The job markets might be tight for everyone, but they are tightest of all for older workers re-entering the job market after long stints at their former companies. While there is nothing you can do to change your biological age, there are plenty of things you can do to make yourself shine as an on-the-ball older job candidate.
Age-related bias begins with the first screening of your resume. Sadly, many applicants don’t progress further from there. Read on to learn how you can tweak your resume to appear relevant to your industry.
Clip your work history
Nobody cares what fires you put out back in 1995. In fact, the hiring manager may still have been toddling around in diapers in 1995. Begin your job history from 15 years ago, focusing on the last five years and the dragons you slayed then.
Omit your graduation date
Don’t list 1985 as the year you graduated from your university. Unless it was within the past decade, it won’t help you. There’s really no good reason to include it at all. Simply list the degree obtained and the college or university that conferred it.
Audit your tech skills section
Nobody cares that you are proficient in WordPerfect, as it is obsolete now. Emphasize instead your proficiency with other platforms with current relevance, e.g., Marketo, Smartsheet, Slack and Salesforce.
Show them you’re coachable
There’s a perception that older applicants are harder to train on new systems. Fight back by availing yourself of industry TED talks and certifications that indicate your thirst for knowledge in your chosen field.
Get a Gmail address
Nothing screams “Boomer!” more than an outdated AOL email address — and Yahoo and Hotmail aren’t much better. Get a new Gmail address and familiarize yourself with the Google suite of programs like Google Drive and Docs.
Did age discrimination cost you a job?
If you feel that your age was the sole reason you weren’t considered for a position for which you otherwise qualified, learning more about your rights and responsibilities as an employee can help determine what happens next.