RENTON, Wash. -- It's a club no one really wants to join, until they have few other options.
Every Friday, a group of unemployed, "mature" workers gathers in a conference room at WorkSource Renton. Some are in their 40s, some are in their 50s and others are older. All of them are struggling to find jobs.
"Unfortunately, I do feel there is a little bit of age factor there," Tina Rothert said.
Now, it's a club she embraces.
"It's great," she said. "It really helps when you know you're not the only one going through it."
Marvin Stern, a training and employment specialist, leads the job clubs, which usually meet for four or five weeks. He helps members update their resumes and prepare for job interviews.
"The hardest part is probably the way we do job searching now is so different than when they started working 20 to 30 years ago," Stern said.
He helps them overcome myths and stereotypes about older workers, including the common claim that they're "overqualified."
Some older workers are now choosing to retrain. They're attending college courses so they can earn degrees or certifications to compete with younger workers. Many schools, especially community colleges, have worker retraining programs.
As for the job club, Stern estimates about 40 to 50 percent of those who take part are successful in finding work.
Rothert said it gives everyone a chance to share experiences and give each other pointers.
"Support helps," she said. "It's always good."
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