Finding a new job after a layoff, a long period between jobs, or during a transition to a new career can be overwhelming.
You might feel like your age puts you at a disadvantage compared to younger workers, or you might have experienced ageism firsthand. If so, you’ll be happy to know that many companies happily hire older workers. It’s just about finding the right company.
First, we’ll give you a list of age-friendly companies you can explore. Then, we’ll also talk about resources that can help you find a job as an older worker and helpful tips for finding a job.
While you look for companies that hire older workers or seniors, the Age-Friendly Institute is a great starting point. This organization has a non-profit certification called CAFE, which identifies organizations that are great places for older adults to work.
We’ll talk about 15 of the best companies for remote work below, but you can find the complete list here.
Also, when you are on a company’s “careers” page, you’ll see that many companies now have a “remote” option that you can check when choosing your search criteria.
15 Companies That Hire Older Workers
1. American Heart Association
The American Heart Association works to combat heart disease and stroke. You’ll find jobs here that are exclusively remote and others that might require some travel or require that you be located in a specific state. You’ll want to read through each job description to make sure the job fits the remote option you’re looking for.
American Heart Association open positions.
2. American Red Cross
The American Red Cross helps people prepare for emergencies and also provides help in crisis situations. You will find fully remote positions and partially and fully remote positions near a primary location.
American Red Cross paid positions and volunteer positions.
3. Carrot
Carrot provides fertility care and services from pre-pregnancy to menopause. The goal at Carrot is to make care more accessible throughout the world. With a fully distributed team, Carrot has employees in 40 states throughout the US and many countries around the world.
Carrot open positions.
4. Humana
Humana is an insurance company with the goal of helping people to live well. They place a strong emphasis on supporting the local community. Each job posting says, “Remote Job: yes/no,” so you can tell immediately which jobs are remote.
Humana open positions.
5. Home Depot
With over 2,300 stores, Home Depot is the biggest home improvement retailer throughout North America. At Home Depot, the focus is on putting customers and associates first. Both remote and hybrid work options are available.
Home Depot open positions.
6. Kelly Services
Kelly Services is in the staffing industry and works to recruit people in many industries and occupations, from finance to human resources. Kelly Services has full-time, part-time, temporary, permanent, in-person, and remote positions available.
Kelly Services open positions.
7. LaQuinta Hotels
LaQuinta is a hotel chain owned by Wyndham, which has over 900 hotels throughout the world. The company is known for its breakfast and pet-friendly rooms. Here, you’ll find in-person and remote positions on the corporate side of the business.
LaQuinta Hotels open positions.
8. Merck & Co.
Merck & Co. is a pharmaceutical company focused on vaccines, medicines, animal health products, and more. At Merck, you’ll find a wide variety of remote roles available.
Merck & Co. open positions.
9. New York Life
New York Life offers insurance, investments, retirement, and advisory services. Employees can serve customers through personalized advice, education, and tools.
New York Life open positions.
10. Staples
Staples is a top retailer of office supplies, furniture, technology, and cleaning products. Since 2013, Staples has donated more than $6 million to help employees in need. Staples has both in-person and remote positions available.
Staples open positions.
11. UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group is in the healthcare business and operates two businesses, UnitedHealthcare and Optum. On their “careers” page, you’ll see a box on the left side that you can check to search for remote jobs.
UnitedHealth Group open positions.
12. Verizon
Verizon is one of the biggest telecommunications companies in the world. Most of their remote roles are fully remote, but some may require a few in-person meetings.
Verizon open positions.
13. Walgreens
Walgreens is one of the US leaders in the retail pharmacy business. In addition to prescriptions, you can also find a variety of health and wellness-related products. Walgreens has in-store positions, as well as at-home corporate and clinical roles.
Walgreens open positions.
14. Work At Home Vintage Experts
WAHVE has two services that they offer. The first is serving as a liaison between insurance companies and retirees or experienced professionals who are nearing retirement. The second service is simplifying the hiring process with a platform that gives companies the best candidates.
WAHVE open positions.
15. Xerox
Xerox offers a variety of printing services and products as well as other solutions to help organizations. Xerox has a virtual office program with over 8,000 work at home employees.
Xerox open positions.
Resources for Older Workers
AARP
AARP has some great career resources that you might not be aware of. If you are over 50, you can sign up for free workshops and coaching to help with resumes, interviewing, and job applications. You can also use the AARP job board tool to search for part-time and full-time positions.
You can also search through companies that have signed AARP’s Employer Pledge. The AARP Employer Pledge Program is for companies that value older Americans in the labor force. You can find the full list of companies here.
CareerOneStop
CareerOneStop has resources specifically for those 55+ to help with interviewing, negotiating, working on your skills, looking at new career areas, and more.
You’ll also find suggestions for navigating common stereotypes you might face as an older worker.
Another helpful resource is information about using social media as a job seeker.
Five Other Helpful Tips
1. Hire a Career Coach
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t know how to find the right job or workplace, consider hiring a career coach or consultant. Look for a company or coach that works with professionals in your age group, like Midlife Unstuck. A coach or consultant can help you narrow down what you want and give helpful advice for the job search and interview process.
2. Conduct Informational Interviews
Informational interviews are a great way to build relationships and discover more about the company culture. If you’ve never heard the term informational interview, it’s where you have an informal discussion with someone who is in a job, company, or industry you’re interested in. You’re not asking the person for a job; you’re simply asking a few questions to see if their job or career might be a good fit for you.
LinkedIn is a good way to find people to interview. You can conduct your informational interview in person, by phone, by email, or whatever is convenient for the person you are talking to. You can also ask whether they have diverse age groups at the company.
3. Increase Your Tech or Software Skills
Younger hiring managers might unfairly assume that older workers lack the necessary tech skills. You can prove them wrong by emphasizing your skills in your cover letter, resume, and interviews. You can also take courses or classes to increase your knowledge.
4. Call Out the Elephant in the Room
You might think your age puts you at a disadvantage but focus on the positives. In your cover letter and interviews, call out the elephant in the room.
- Be open about how long you hope to stay with the organization.
- Share that you’re looking for a place to complete your career and are not a job hopper.
- Emphasize your flexibility with your schedule or ability to do either full-time or part-time work.
As it becomes more common for people to change jobs or companies every 2-4 years, sharing that you’re hoping to stay 5+ years or more might be what the interviewer wants to hear from job seekers.
5. Sign Up for Job Alerts
When you find a company you like, sign up for job alerts to get notified when new positions become available. Sometimes, you can do this directly on a company’s “careers” page, where you search for open jobs. You can also do this on LinkedIn, FlexJobs, or Indeed.
Companies That Hire Older Workers Wrapup
Hopefully, you can jump back into your job search feeling more confident, valuing the skills and experience you’ll bring to your next job.
While age discrimination is very real, many companies hire older workers, and it’s just about persevering and finding the right fit for you.