To help companies find these blue-chip workers—and vice versa—Scalice, a financial analyst from Manalapan, and Wingerter, a business executive from Red Bank, last year launched retireeworkforce.com. Potential employees can post their resumes and apply for jobs without paying any fees.
“It’s refreshing for older workers to see a site like ours,” says Scalice, “because the stigma of age discrimination is still out there—candidates tell us that companies say they’re overqualified and too experienced, and won’t give them a job.”
That may be changing. Companies including Sprint, Nextel, Wawa, Stop and Shop, mom-and-pop stores, and nonprofits are posting full- and part-time jobs on the site.
While the stagnating economy is forcing many retirees back into the workforce, others simply are not ready for pasture. Candidates can find work in their former fields, adapt their skills, or try something new.
“Someone who worked in engineering for 30 years may really want to teach high school math,” says Scalice, “so they can transfer their skills into something meaningful for them.”