← Archive · Issue #1

Your first tech credential doesn't have to cost a thing

Welcome to the first issue of Seasoned Remote, a weekly brief for people over 40 moving into remote tech work. Each week: one training path, a couple of employers worth knowing, one tactic against age bias, and a few job boards. Everything links to its source.

The number this week: 64%

In AARP’s 2025 survey of 1,656 workers 50+, 64% said they had seen or experienced age discrimination at work, and 22% felt they were being pushed out of their jobs because of their age (AARP Research).

That’s not a reason to give up. It’s a reason to aim at employers who’ve put age-inclusion in writing, and to know your rights before you need them. Both are below.

Training paths: three ways in that don’t cost tuition

1. Per Scholas: no-cost tech training. A nonprofit running no-cost courses in IT support, cybersecurity, data analytics, data center and cabling at 25+ campuses. You come out with industry credentials and career support. perscholas.org

2. Apprenti: get paid while you learn. Apprenti runs Registered Apprenticeships in tech: paid, on-the-job training with partner employers. It says most apprenticeships need no prior experience. If you can’t afford months without income, this is the model to look at first. apprenticareers.org

3. Microsoft Learn: free, and close to what you already know. If you’ve spent years in Excel, SharePoint or office admin, Microsoft’s free learning paths in Microsoft 365 and Power Platform build on skills you already have. The training is free; the certification exams cost money. learn.microsoft.com/training

Heads-up: ISC2’s free “One Million Certified in Cybersecurity” program closed to new enrollments on May 20, 2026. The entry-level CC exam is now $199 (ISC2). If you see older posts calling it free, that’s why.

Employers that put it in writing

  • Atos. A global IT services company and an AARP Employer Pledge signer. Its chief diversity officer told AARP that older workers, which Atos calls “tenured talent,” handle everything from help desk to server support to software development. AARP spotlight
  • o9 Solutions. An enterprise AI software company in Dallas that signed the AARP Employer Pledge in December 2023, committing to “recruit across diverse age groups.” Press release

Tactic: On the AARP Job Board, use the Employer Pledge filter together with Remote and Information Technology. It’s the fastest way to get a shortlist of employers who have publicly committed to considering applicants regardless of age.

Know your rights (bookmark this)

The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects applicants and employees age 40 and older. The EEOC’s plain-English summary is the place to start: eeoc.gov/age-discrimination. Filing deadlines for a charge are strict, so read how to file before you need it.

For resumes, the Department of Labor-sponsored CareerOneStop has a page written for experienced workers: Resumes & Cover Letters for 55+. Its Beat the Bias page covers interviews.

Three job boards to try

  • We Work Remotely: remote-only and long-running. Every listing is remote.
  • Workforce50: built for workers 50+. Employers who post directly are telling you they welcome experienced applicants.
  • Built In (Remote): tech companies, including plenty of non-coding roles in sales, ops and customer success.

That’s it for week one

The full directory, with every employer, path, board and resource, is at seasonedremote.com/directory. Know a company that really hires experienced people for remote roles? Reply and tell us. If we can source it, it goes in.

The Seasoned Remote newsletter

Listings are not endorsements. Nothing here is legal advice.