Is Your Resume Aging You?

by Linda Matias

You may be inadvertently aging yourself on your resume by doing minor things that look innocent enough but may cost you interviews. The good news, however, is there are easy fixes you can implement to improve your chances of landing a job interview. Below is advice for you to follow.

Younger jobseekers usually have a Gmail account as opposed to AOL or Hotmail. So if you have either an AOL or a Hotmail email, scrap them. If you don’t want to give those accounts up then signup for Gmail specifically for your job search.

Limit the phone numbers you include on your resume to your cell and home number. If possible, only include your cell since most younger jobseekers only have a cell phone, and therefore, only include one number on their resume. Never, ever include your fax number. It’s just not done anymore and it serves as a signal that you are part of an older generation. On a side note, never include a work number since doing so demonstrates lack of respect for your existing employer. Interviewers understand you are using company time to search for a job. It’s an open secret, but that doesn’t mean you should use company resources to find another position. You’ll turn off interviewers and lose out on opportunities.

Resume objectives are passé and usually older jobseekers include it because they haven’t kept up-to-date on resume writing trends and are relying on information from their youth. So scrap the ineffective, “Seeking a job where I can utilize my skills” and transform the beginning of your resume with a strong introduction such as, “Strong, diverse background in accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing within various environments, including corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations.”

As proud as you may be with your career trajectory, avoid starting off a resume with “Seasoned professional with over 30 years’ experience.” Some of the HR representatives reading your resume may not be thirty years old themselves and the mention of three decades worth of experience will stand out to them, and not in a good way. Instead, write something more neutral: “Success in generating significant cost reductions, implementing processes to improve accounting functions, and introducing technology solutions to strengthen financial information management.” Not only is this statement neutral, it says more about you and your background than touting the amount of years you’ve been a professional. Using this method you kill two birds with one stone: (1) you don’t inadvertently reveal your age and (2) you provide interviewers with information he or she can sink their teeth into.

Focus your professional experience on the last ten to fifteen years. If you must include experience from the 1970s then should do so creatively by developing a section called “Value-added Experience” and reveal the details under that category without attributing dates.

Above all, accomplishments trump all else (most of the time). So make sure your resume is filled with compelling copy that outlines your achievements because those will be difficult for a hiring manager to overlook, regardless of your age.

Linda Matias is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer who heads CareerStrides.com. You can reach her at linda@careerstrides.com to request a resume quote. You can also visit her website at http://www.careerstrides.com to review resume samples.