You’ve been applying online for jobs for months and have yet to get even a nibble. You’re frustrated and discouraged, wondering why your considerable skill set isn’t attracting offers to interview.
One problem could be with your resume. Read on for some tips about how to age-proof your resume.
Leave off the dates
Decades ago, people included dates of graduation from high schools, colleges and universities. Now, this is discouraged, as the dates only reveal job candidates’ ages. This can trigger biases, even unconscious ones, in hiring managers.
Omit high school entirely
Unless you are a very recent high school graduate, there is no point in listing your high school at all. Most professional resume-building guides recommend only listing post-secondary education degrees, courses and certifications.
Provide references
Older resumes used to read, “References available on request.” That’s no longer a good idea, as it dates you. Instead, have your references readily available on a second sheet of paper that you include with your resume.
After all, if you want someone to be serious about hiring you, don’t make it harder for them to learn more about your work ethic and strengths.
Tweak your resume for the job
Forget one-size-fits-all resumes. While you should have a resume template at hand listing all your details, depending on the position, you can adjust your resume to list all the skills you will need to fill the position.
For instance, working well with teams might be less important when applying for remote positions that might need someone who can easily self-manage daily tasks. Your resume should pop for each position you want with an organization.
What if you suspect age discrimination?
Workplace discrimination is typically more insidious than blatant. It can be challenging to determine whether you were truly discriminated against or were lacking pertinent skills. Seeking guidance from those with experience in determining employment discrimination is prudent.