Jobseekers are reporting age discrimination beginning as early as the mid-thirties. What options are there for those of us considered "old" by HR managers and companies?
The biggest issue, and one which is hard to address, is the perception that older workers are not as capable or as qualified as their younger counterparts. Research supports the view, however, that older workers tend to be more committed, more loyal and more motivated employees. They also give higher levels of customer service. This explains why many companies, especially in the services sector, are now actively recruiting older workers.
Emphasise Skills, Not Experience or Dates
Today's employers are interested in your skills rather than just previous work experience. As a mid-career or older worker, you should de-emphasise dates and years by:
· LEAVING YOUR AGE OFF YOUR RESUME
The purpose of the Resume is to get you an interview. Let them find out your age at interview when at least you have the opportunity to show them what a forward thinker you are.
· OMITTING EARLIER JOBS
If you’re going to leave your age off, don’t leave 30 years work experience on. A Resume should never have more than 10 years of work history, except in exceptional circumstances. Very little of what you were doing 10 years ago can sell you on your Resume.
· OMITTING DATES OF YOUR DEGREE(S)
· INSERTING TIME FRAMES
Inserting time frames for relevant past work experience, rather than the dates of employment (example - "five years" rather than 1965-1970)
Choosing a Resume Type Is Key
As a mid-career or older worker, you need to select a Resume format that favorably presents your job history and skills as they relate to your current career objectives. There are five basic types of Resumes, each with a specific style:
- Chronological Resumes list your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent job.
- Functional Resumes emphasise your work objective, skills and accomplishments.
- Combination Resumes combine elements of the chronological and functional Resumes.
- Modified letter Resumes can be used for targeted mailings to specific kinds of employers by writing in letter style rather than Resume form. Letters can be more easily written to blur age. Application letters should describe skills and energy and leave mentioning age until the last sentence or better still do not mention it at all.
- Electronic Resumes are simple text-based Resumes, with no special formatting.
Joyce Lain Kennedy's Resumes for Dummies provides suggestions for mid-career workers:
- On your Resume limit your experience to 15 years for a managerial job, 10 years for a technical job, and 5 years for a high-tech job
- Leave your other experience off your Resume or list it without dates in an Other Experience category
- Consider using a functional Resume rather than a chronological Resume
She also recommends emphasising the positive when interviewing:
- Project yourself as cheerful and flexible and back that up with proof of your skills and success
- Review the benefits of older workers - commitment to a career, hands-on experience, a track record of success, stable, realistic expectations - and think about how they apply to you
- Use storytelling techniques to back up your claims of these skills