops. I had an open mind!  I am blessed to be out of work only 3 months and wanted to move to part time work in a supportive role for an organization that has community involvement.  My volunteering also is so rewarding!  Lots of soul searching has happened since 3/1/2021 for me.  The workshop topics, STAR concept, break out rooms, fellow job seekers’ advice, and guidance from the career coach team has been exceptional!!!!  My most recent position was for almost 20 years and I had so much to learn for this transition!  I listened, I processed, I explored, and I put into action thanks to you!  (yes, my LinkedIn profile still needs help – but hey, I avoided social medial until March 2021- haha).  The LinkedIn Learning workshops were fantastic too. Showing the initiative to take QuickBooks and Google Platform classes benefited me too on interviews.  I begin my new job on 6/1/2021! It was a job posted on indeed.com and Mass Hire Job Quest boards.  I was fortunate to see many exciting part time roles posted more frequently in the past 6 weeks. After I accepted the role, someone I had been volunteering with for 3 months said to me “You were a Controller looking for part time work?  Wow, my friend was looking for a bookkeeper for one day a week and did not want to post the job and attract unknown applicants.” I guess I missed the “networking,” but am very happy with my decision.  I am excited and so thankful for ALL I have learned and the wonderful people I have met the last three months.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Words cannot express my full gratitude! 

    

Janice B

I was re-entering the workforce after a 10 year career break, and decided to work as a consultant to ease back in. I really appreciate the advice and support provided by you and the team as I navigated this new path. You will all be happy to know – I did land this job via networking – the job was never posted. 

    

Elizabeth A

I have landed a job!  I’ll be on the networking call Wednesday morning, so I can tell my story of patience and persistence, but here’s the short version: Back in August, an external recruiter found me on LinkedIn and helped get me an interview for a contract position as Web Content Specialist with Analog Devices. He thought I had a good chance and the interview seemed to go well, but I didn’t get the position. Then in November I saw a similar position advertised (same title but permanent), so I contacted the hiring manager directly to see if it was in her group and asked if she would recommend that I apply.  She said yes I should apply, so I did, and then went through a phone screen and three rounds of interviews.  They gave me a verbal offer in December, but the holidays slowed down the process.  I finally got the formal offer last week and will be starting on February 1st. 

    

Peter N

That workshop with Stephan felt like a game changer to me. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to witness what he presented, and I am determined to integrate the concepts of Simplicity with more attention dedicated to brevity. Thanks again!

    

Laura C

On a personal note, I want to thank you for all your efforts securing the MCOA funding to enable the program and the outstanding line-up of speakers and topics you have put together. The high quality content, relevant topics along with the networking activities for 50+ Job Seekers participants were all very helpful and useful in my search. In addition, the program is enhanced by an excellent line-up of subject matter expert speakers and strengthened by the combined skills and expertise of your program leaders in Ed Lawrence and Melody Beach. In short, you are providing a very critical resource that addresses a very important need – supporting the 50+ Job Seekers in rejoining the workforce and it is very well done!

    

  Anthony M

I wanted to thank you again for the interview prep assistance- every little bit helped.  It was a very long search process and I needed the support of an extended network and the development of new skills.

    

Greg L

Thanks for organizing an amazing series of events for the 50+ community. All the sessions have been well thought out and executed. The networking breakout rooms are invaluable. Looking forward to more! I’m an engineering pro, business expert, improving products.

    

Joanne W

I’m back on track looking for inspiration, training and work. There’s hope and that’s greatly because of the 50+ workshops. I’ve been inspired to go to a school reviewing and keeping me focused on starting my own business via the internet. I, at my age, am not willing to wait and I am determined to work. Every time I attend, I see I’m on the right track as you mention and outline a lot of the tools needed to think outside of the box. I’m looking for part time work so I can focus on my new business. This world may be turned upside down, but, I’ll not be discouraged.  Thank you and your team for such info and inspiration.  I’ll see you at the next workshop.

    

Leigh M

Hope this finds you feeling well and well-supported. Just need to let you know that the work you are doing here is deeply appreciated and highly meaningful to me. My experience of these sessions is life-affirming. Thank you!

    

Laura C

I wanted to let you know that I started a new position on January 11th. Thank you and all who have provided me and others with information, training (Coursera & workshops) and most importantly support. I never thought I would get a job at 60+, in my field (marketing /graphic design) during a pandemic. I just wanted to let you know what you do makes a difference. Thank you. Jane A

    

Jane A

Staff & Group Leaders

Eric Elmendorf

Eric Elmendorf

Program Manager 50+ Job Seekers in Massachusetts


HR and IT professional with 10+ years leading programs across non-profit and social services sectors. Currently managing a career development networking group that helps job seekers build connections and secure employment. Skilled in program development, team leadership, and leveraging technology to improve organizational efficiency.

Melody Beach

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

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.