SAGEWorks offers older LGBT job seekers support

By Rex Fuller

These days it can be challenging for anyone who’s looking for work, but older workers face extra challenges that some younger job seekers may not face — and members of the LGBT community may face even greater difficulty.

Hiring managers often assume an older applicant isn’t up-to-date on the latest technology. An older applicant might be passed over for a job because he or she is viewed as overqualified. Openly gay or lesbian candidates may face discrimination on the job or may feel the need to closet themselves in order to find adequate employment. According to a recent study by the National Center for Transgender Equality, transgender people experience unemployment at twice the rate of the general population. More than four in ten transgender people who are currently working are underemployed compared to their level of education and experience. Transgender workers are also nearly four times more likely than the population as a whole to have an annual household income of under $10,000.

SAGE of the Rockies at the GLBT Community Center seeks to address these problems through SAGEWorks, a national job-readiness program sponsored by The Walmart Foundation. Designed for LGBT job seekers over 40, SAGEWorks offers community members the chance to explore new career opportunities, build job-seeking skills, review resumes, and practice job interviewing. “It really is for people who are unemployed or underemployed,” says Reynaldo Mireles, program manager for SAGE. “We are also trying to help people who have a wide skill set, but are finding it difficult to find a job or change careers.”

SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) is a national organization with affiliates across the US. Each SAGE affiliate has developed its own version of SAGEWorks, creating locally-based programs that fit the needs of each SAGE community appropriately. At The Center, Reynaldo has developed a four-week program that helps people focus their search and find success. “We start off with our own job-readiness assessment to determine what each person needs,” he says. The assessment is an opportunity to explain what the program can offer and to make certain it will be a good fit for the participant.

Once a week, participants meet as a group in an open format to develop the skills needed for a successful job search. “We examine goal setting, revise resumes, help participants develop an ‘elevator speech’ that describes their skills succinctly, and explore how social media can be part of an effective job search,” Reynaldo explains. “At the conclusion of the four-week program, participants have the option of speaking with a career coach to develop plans for moving forward.” SAGEWorks also works in partnership with Denver Public Library to offer free training on various computer skills such as Microsoft Office and other programs.

Reynaldo is proud of some of the success stories that are emerging from the program.

“An older man came to SAGEWorks and told us he found a job because of the emotional support he received from the group,” Reynaldo recalls. “He came in not believing he would be able to find a job because of his age. He ended up finding a part-time job that has been very fulfilling — something he couldn’t have imagined happening before.”

SAGEWorks has been able to help participants find success without changing jobs. A transwoman came to SAGEWorks seeking support. She was undergoing transition and was afraid that she wouldn’t be accepted at
her company.

“She participated in SAGEWorks and also worked with support programs developed through our transgender program,” Reynaldo says. “By speaking with her peers and receiving career counseling, she was able to return to her work and have the tools to be open about who she is. What was more surprising is that her boss and her human resources department were right on board. They helped get training for other employees and helped this individual have a smooth on-the-job transition because they valued her contributions to the company.”

SAGEWorks is starting up a new cycle of programs in early September.