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How Ruth Found Her Footing in a New Job Market
The right support from BACK TO WORK 50+ helped her reconnect with meaningful employment.
When Ruth Sharpe-Myrie, 60, moved from Jamaica to Florida in 2021, she was starting a new life in a new country — but not a new career. In fact, she had already built a successful one.
For 30 years, Ruth had worked in administrative roles at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD), the government agency that records Jamaica’s births, deaths, marriages and adoptions. She knew her job, her colleagues and exactly where she fit. But after relocating to the United States with her teenage son, she suddenly found herself in a completely different labor market.
Ruth spent the first few months after the move helping her son adjust to his surroundings and supporting him as he entered a new school system. But before long, she started thinking about getting back to work.
She needed to earn an income, but she also wanted her son to see her in a career.
“He's always looking to me,” she says. “I want to set an example.”
Navigating an Unfamiliar Job Market
With so much professional experience behind her, Ruth assumed finding a similar position would be straightforward. It wasn't.
“It was a rude awakening,” she says. “I didn't know how to structure a résumé or prepare for an interview. I hadn't looked for a job in 30 years.”
She applied for every role that seemed like a good fit, but all her submissions went unanswered. “I became very frustrated — I was applying, applying, applying, but my résumé was not getting any traction.” She briefly took a home health aide position as a temporary measure, and although she enjoyed working with her clients, she knew it wasn't what she wanted in the long term, so she continued searching for another administrative role.
Finding the Right Support
The breakthrough finally came during a conversation at church. Ruth described her dilemma to a friend, who promptly directed her to CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia. There, Ruth learned about AARP Foundation's free BACK TO WORK 50+ program, which helps older adults navigate and compete in today's fast-changing job market.
The program gave Ruth what had been missing from her job search: support and guidance. This came in the form of Lois Thomas, one of CareerSource BVF’s career advisors, who assisted Ruth throughout her job search. Lois sent Ruth job leads, helped her find workshops and job fairs, and made her aware of recruiting events that expanded her network and exposed her to opportunities she might not have found without support.
Lois also helped Ruth update her résumé by shortening it, making it more targeted to the roles she was seeking, and removing any information from her résumé that would reveal her age — all for free.
Ruth took advantage of the resources that BACK TO WORK 50+ provided, but after 13 months of unemployment, she was beginning to feel frustrated. Still, she remained hopeful that the right opportunity would appear.
One day at a job fair, Ruth handed a recruiter her newly revised résumé. Shortly thereafter, the recruiter sent Ruth a listing for a job with the state of Florida — work that resembled her previous administrative responsibilities. Ruth applied, and although the process took months, her persistence finally paid off.
Helping Others Move Forward
Today, Ruth works as an Employment Security Representative for CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia in Palm Bay, Florida, the same organization that hosted the BACK TO WORK 50+ workshops she attended. She helps job seekers assess their skills, understand available services and connect with employment opportunities. Many of the people she serves are facing the same uncertainty she once experienced herself.
That shared experience has become one of her greatest strengths. She listens, offers empathy, and often shares her own story. “I identify with them,” she says. “I understand that someone who has worked for 20, 25, 30 years may not know how to look for a job. I’m able to give them advice and encouragement.”
Ruth understands the emotions that accompany a long search. She said she recognizes the frustration, the anxiety and the fear that opportunities may have passed by — especially for older workers concerned about age discrimination. “I remind them that searching for a job over 50 takes time and courage. It helps them to hear it.”
Looking back, Ruth credits BACK TO WORK 50+ with helping her navigate one of the most challenging transitions of her life, and she hopes it will do the same for others. "The job market can be challenging," Ruth says, "and looking for work is a job in itself. You must make good use of the resources that are available to you."
Learn more about BACK TO WORK 50+ and register for a workshop.
Read more stories about how our programs and volunteers have helped people to find hope and transform their lives.
Free Coaching & Workshops
Learn more about BACK TO WORK 50+ and register for a workshop.
Free Coaching & Workshops
Learn more about BACK TO WORK 50+ and register for a workshop.