From Skeptic to Believer: My Experience Works Story

I’ll be straight with you—I didn’t exactly dive into Experience Works with a big smile and a “let’s do this” attitude. Honestly, I was exhausted, bitter, and feeling like the working world had completely forgotten about me.

I’d spent years—decades, really—putting in the kind of work that leaves you running on fumes. I figured all that effort, experience, and loyalty would eventually pay off. Turns out, I was wrong. Once I hit my mid-50s, the responses to job applications got weird. “You’re overqualified.” “We’ve decided to move forward with other candidates.” Or, my personal favorite—absolute silence.

Then one day, I came across Experience Works. At first, it felt like one of those too-good-to-be-true promises you see online. A program designed to help older adults get real job training and actually land paying work again? Not a volunteer role, not some vague “maybe down the road” opportunity—real employment. I was skeptical, but I figured I had nothing to lose. So, with a mix of hope and doubt, I hit “Apply.”

What Is Experience Works, Really?

Here’s the deal—Experience Works is a nonprofit dedicated to helping people 55 and older, especially those with lower incomes, find their way back into the workforce. They’ve been at it for more than half a century, but don’t let that fool you—they’re anything but old-fashioned. This isn’t some dusty bulletin board with outdated job postings.

Their flagship program is called the Senior Community Service Employment Program, or SCSEP for short. The idea is straightforward but brilliant: you get paid while working part-time at nonprofit or public organizations, all while learning new skills. It’s hands-on training that helps you sharpen your abilities, gain confidence, and step back into today’s job market with experience that matters.

For someone like me—who hadn’t dusted off a resume since the days of dial-up internet—this was a total game changer.

The Application Process (aka The Mental Obstacle Course)

Look—I’m not great with forms. Or online anything. I once tried to reset a password and locked myself out of my email and my bank account in the same afternoon.

But applying to Experience Works? Surprisingly doable. I called the number listed on their site, got a real human on the phone (hallelujah), and they walked me through the process. They weren’t robotic. They weren’t rushing me. They treated me like a human being with value.

I didn’t cry. (Okay, maybe a little.)

They asked about income, work history, stuff like that. Since it’s a government-funded program, you have to meet certain requirements. But if you’re over 55 and looking for a foot back in the door—you’ve got a real shot.

First Assignment: Cue the Imposter Syndrome

They placed me with a local nonprofit library. At first, I felt completely out of my depth. Everything was digital. They had some Gen Z wizard scanning books and running databases like he was born with a barcode reader for a brain.

But here’s what surprised me: they didn’t expect me to know everything. Experience Works gave me on-the-job training while paying me. And not in Monopoly money either—I was actually earning while learning.

Every day I walked in, I felt a little more like me again. Not the washed-up version stuck behind a dial-up internet speed of progress. The real me. The sharp one. The one who used to solve problems and run meetings and get sh*t done.

Confidence Is Contagious (Even Over 50)

I swear, the first time I showed a co-worker how to fix a printer jam before IT showed up, I felt like a superhero. It wasn’t just about getting a paycheck (although that helped with gas and groceries). It was about mattering again.

Experience Works wasn’t just giving me a job—they were giving me permission to stop apologizing for getting older.

There’s this weird thing that happens when you hit a certain age: people stop looking at you like you can. But this program flipped the script. It reminded me that experience isn’t a burden—it’s a freaking asset.

The Best Part? You’re Not Alone

One of the hidden gems of this whole thing is the community. I met folks who had been teachers, small business owners, truck drivers—you name it. And guess what? We were all just trying to find our way back into a world that seemed like it had moved on without us.

We’d swap stories, laugh about how many mouse clicks it took us to open a Google Doc, and cheer each other on when someone got a permanent job offer.

That kind of support? You can’t put a price on it. You just feel it in your chest.

Where Am I Now?

Fast-forward a year and I’m in a full-time position—one that started with an Experience Works placement. I’ve got benefits, purpose, and a morning routine again (coffee counts as a ritual, right?).

But more than that—I’ve got momentum. And if you’re in your 50s, 60s, even 70s and feel stuck, listen to me loud and clear:

You are not done.

The world may try to write you off, but that doesn’t mean you hand them the pen.

Final Thoughts: Should You Try Experience Works?

If you’re sitting there wondering whether to apply, let me ask you this—what have you got to lose? A little time? A little pride?

I lost both plenty of times in the job search before this. But with Experience Works, I gained more than I even knew I needed.

It’s not a magic wand. You won’t wake up employed at Google tomorrow. But it’s real. It’s legit. And for people like us—seasoned, not obsolete—it just might be the bridge you didn’t know existed.

Key Takeaways

• Experience Works helps low-income adults 55+ re-enter the workforce through paid, part-time job training.

• The SCSEP program offers real work experience at nonprofits and public agencies.

• It’s not tech-heavy or overwhelming—you get personal help and support during the application process.

• Confidence and community are some of the most underrated perks.

• It can lead to full-time employment, even if you haven’t worked in years.

Your Next Step

Thinking about applying? Don’t overthink it. Pick up the phone, shoot them an email, whatever you gotta do. No one’s too old to start something new—and if they think you are, they’re just not paying attention.

And if this helped even a little, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Because Experience Works didn’t just get me a job—it gave me back a piece of myself.

And that, my friend, is priceless.