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Résumés were traded, hands were shaken and names were exchanged at an employment event held last week. The scene was that of a typical job fair, but with a twist: This job fair was only for individuals over the age of 50.
The 50+ Employment Expo was held Friday at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center. The Expo, sponsored by the Jewish Council for the Aging, attracted more than 45 employers and an estimated 2,000 potential employees.
Organizers saw a need in the county for an event specifically focused on older job seekers.
"Anyone present saw there is a core of people who never had to think about going back into the job market," said Micki Gordon, the assistant executive director of the Jewish Council for the Aging.
Many of the employers at the expo were looking to hire workers who already had spent plenty of time in the workforce in former careers.
Kris Hall, a senior human resources consultant with Sandy Spring Bank, said her company was looking to hire people with significant experience for certain positions and that she was pleased with the "wealth of experience and diversity" that individuals over 50 could bring to the company.
Lise Tracey of Regal Domestics, a domestic placement agency, also believed that individuals over 50 could bring valuable experience and knowledge to the workplace.
"Montgomery County has highly educated people over 50 who still want to learn and work," Tracey said.
Deborah Blum, 58, of Montgomery Village was a member of the job-seeking crowd at the expo.
Blum, a freelance writer, former web content manager and professional librarian, currently has a "need for a job and a desire to move in a different direction."
Despite being at her first job fair, Blum was excited by the experience. She interacted with several nonprofit organizations and government organizations, and "expected a call back."
Steve Dawson, 66, of Columbia was another job searcher at the expo. Dawson is a former small business owner and most recently lost his position as an executive recruiter when his office was forced to make layoffs to combat the economic downturn.
While Dawson said he meets the technical Social Security requirements to retire, he added that he would not feel financially secure.
"In my lifetime I've never seen anything like this," said Dawson, referring to the recent economic downturn.
However, Dawson said he is optimistic. He had "gotten some leads" at the expo and was pleased to see a large turnout. It was a place "where you realize, I'm not alone," said Dawson.
Yet another casualty of the economic downturn was Brent Harshberger, 58, of Takoma Park. Harshberger has more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology and was working for the Fannie Mae Foundation, the charitable arm of the mortgage company, when it closed.
Harshberger describes himself as "underemployed, not unemployed." Harshberger was excited about the Expo, especially the fact that it was for individuals only over 50.
"I think the fact that it is 50 plus … has kept the crowds down, and there's a lot of opportunity," said Harshberger.
