Ready and A.B.L.E.

Ready and A.B.L.E.
Employment service’s career fair targets mature workers

As unemployment continues to rise, Operation A.B.L.E. of Greater Boston wants to put people back to work.

Today, the training and employment service for mature workers will host its annual career fair - but this year it features extra events designed to jump-start a job search.

Along with 12 high-profile employers, including John Hancock, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Children’s Hospital Boston and TJX Cos., the fair will feature six break-out sessions to educate job seekers on the best way to apply for jobs.

“This is more than a job fair,” said Tom McFarland, the communications director for Operation A.B.L.E. “It’s a way to get the job search reinvigorated and get your feet back on the job.”

McFarland said one of the break-out sessions addresses how to survive unemployment.

“We have a woman who is a financial adviser who will talk about making the most of your cash flow and how to spend wisely,” he said.

Another session will educate job seekers on how to apply for a job over the Internet.

“That’s really a sore spot for mature workers,” McFarland said, “because it can be very foreign to them.”

John Hancock, one of the employers at the career fair, has more than 100 job opportunities, according to Laura Sweet, the company’s relationship and program coordinator.

“Representatives will be on hand to talk about the opportunities (at John Hancock) and will get a feel for what the candidate is looking for,” Sweet said.

Job seekers will be directed to the company’s Web site, however, to apply online. Sweet said representatives cannot accept hard copies of resumes.

“Everything needs to go through the Web site for tracking to be considered an applicant,” she said.

Regardless, all applications are reviewed by a recruiter, Sweet said. She also recommends job seekers do their research on a company before applying for a job.

McFarland is hopeful the career fair can restore some confidence for mature workers.

“A lot of people have stopped looking for work altogether,” he said. “It’s been brutal for mature workers to get into the work force.”

On average, McFarland said mature workers are out of work 27 weeks longer than younger job seekers.

“(They) are up against decades and decades of cultural bias,” McFarland said. “Although it’s unspoken, it’s there.”

Martha Herlihy, a 64-year-old recent Operation A.B.L.E. student, is hoping to find a part-time job to supplement her retirement income. Herlihy, who retired last May, never thought it would be so hard to find a job, but hopes the career fair will change that.

“I’m hoping to make some leads and find some contacts that will ultimately lead to a job,” Herlihy said.

McFarland said what’s different about A.B.L.E.’s career fair is that they have real job opportunities.

“We have seen career fairs out there lately that boast 20 employers and you get there and they offer commission-based jobs,” he said. “We have real employers with real jobs. We want to get people working and get income into their lives right away.”

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/lifestyle/view.bg?articleid=1238237