Given that adults over the age of 65 are twice as likely to be working (compared to 1985), it seems likely that more and more older job seekers are going to be on the hunt for all kinds of employment.
By law, age should not be a consideration for employment. But that doesn’t mean age discrimination and ageism doesn’t happen. There’s nothing you can do about getting older. But, you don’t have to let another birthday candle on the cake interfere with a successful job search.
There are many resume tips that all job seekers should follow. For example, always customize your resume when you apply to a job, make sure you incorporate the right keywords from the job description into your resume, and take the time to craft a polished professional summary.
However, there are a few specific resume tips for older workers. While it’s not a guarantee, shining the spotlight on your stellar qualifications—and not your age—should help you overcome a hiring manager’s concerns about your age.
As hard as it might be, limit your job history to the last 10 to 15 years. As the FlexJobs’ Career Experts note, “Leaving off older work history sometimes feels like you’re discounting the hard work and accomplishments of the past. But…chances are that older experience is going to be a disservice to your applications.”
“Unfortunately, ageism is a big problem in the job search process,” she continues. “The concerns are usually that older workers are overqualified, too old to learn new things, wouldn’t be able to adapt, or wouldn’t be good at working with younger managers or leaders.”
While you can address these concerns head-on in a well-written cover letter, you shouldn’t leave your employment dates off your resume. In fact, you should include the dates of your work history in chronological order somewhere on your resume, no matter your age. “It’s vital,” the FlexJobs’ Career Experts say. “Otherwise, applicant tracking systems (ATS) may not be able to decipher your years of experience and could automatically reject your application.”
That said, the one place you can ditch dates is in your education section. “The important thing is that you’ve earned the degree or certification,” the FlexJobs’ Career Experts say. “Not when you earned it.”
Landing a new job after 50 requires careful crafting of your resume. With age comes wisdom, expertise and a wealth of career experience. However some biases still exist around older applicants. You need to showcase your value in the right way.
Follow these pro tips to create a resume that gets you interviews
Strip it Down to What’s Relevant
The days of overly wordy, dense resumes are over. Modern resumes are clean and scannable. Recruiters spend just seconds reviewing each one. Make their job easy by cutting the fluff.
Only include information from the past 10-15 years. Anything earlier is likely irrelevant. Exceptions could include:
- Degrees like Bachelors or Masters
- Brief summary of early career jobs to show trajectory
Remove outdated skills. Focus on programs, systems, and tools you’ve used in recent roles.
Keep descriptions brief. Use bullet points over paragraphs.
Make it Software-Tracking Friendly
Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. This software scans for keywords related to the open role.
Optimizing for ATS ensures your resume makes it to a human recruiter. Simple tweaks like these can improve your odds:
- Use standard fonts and formatting. Avoid tables, text boxes, headers, and footers.
- Include keywords from the job description. Work them organically into your bullet points.
- Put important info like your name, titles, and companies first. The ATS reads top-down.
- Save your file as a .DOCX not PDF. Systems parse Word docs better.
Tailor Your Experience
With an extensive background, you likely have many achievements to choose from. Customize which ones you highlight for each application.
Read the job description closely. Note required skills and duties. Choose experiences from your past that align. Weave in keywords they use like software, methods, certifications, etc.
This shows the hiring manager you match their needs. Avoid the generic “one resume fits all” approach.
Be Careful What Skills You List
Certain skills can reinforce unfair age stereotypes. For example, listing obsolete technologies like AS400 or DOS could backfire.
Instead, focus on programs, systems, and tools you’ve used in recent roles. Highlight technical adaptability through examples like:
- Supported migration from legacy system X to updated platform Y
- Completed training on new software A, B, and C as part of onboarding
- Eager to learn new programs and techniques as technologies change
This shows you keep your skills current despite your experience.
Make Your Social Media Presence Known
Including links to professional profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, GitHub, etc. is expected. However, 82% of older applicants skip adding links according to AARP.
Don’t miss this chance to showcase your tech-savviness. Just keep your profiles updated, appropriate, and aligned with your target roles.
Pro Tip: Google your name and check your online footprint. Remove anything unprofessional before applying.
Emphasize Recent Education and Training
Continued learning and upskilling is especially valued in mature applicants. Did you complete any certifications, seminars, conferences, or classes in the past few years?
Add a “Professional Development” section to highlight these. Even including recent books, blogs, or journals you follow can demonstrate engagement.
Leverage Numbers and Metrics
Quantifying your accomplishments adds credibility. Instead of general claims like “improved sales”, get specific:
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“Increased leads by 25% within first 6 months by optimizing SEO and modernizinginbound campaigns.”
