By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

ALABASTER – Local seniors gathered at the Albert L. Scott Library to learn the art of networking March 20.

Aging Workers Are Reliable Employees, which is sponsored by Positive Maturity, conducts workshops for locals ages 50 and above who are interested in getting back into the job market. The workshops include instruction on resume writing, acing interviews, networking, social media and finance.

Fabray Turner, a Volunteer in Service to America, which is funded through the Peace Corps, led the workshop and asked the attendees to introduce themselves.

Some of the attendees had recently moved to the Shelby County area, while others want to return to the working world after raising families and caring for loved ones.

Carolyn Snow of Montevallo asked about age discrimination in the work place.

“We teach you how to format a resume so you’re not discriminated against from your resume,” Turner said.

Turner explained that many open jobs are never advertised, as companies hire from within. This means job hunters must network to discover job openings.

“The community has changed,” Turner said. “Networking is a way of putting yourself back out there to get a job.”

Turner recommended utilizing LinkedIn and other social media outlets to connect with potential employers.

Through the AWARE program, seniors can receive weekly emails about job or volunteer openings.

Workshops are offered nearly every day. A job search assistance workshop will be March 26 from 1-3 p.m. at 108 West College Street in Columbiana. A resume-writing workshop will be March 27 at 11:45 a.m. at the Alabaster public library, which is located at 100 Ninth Street NW in Alabaster.

For more information, visit Positivematurity.org.