Find a Rewarding Career or Employee Scholarship Working with Seniors

One of the biggest challenges for recent graduates is finding a job that is inspiring and motivating. Everyone has their own checklist, but many want to find meaningful work in a respectful environment where they can grow. Having great benefits is another area of focus. 

Working with aging adults offers a rewarding environment in which you’ll feel like you’re contributing to the greater good and having an impact on people’s lives every day. In West Central Minnesota, Knute Nelson provides quality care to older adults and a positive, respectful culture for its employees.

Looking forward, caring for aging adults is a rapidly growing sector since many baby boomers are now in their late 50s to mid-70s. With this generation in or reaching retirement, how care is provided will be changing in exciting ways. From advancements in telehealth to innovations in VR technology, the exciting future of senior care is happening right now.

For anyone new to working in senior care, right now is one of the most promising times to be entering the industry. Because of the booming population of seniors, a variety of trained industry professionals are needed now more than ever.

For recent graduates, Knute Nelson offers opportunities to make a difference through health care services at home for any age individuals (including home health care, therapy services or hospice), and they also offer senior living and short-term rehab services. Knute Nelson also provides short-term rehab for anyone recovering from an illness or debilitating condition.

“When I went to college, I learned about the senior living services industry and never turned back,” said Knute Nelson’s Vice President of Operations Brittney Thoreson. “I don’t think I’ll ever leave. I love being able to go home knowing I made a difference in an elderly person’s life.”

Thoreson started with Knute Nelson as a housing adviser and over the past decade has been promoted from within. Like her, many employees build careers at Knute Nelson and have the opportunity to explore different avenues.

To encourage professional growth, Knute Nelson provides training, coaching and scholarships. In 2020 alone, they awarded more than $324,000 in employee scholarships. Depending on your position, after working for Knute Nelson for 30 days, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships.

“At Knute, people truly care about me and my professional growth,” said Amanda Johnson, a scheduling manager at Knute Nelson, who has been with the nonprofit organization for seven years. “There is also a challenge that keeps me going. Every day there is a sense of accomplishment and feeling rewarded.”

Team members also receive generous benefits and competitive pay, along with other incentives, such as choosing flexible schedules, getting time off to volunteer and having access to the health+ employee clinic for employees and their dependents.

The health+ clinic, an employee clinic powered by Knute Nelson and Alomere Health, is available to all employees and to dependents covered under the Knute Nelson medical insurance plan. The greatest benefit for plan members is there is no cost to visit health+ and Knute Nelson covers the cost of all procedures, labs, and prescription medications available on-site.

The team includes over 800 employees across its facilities and offices supporting 25 counties in West Central Minnesota, but still has a tight-knit feel. It all continues the vision of former Minnesota senator Knute Nelson, who, when he died, left his home and 23 acres in Alexandria for the construction of a place for older adults.

The application process starts online. After browsing open positions on the careers page, click apply now and sign in or register for the jobs portal.

Once you’ve completed the application, which covers information such as work history, shift preferences and desired salary, a recruiter will review your application to determine if you’re a match.

If you are a match, the next steps are an interview, reference checks and if you are qualified, you have the potential to be offered the job. If you’re offered a job and you accept, you’re off to orientation, training and starting your new career — all in one smooth process.

Whether you’ve graduated with a nursing degree, work in the restaurant industry or are looking for a role in administration, Knute Nelson offers a wide array of jobs for building your future.