Cingular Becomes First Wireless Provider Recognized as AARP 'Featured Employer'

Nation's Largest Wireless Carrier Commits to Recruit, Retain Mature Workforce 


ATLANTA, Nov. 17  /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless today announced it is one of nine companies named as a "Featured Employer" by the AARP for committing to an aggressive program of recruiting, hiring, and retaining mature workers.

The Featured Employers Program is part of the AARP Foundation's Workforce Initiative, which seeks to help mature jobseekers and workers close the existing gap of opportunities by offering employment connections, skills assessment and access to training.

"The mature workforce plays -- and will play -- a significant role in our success," said Stan Sigman, president and chief executive officer, Cingular Wireless. "Cingular works hard to promote an inclusive environment -- one that maximizes individual contributions in the workplace, community, and marketplace. We are honored to be an AARP Featured Employer -- and pleased that AARP is aware of our commitment to the aging workforce, and our recognition of this growing population as valuable asset to our future performance."

"American business is facing a new reality," AARP CEO Bill Novelli said. "As more and more workers reach traditional retirement age, there are not enough new workers to replace them.  We are working with forward-thinking companies like Cingular who value older workers to offset labor and knowledge gaps. This is a winning strategy for American business, for the older workers themselves and for our national economy," he continued.

Cingular offers a comprehensive set of benefits and development goals to its employees that are attractive to workers of all ages. Cingular Wireless is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to hiring a diverse and talented workforce.

Cingular is the only wireless service provider in the AARP Featured Employers Program.  Other newly added Featured Employers include Cendant Car Rental Group (Avis/Budget); Comcast Cable Communications, Inc; CVS/pharmacy; Right at Home, In-Home Care & Assistance; News America Marketing; New York Life Insurance Company; Quest Diagnostics, Inc.; Schneider National, Inc.; SunTrust Banks, Inc.; and Verizon.

Job seekers can visit AARP's website -- http://www.aarp.org/featuredemployers -- to learn about each Featured Employer, including types of skilled and non-skilled jobs available on employers' website, benefits, and how to apply.  The website provides a link to applications, instructions and additional information on each company.

Job seekers of all ages interested in learning more about career opportunities at Cingular should visit http://www.cingular.com/careers.

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 51.44 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(SM) network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes.  Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/.  Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically.  Sign up at http://www.cingular.com/newsroom. 

DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless



CONTACT:  Clay Owen of Cingular Wireless, [phone], or





Web site:  http://www.cingular.com/

http://www.aarp.org/featuredemployers

http://www.cingular.com/careers

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