Recreation and Leisure New Class

Recreation and Leisure

New Class for Seniors propose a class called "Employment for Seniors," and my target market is those seniors who have lost money on investments and feel they cannot retire, but need to keep working. The class would be held in the evenings, to accommodate seniors who work, and the cost would be nominal, $10-50 mostly for materials (like paper and notebooks), and it could even be free, if the instructor would donate their time, and people brought their own supplies. There would have to be several different class meetings, maybe six to eight, depending on the size of the class and how quickly they did things, like creating a resume, which they would work on in at least one class. Each class would be different, so they would have to enroll for the entire series, not just one or two classes. The class is extremely timely, because of the current stock market crisis, and because there are so many baby boomers on the verge of retirement. They may not know how to get out an look for a job anymore, and they may not know what is available.

A chose this topic because it is timely, but because I think it would apply to a lot of seniors. Their income is fixed, for the most part, and with rising prices, they may have to get back in the workforce, even if they don't want to. They need skills in how to interview, to write a resume, and where to look for jobs, and that's what this course would cover. It would be taught by a professional recruiter or career counselor, and they would use at least one or two class sessions to work on a resume that would help find them the right jobs.

There would be a class on interviewing skills, and how to play up their experience and enthusiasm, without making them sound overqualified or too old to do the job. There are a lot of companies that hire seniors, like Wal-Mart, and they might think that no one will hire them, so they need to develop skills that overcome those thoughts. I think they may overlook a lot of opportunities, too, and one class would look at how to find "hidden" jobs, like seasonal jobs or jobs in tourism or hospitality that may not last year-round, but offer decent wages for seasonal work, so they can still enjoy some of their retirement, too.

The class would also look at alternative types of employment, like self-employment as a freelance writer or photographer, or something like that, that they could use skills they have to help others. They could also develop these skills if they had always thought about doing them but never had the time. Another alternative is selling things they make. The class would explore their hobbies and interests, and tell them how to market their handcrafts online or at craft fairs, and such. The Fremont Senior Center has craft fairs throughout the year where they could sell items, and there are other craft fairs in the area, too.

Another class could look at selling at online auctions like eBay or other similar sites. They could learn how to do it, and decide what to sell, and this could make them a part-time income if they were devoted to it. They would have to have computers in the classroom so they could see how to add auction items, how much the fees are, and how to write descriptions, but this would be a good way for some seniors to make extra income, and it would be a good way for them to sell their handcrafts in some cases, too.