Goodwill hosts job fair to help older workers find employment - WMBFNews.com, Myrtle Beach/Florence SC, Weather

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – Palmetto Goodwill is hosting an event Tuesday to help older workers find a job. Finding a job is tough right now, especially for anyone over 55 years old.

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) works will Goodwill to help older workers find jobs. This program and event is specifically for anyone who is unemployed and 55 years old and older. The program partners with non-profit and public organizations in the area to connect you with the perfect job.

A leader with the program says many of these companies are short staffed. So when you are hired, you’re making a big difference.

"Our older workers that we assign with those agencies are now able to provide more services and expand their services to more people in their communities because of our older workers,” says Sheila Earp, the SCSEP service coordinator. “So it's a win-win program for everyone involved."

SCSEP staff will ask you about your skills and what kind of job you are interested in. As long as you meet the qualifications, you will be placed with a company. And if you do not have the skills needed, they will train you so you are ready. You can expect to learn skills specific to that company you will be placed with. On top of that you can learn computer skills, prepare a resume, and practice mock interviews.

On top of finding you a job and preparing you for that company, the program also provides job readiness skills that can be applied to any job you might find. Earp says this builds confidence and translates to economic security.

Bobby Cox is a senior employment specialist with SCSEP. But she first learned about the program when she was actually jobless and standing in the unemployment line. Cox says through SCSEP, she was placed to work in the JobLinks center for Goodwill. She then got a part-time and then a full-time job in retail. She finally came full circle and is now a senior employment specialist helping you find your next job.

Cox says the population in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee is aging, and that’s creating a demand for this kind of service.

“People retire and they find that in this area they don’t have enough money and they need to work,” says Cox.

Many of the jobs where older workers are placed include retail, administrative assistants, child care, food service, cleaning and maintenance staff, libraries, schools, senior centers, and government agencies.

"I just feel that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear,” says Cox. “If you're interested in working, truly interested, and you're looking for an opportunity – this is an excellent opportunity to improve your job skills, work, and get paid. It doesn't get much better than that!”

Tuesday’s job recruitment event will be at the Goodwill Prosperity Center at 3101 Oak Street in Myrtle Beach from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

And if you cannot make it to that event, you can always stop by one of the Goodwill JobLinks centers for help. The group serves anyone living in Horry, Georgetown, Sumter, Marion, Dillon, or Chesterfield Counties.

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