If you’re ready to jump ship to a new job, there are plenty of ways to kick-start your journey.

You can find help locally and online. Grab a computer (and a cup of coffee) and start your brainstorming with online resources you can access at any time.

Have career options in mind but are not exactly sure what the job entails? Start with The Occupational Information Network at onetonline.org, a free database containing hundreds of occupations and their definitions.

FREE WORKSHOPS, ONLINE HELP

Now that you’ve narrowed your focus and done your research, it’s time to prepare for the job search, write a resume and sail through an interview. Try free, local workshops and events and go back online to guide you through the process.

Jim Ahern is director of Hudson Job Search, a nonprofit group that teaches clients how to find jobs.

“Many 50 and older job seekers are concerned that they will appear overqualified and therefore employers will see them as a flight risk if they are hired at any position lower than the one they last had,” Ahern says. “Resolving this issue can only be done by the 50-plus interviewee making their case for why the position is the one for them.”

Ahern says joining the online professional networking group LinkedIn is vital for job hunters.

CHECK THESE OUT:

Hudson Job Search invites mature job seekers to meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month at Christ Church Episcopal, 21 Aurora St., Hudson. hudsonjobsearch.org

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) is offering workshops February through April. Topics include the following: Resumes that Get Results; Ace That Interview; New Job: Tips for Success; and Leveraging LinkedIn. Registration is required. tri-c.edu/careerservices, 216-987-4913

Many libraries offer basic computer and email courses, but most also add career-related workshops a few weeks in advance.