Ask Sue
A Weekly Q&A Column About Professionalism, Etiquette and Problems in the Workplace
by Sue Morem

Resume Dates Reveal Candidate's Age

Dear Sue: I am looking at 50 real soon. On my resume I note two degrees: a bachelor's degree in 1989 and a master's in 1996. I'm thinking that since the 1989 bachelor degree gives away my age, I should eliminate it. Is it necessary to put the year of the graduation on the resume? I feel that my age may be a deterrent to hiring me.

--Middle Age

Sue Says: Include complete education information on your resume, said Joe Zack, owner of Resume Express. It is difficult to mask dates, and because your dates are fairly recent, they show attitude, drive and initiative. When you eliminate dates, a potential employer may wonder what you are trying to hide.

Dear Sue: We work in a government office, and lately we have been noticing that a supervisor is stealing time. She sometimes comes in late, as much as two hours, yet signs in at her regular time. Then she signs out two hours later than she actually leaves. In three days she has stolen eight hours, mostly claimed as overtime.

We are not sure who we can trust to discuss this matter with because she has friends and relatives working here and they are also stealing time.

If we say something, then overtime may be stopped for everyone. But if we don't say anything, are we condoning the stealing?

--Government Workers

Sue Says: Yes. You need to tell someone or you could end up implicated also.

Sue Morem is a professional speaker, trainer and syndicated columnist. She is author of the newly released 101 Tips for Graduates and How to Gain the Professional Edge, Second Edition. You can contact her by email at asksue@suemorem.com or visit her web site at http://www.suemorem.com. 

Send Sue your questions by clicking here: Ask Sue
For more Ask Sue articles, click here.