22 Ways to Age-Proof Your Resume

Landing a job feels increasingly challenging these days. The competition is fierce, influenced by economic factors, job availability, and the sheer volume of applicants per listing. Your resume is the frontline of your job search. It is the first thing that recruiters and hiring managers see. But, what if your resume screams you are an older person looking for work? Yes, age discrimination is a thing and sometimes resumes can be a big red flag for employers. So, how do you age-proof your resume? Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Don’t Tell Your Age

Nowhere on your resume should be your age or any sign of how old you are. Employers should focus on skills and experience when looking at your application or resume.

2. Add Recent Experience

It is so easy to get bogged down, including every job you have had that relates to what you are applying for. Instead, only focus on the past 10-15 years of experience that you have. Prioritize recent achievements.

3. Remove Outdated Certifications

If your certifications date back over 15 years, remove the dates and let the credentials speak for themselves. This will keep managers from making assessments based on dates.

4. Tailor your resume

Instead of sending out a generic resume, tailor it to the job you are applying for. Highlight the roles and skills you have that relate to the job, which will emphasize your relevance.

5. Use Applicable Keywords

Tailor your resume using keywords in the job listing. Using specific keywords and phrases will help your resume pass the application tracking system and move on to the eyes of humans.

6. Professional Email and Phone Number

Use a professional email address instead of something personal like favoritegrandma3@yahoo. Instead, set up a professional email with Google like alexandrasmith@google. Make sure your cell phone number is correct as well. If you want, you could even use a Google Voice number which is free to set up to put on your resume. This way you can keep the personal and professional separate. Also, don’t use landline numbers or outdated email domains like AOL or Hotmail, which can reveal your age.

7. Show Your Tech Abilities

Knowing how to use technology is a big plus for employers these days. Showcasing your proficiency in software, tools, and relevant technology to the job is crucial and reinforces you as a fantastic candidate for the job. 

8. Organize Your Resume

There are tons of resume templates out there, but some can make your resume look messy. Use short blurbs and bullet points to make it easier for hiring managers to find what they are looking for. By having a clean, well-thought-out resume, it shows that you are up to date on resume trends and what looks professional.

9. Focus on Your Achievements

It’s easy to get caught up in the duties we did at our previous employers compared to our accomplishments. Instead, focus on the things you accomplished in your previous job like increasing their customer base by 50% or helping to cut spending costs by 30%.

10. Leave These Things Out

Omit things like marital status, religion, nationality, political leanings, and photographs!

11. Don’t Be Afraid of Resume Gaps

Sometimes older workers have gaps in their resumes and that’s okay. Be prepared to explain why you have the gap in a professional and positive manner. A way to help with this is to list your years in each job before you left. Make sure you include things like volunteer work and community involvement you have done while you have been in between jobs. Don’t forget positions like participation in national organizations and parent-teacher organizations. Include any skills you gained in those roles that align with the job you are applying for. 

12. Leave Your Graduation Dates Off

Don’t divulge when you graduated from high school, college, etc. Instead, focus on your current skills.

13. Include Freelance Roles

Just because you aren’t working at a traditional job doesn’t mean you don’t have experience or skills. Freelancing counts as current work experience as long as it applies to the role that you are pursuing. This shows that you have entrepreneurial drive and that you are keeping your foot in the door to find your next job.

14. Highlight Your Updated Skills

Keeping your skills updated is very important in this fast-paced job market. Make sure you highlight those skills on your resume. In addition, provide specific examples, figures, and case studies you have accomplished in your work. Also, don’t add basic skills like typing or email that everyone knows how to do. 

15. Sync Your Resumes

Make sure that the resume you are using for applications for jobs syncs with your LinkedIn profile. If they say different things, a recruiter or hiring manager may think you are lying about something somewhere.

16. Keep It Short

Limit your resume to only two pages. This helps streamline your resume so hiring managers can find what they need quickly.

17. Don’t Be a “Jack-of-All-Trades”

You may have held various positions in the past few years, but that is not what employers are looking for. Instead, focus on only the things that match your current career aim.

18. Be Mindful of Social Media

Before posting anything on social media, consider how it’s going to look to a potential employer. 

19. Get Rid of the Objective Statement

Replace the stuffy objective statement and instead craft a well-tailored, professional “elevator pitch.” Explain the things you’re good at, your interests, and how you can bring value to your future employer.

20. Take Online Courses

There are tons of courses online that you can take for free or a nominal fee to update your skills and learn new things. Some courses may be a little more pricey depending on the skill that you want to learn. By keeping your education cutting edge and relevant, you will help yourself be seen as a favorable candidate for a job when you include them on your resume.

21. Leadership and Collaborative Skills

Showing that you have leadership and collaborative skills is important. Some jobs require people to work in teams or collaborate, so having this experience and skill is a plus. Also, being able to take the lead in a job is important as well, even if being the leader isn’t in your job description.

22. Use a Functional Resume Format

Emphasize skills and qualifications over chronological order which draws attention to your capabilities.

Use Your Resume!

Keep in mind that age is just a number and that your dedication to learning and improving is what counts. If you have difficulty landing a job, inspect your resume and see where you can improve. Start with changing one or two things first and see if it helps. If not, try adding one or two more things and then keep going. If small tweaks don’t work, learn something new that you can add to your resume. Most of all, have fun and keep moving along your journey in your job search. When things get too frustrating, take a break and find some support. You are hirable and you will find an employer who sees, appreciates, and values your work!