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What is the WorkSearch Assessment System?
View a six-minute introductory video »
The WorkSearch Assessment System provides job and career information and services to Americans who are age 40 and over -- at no cost to the individuals who register with the AARP Foundation. The goals of the program are to:
- Provide all mature workers with an informed choice regarding their employment interests and options;
- Assist people in pursuing their employment goals; and
- Steer older adults at or below the median income level toward financial security.
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How can the WorkSearch Assessment System help me?
Through the WorkSearch system users are given free access to a customized online assessment system. Once registered, individuals can access the system from any computer as many times as they desire, free of charge and with no time limit.
Using our assessment system empowers registrants to open doors to new career options and to find new job opportunities by enabling you to:
- Assess your interests, personal characteristics, and skills;
- Match to a personalized list of job options based on your assessment results;
- See if you have the right skills for your job choice;
- Create a plan that will help you identify and meet your training and job goals;
- Identify free online essential skill courses and study guides to address your skill gaps; and
- Find relevant job openings in your community from multiple job search engines.
Additionally, WorkSearch allows you to:
- Access the system as many times as you wish;
- Look for a job match without completing any minimum number of assessments;
- Track your progress over time and your test scores will be retained;
- Continue training, reassessing skills, or adding interests to refine job matches;
- Revise your job match choices any time that you enter upgraded skills;
- Enroll (for a fee) in advanced courses that further enhance your skills; and
- Earn a Job Skill Certification (for a fee) from a major university if you pass all of the core skill tests for a specific job choice. Learn more »
The WorkSearch Assessment System was developed by the National Business Services Alliance (NBSA). NBSA collaborates with universities, commercial and nonprofit organizations, government agencies and employers to create workforce solutions that fundamentally improve U.S. economic development across diverse populations, by developing and certifying crucial workplace skills.
Learn more about the NBSA »
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What type of training is available?
Through the WorkSearch Assessment system, AARP Foundation provides you with access to online courses and study guides for essential skills at no cost to you.
The following is a list of NBSA Essential Skill Courses that are available free to registered WorkSearch users:
- Essential Bookkeeping Skills
- Essential Computer Skills
- Essential Customer Service Skills
- Essential Interpersonal & Teamwork Skills
- Essential Interviewing Fundamentals
- Essential Job Search Fundamentals
- Essential Math Skills
- Essential Medical Office Skills
- Essential MS Excel
- Essential MS Word
- Essential Office Skills
- Essential Reading and Comprehension
- Essential Reasoning Skills
- Essential Resume Fundamentals
- Essential Sales Skills
- Essential Telephone Skills
- Essential Time Management Skills
Advanced online courses and certification programs are also available to registered users at significantly reduced rates. You may be eligible for financial assistance to pay for the tuition or training fees if you meet age and income eligibility requirements, and if we have the necessary facility in your community.
Learn more »
Individuals eligible for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) may also receive comprehensive paid training on site with a host agency to improve their skills, obtain training and gain a competitive edge in today's job market.
Learn more »
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The WorkSearch program is available to the public through any one of the 73 AARP Foundation WorkSearch offices around the country. At these offices, Information Navigators are available to assist job seekers like yourself to identify which aspects of the WorkSearch program will be most beneficial. To find the nearest office, please click here.