First Impressions, and Yeah… I Was Judging Hard

Okay, so let me set the scene. Picture me sitting in my kitchen, still in gym shorts, coffee going cold, laptop open to a dozen tabs—each one promising some version of “retrain for a new career” or “find purpose after 50.” I’m not proud of it, but I was doom-scrolling LinkedIn like it owed me money. I had just gotten nudged out of a job I thought I’d retire from. No big drama. Just… phased out. Quietly. Like I was being erased in slow motion.

One of those tabs was Experience Works that I found by reading the Berkeley website. I almost closed it without a second look—because let’s be real, most of these “career transition” things feel like a glorified digital waiting room where nothing actually happens. But something about their tone felt… different. Less hype. More real. So I stuck around.

What Hooked Me? (Spoiler: It Wasn’t the Website)

Let’s be honest—the site itself didn’t exactly scream “cutting-edge.” It felt a little old-school, like something your accountant uncle might build in his free time. But buried beneath the beige? A message that hit me right in the gut:

“We help older workers reenter the workforce with training, purpose, and pay.”

Wait, what? Not “volunteer here until you fade into obscurity,” but actual paid training? Call me intrigued.

I filled out their contact form. My expectations were below sea level.

Getting Started: From Apprehension to Acceleration

The first phone call came two days later. A woman named Gloria called me. She had that perfect mix of professionalism and “I’ve been where you are, honey” warmth. I still remember her saying, “This isn’t a handout—it’s a step up.”

I don’t know why that line hit me so hard, but I think I’d gotten used to being politely dismissed. Suddenly someone was saying I still had value. Not in a cheesy motivational-poster way. In a real, we’ve-got-work-to-do kind of way.

Within a week, I had an intake meeting, a resume refresher, and—get this—an actual plan. Like with steps. And deadlines. And people checking in.

It didn’t feel like charity. It felt like momentum.

You can learn more about Experience Works here: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/experience-works-inc

Training That Didn’t Feel Like a Waste of Time

So I got placed in a nonprofit admin role as part of the SCSEP program (Senior Community Service Employment Program—yeah, it’s a mouthful). But here’s the kicker: I was getting paid while learning. It wasn’t some fake training where you watch videos and pretend to care.

They had me updating donor databases, organizing digital files, and learning modern office software that made me feel like I time-traveled into relevance.

Some days were frustrating—I won’t sugarcoat it. I once clicked something that erased three hours of spreadsheet work and seriously considered throwing my mouse out the window. But the folks around me didn’t treat me like a burden. They coached me through it like I mattered.

That part? Priceless.

Community: Unexpected and Kind of Beautiful

Here’s what no one tells you when you’re over 50 and suddenly unemployed: the loneliness can be brutal. Your circle shrinks. You start to doubt your place in the world. But the other participants I met through Experience Works? We were in the same weird boat.

There was Thomas, a former trucker learning how to build websites. And Margo, who used to run a flower shop and was now learning QuickBooks like a pro. We’d laugh, swap stories, and low-key compete over who could nail the training modules fastest.

It didn’t feel like a retirement home disguised as job training. It felt like a comeback tour.

From “Why Me?” to “What’s Next?”

About four months into the program, I started applying to “real” jobs again. And guess what? I got called back.

I landed a part-time role at a local nonprofit that needed admin help and didn’t blink when I said I’d been retraining through Experience Works. In fact, the director respected it.

She said, “You didn’t sit still. That says something.”

That stuck with me.

A Few Real Talk Takeaways

Would I recommend Experience Works? 100%. But not because it’s magic. Because it’s real. It’s structure when your world feels chaotic. It’s connection when you feel invisible. And it’s dignity in a system that often sidelines anyone with gray at the temples.

Is it perfect? Nah. The tech could use a facelift, and there were definitely a few moments of bureaucratic hair-pulling (welcome to any government-affiliated program ). But the heart? The mission? The impact? All legit.

Key Takeaways

• You get paid while learning. Not just lectures—real on-the-job training.

• The staff actually cares. No condescension, just support.

• There’s a growth path. Not stuck in limbo. You’re working toward a job.

• ‍‍ You meet people like you. It’s a built-in support group, minus the awkward icebreakers.

• It leads somewhere. I landed a job that respects my time and my experience.

Final Thoughts: Not the End, Just the Reboot

I didn’t expect much. What I got was a roadmap back to confidence.

Experience Works isn’t selling pipe dreams. It’s giving people the tools to write their next chapter—one where experience isn’t a liability, it’s the main asset.

So if you’re in that foggy “what now?” phase like I was, give it a shot. Worst case, you learn something new and meet good people. Best case? You remember who the hell you are—and why that still matters.

And hey, maybe next time someone asks, “What do you do?”—you don’t flinch.

You smile. Because you’ve got an answer.