Make your age an asset to your resume

Hitting fifty this year? There’s no need for that to hinder you from finding a great new job! Older professionals are an asset to any workplace as they have years of experience leading teams. Many older professionals I know are extremely adaptable and are great at solving problems. If you are just as talented as the other senior professionals out there, the only thing holding you back from a great job could be your resume. Here’s how to write a resume that gets you hired no matter your age:

Make Your Age an Asset to Your Resume

Choose a modern resume template

First things first. You don’t want to turn off employers with just the look of your resume. If you want to be taken seriously by potential employers, your resume template must mean business. Create an ATS-friendly resume template from scratch if you want to get noticed. You can also use a resume template from the internet, but no one can guarantee how ATS-compatible they are. Also, go for a modern resume design this time. That means no frilly borders and cute graphics!

Research keywords in your industry

The resume landscape has changed a lot in the past few years. Today, the resumes that display the most relevant keywords in the right frequency get noticed over others. So, how do you know which keywords to use on your resume? You conduct a simple Google search. Go through a few job descriptions for your target job title and note down the skills, experiences, and qualifications they have asked for. These are the keywords you should use on your resume. Things become even easier if you have a target job description. Then, all you need to do is highlight the keywords the employers have used to describe the job!

Age-proof your resume

Despite the many attempts made by regulatory authorities, ageism in the hiring process persists. It is a bigger problem than many of us even realize. Employers prefer to hire young, experienced professionals over older candidates and recent graduates. However, you still stand a chance to get a foot through the door if you age-proof your resume correctly. Here’s what you need to do:

• Remove dates older than the last 10-15 years from the work experience section
• Omit dates of graduation from your high school/college
• Avoid mentioning outdated/extinct skills and technologies
• Mention your experiences with the latest tech in the field

Add a modern touch to your resume

Today’s resumes are shared and perused electronically at large. This gives you the perfect opportunity to make your resume interactive. Add a link to your updated LinkedIn profile to the contact information section of your resume. If you maintain social media channels where you share informative content related to your industry, add links to them too. List only the last 10-15 years of your work history on the resume. This will help you streamline the work experience section.

Create a matching cover letter

A cover letter is important for your job application. Without one, your job application might even get rejected by some employers. When you create your cover letter, make sure that the design and content align with those of your resume. You don’t want your cover letter saying one thing while your resume says another. Ensure that your cover letter stays below one page and that it is concise. There’s no need to overshare information or mention anything that might point to your age.

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