"Over-40" hiring earns Kaiser Permanente award in San Mateo County

When he was looking for a job at age 49, Richard “Rick” Williams could almost feel the recruiters staring at his grey hair and deciding not to hire him. Now employed by Kaiser Permanente, Williams’ job is to make sure that workers feel valued for their work and skills, and their age.
Kaiser Permanente medical centers in Redwood City and South San Francisco were recently honored by Phase2Careers, a non-profit that prepares workers over 40 for careers in the new economy, for their commitment to hiring workers in this age group. Williams accepted the award on behalf of the medical centers.
“I’d had a long successful career in Information Technology recruitment,” says Williams, who is now a Kaiser Permanente Recruitment Manager in the Human Resources Department, “but suddenly, in 2001, when the economy crashed, I was laid off when my entire department was cut.”
Williams started looking for work and quickly realized that a lot of companies were looking to hire younger workers despite his track record of achievement and talent. So, in typical Silicon Valley fashion, Williams decided to re-invent himself and that led him to Kaiser Permanente where he found that his age made no apparent difference.
“One of the hiring managers casually mentioned they wanted someone ’senior’ for the job,” says Williams.
Although not exactly a senior himself, Williams has found that a large percentage of “over-40’s” work at Kaiser Permanente Redwood City and South San Francisco Medical Centers. Both medical centers won the award from Phase2Careers, a non-profit organization that works to prepare and empower the “Over 40” worker to find career opportunities.
Williams says many “over-40’s” are starting a second career and often need some guidance. Since 2010, Phase2Careers has assisted the “Over 40” worker at finding new career opportunities through job search workshops and panels, staffing and employment roundtables, mixers and job fairs, mock interviews, small business workshops, and technology training, as well as a Job Board.

Kaiser Permanente’s diversity and great benefits are attractive to many job seekers, Williams said. About 65 percent of the staff at Redwood City and South San Francisco is over 40 and the average age of nurses is 50.

For career opportunities with Kaiser Permanente go to kp.org and click on Careers.