Well, we didn’t need the disguises, because we were in good company. Many of the applicants were over fifty and gray-haired, men and women looking for full- and part-time work, being met with a positive response from many of the employers and employment agencies.

In fact, three times we were accosted out in the aisles by employers eager to interest us in their companies – from health care to airport security to factory assembly work.

The reception we got can best be summarized by posters of Uncle Sam and Rosie the Riveter prominently displayed at the Experience Works booth, saying, “We needed you then. We need you now.”

If we’d ever thought we were over the hill, this experience proved otherwise. Too bad we weren’t really looking for jobs, because we didn’t have resumes with us. But we did pick up cards and brochures and applications. Over and over we heard, “older employees are reliable and have a good work ethic.” The representative from Manpower told us that when filling a job order for factory assembly workers, he found workers fifty-five and older were on time, dependable and had the appropriate attitude for working alongside fellow employees.

A surprise revelation was that the health care industry is looking for older people to take care of older people. The HCP Corporation is a home health care program looking for employees to provide a broad spectrum of services. The representative of HCP told us she currently has two seventy-year olds in the non-medical training program. Once on the job, they may be providing escort to appointments, assisting with bill paying, planning meals and shopping, or helping with correspondence to family and friends.

Another health care employer looking for workers is Saratoga Hospital. You may not realize that there are non-medical positions available in hospital settings, such as secretary, fund raiser or customer service. Some of these positions are part-time, which fits in comfortably with a retired person’s lifestyle.

Do you spend a lot of time on the phone? Why not turn that time into dollars? Telephone research (not telemarketing) offers “The part-time place to be.” Flexible schedules are available, along with paid  training, and opportunities for Spanish-speaking individuals. “Quien sabe” – this may be the place for you.

Wouldn’t you like to wand somebody else for a change at the airport?

You could work as a transportation security officer. TheTransportation Security Administration needs you to perform passenger and baggage screening or to operate an X-ray machine, to name a few job openings.

We stopped a couple of older-appearing applicants to find out what kind of work they were looking for. The answers fell largely into three categories: those who wanted to make a career change, those who were unemployed and those who needed to supplement their incomes during these tough economic times.  And of course, several people just wanted to keep busy with some part-time employment.

To be truthful, we went to Saratoga’s Job Fair loaded for bear, expecting to be dealt with politely because of non-discrimination laws, but basically ignored as potential employees.

To our surprise and delight we were welcomed, even sought after. Folks, as the slogan says, we were needed then and we’re needed now. So polish up your interview skills, update your resume, and hit the pavement. We’ll fix this economy yet. Remember, EXPERIENCE COUNTS.