By Alison Doyle, About.com Guide
Age isn’t always an advantage when you’re job searching, especially in a competitive job market. Hiring managers can view older workers as more expensive to hire, as having outdated experience or too much experience, or as not being current with today’s technology and workplaces.
One way to overcome the perception that your age is an issue, is to age proof and edit your resume. Limiting what you include on your resume, from a chronological perspective, can help job seekers avoid the stigma of being considered “too old” by a prospective employer.
In addition, showing that you’re up to speed on the latest technology and skills needed for your profession, will help maximize your chances of getting selected for an interview.
Review these resume writing tips for older job seekers to help market your candidacy and showcase your skills to employers.
Resume Tips for Older Job Seekers
Limit Your Related Experience. Limit the related experience (related to the job you are applying for) you include on your resume to 15 years, leaving older jobs off your resume entirely or include, without dates, in another section.
Your Other Experience. Leave your other experience off your resume or list it without dates in an Other Experience or More Experience category.
Don’t Include Dates. Don’t include high school and college graduation dates or dates for any other courses, or professional development classes. If you have a college degree, don’t list high school on your resume.
Be Careful About Years. Don’t list the length of experience you have in your resume objective, if you use one. For example, it’s not advantageous to say you have 20 or 30 years of experience. It will flag you as older.
Target Your Resume. Take the time to write a targeted resume that is customized so that it specifically highlights the experience you have that is specifically relevant to the job you are applying for.
Consider a Functional or Combination Resume. Consider using a functional resume, which lists your accomplishments at the top of your resume, or a combination resume, rather than a chronological resume, which lists your experience in date order.
Highlight Your Skills. Promote the fact that you’re up-to-date with current technology, by including the latest programs you’re familiar with and leaving off out-of-date technology.
Show You’re Connected. Include a link to your LinkedIn profile on your resume. It will show hiring managers you’re engaged in current means of communicating and networking.
Polish Up Your Resume. Presentation matters. Make sure your resume is polished and well presented. You don’t want your resume to “look” old-fashioned.
Be Prepared to Email Your Resume. Keep in mind that most resumes are emailed or uploaded to a company web site or job site to apply for jobs. Email a copy of your resume to yourself, to be sure your formatting doesn’t get lost during the transmission. Review these email etiquette guidelines to be sure you’re following the right protocol for emailing your resume.
Leave a Reply