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“Reduced costs by 18% by analyzing supply chain and negotiating vendor contracts.”
Any stats, percentages, or dollars you can add will make your contributions more concrete.
Start Each Bullet With a Powerful Action Verb
Powerful action verbs like “led”, “pioneered”, “built”, and “negotiated” grab attention. They emphasize you were a key contributor not just support staff.
Avoid starting with weaker verbs like “assisted”, “supported”, or “participated”. You want to highlight ownership.
Spotlight Awards and Achievements
Being recognized for excellence adds prestige. Dedicating a section to highlight awards like “Employee of the Year”, top sales rankings, or major project successes can impress.
If you’ve received any professional certifications (PMP, CPA, CFA, etc.) in your career, list those as well. Just don’t get carried away listing minor awards most employers won’t recognize.
Trim Down Extra Sections
Sections like Hobbies, Volunteer Work, and Publications are no longer resume must-haves. Keep extra sections brief and tied to professional strengths.
For example, if you hold a leadership role in a major non-profit, including that demonstrates management skills. Just don’t ramble on about unrelated hobbies or minor community efforts.
Craft a Strong Executive Summary
A short 2-4 line “Profile” or “Executive Summary” section adds a powerful intro. This summarizes your top strengths and achievements. Think of it as a sales pitch or “elevator pitch” for your candidacy.
Because recruiters skim from top down, this section can make a strong first impression. Just keep it concise and compelling like:
- Award-winning sales director with 10+ years leading teams and nurturing talent. Record of increasing revenues by over 30%. Reason for career change.
This hits the highlights they want to see upfront.
Be Wary of Potential Age Bias
Unfortunately, age discrimination still impacts some hiring decisions. Legally, employers cannot ask your age or factor it into the process. But they may draw assumptions from graduation years or tenure lengths listed.
One option is removing dates from degrees over 10-15 years old. Listing just the degree avoids dating yourself:
- Bachelor of Arts in English, University of Michigan instead of
- Bachelor of Arts in English, University of Michigan, 1985
You can also exclude early career jobs beyond 15 years if titles and companies no longer matter. Just list years in those roles minus specifics.
Don’t Include Headshots or Date of Birth
Never include your photo, date of birth, or other age identifiers on your resume. This protects against both conscious and unconscious bias about your age.
Let your skills and experience stand on their own. You want to get the interview before age ever comes up. Your resume itself should not raise any red flags.
Summarize Career Progression at the Company Level
Too much company hopping can seem unstable. But staying at one company for decades raises concerns about stagnancy. The key is showing career growth between 3-5 solid companies.
For example:
- Apex Technologies – Director of Engineering, 2010-Present
- Innovative Solutions – Chief Architect, 2003-2010
- Promoted from Senior Developer in 2005
- Genetec – Software Developer, 1995-2003
This demonstrates increasing responsibility across respected companies over time. No job hopping or stagnation apparent.
Address Employment Gaps Strategically
Large resume gaps require explanation to avoid raising questions. If you took time off for family or health reasons, you do not need to get into specifics. Simple explanations like these work:
- Sabbatical for family obligations, 2012-2014
- Relocated to support family, 2009-2011
- Career break for personal reasons, 2006-2008
Remember, you have no obligation to disclose medical, family or other private matters. Keep it professional.
For extended unemployment, listing related consulting projects, volunteer work or classes helps fill gaps productively.
Proofread Extensively for Errors
Typos or grammar issues can torpedo your chances, especially for senior roles. Recruiters scrutinize writing quality as an indicator of professionalism.
Read your resume carefully multiple times. Better yet, have a friend or family member proofread as well. Use spellcheck but don’t rely on it exclusively. Review printed copies to catch issues spellcheck would miss.
With these tips, you can craft a resume that gets attention for all the right reasons. Showcase the value your experience brings without raising any age-related concerns. You have a wealth of knowledge to leverage – just be sure to frame it strategically.
You’ve successfully navigated decades of changes, challenges, and innovations. Now it’s time to take those strengths and put them front and center in your resume. You’ve got this!
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In addition to helpful articles like this one, members get unlimited access to:
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- And so much more…
Update Your Contact Information
Along those same lines, don’t include a fax or landline number. You might still have one or both of these for various reasons, and that’s fine. But, including these on your resume is another giveaway that you’re an older job seeker. Instead, list only your cell phone number (and don’t point out that it’s a cell phone).
However, a phone number (of any kind) isn’t how most hiring managers contact applicants these days. Most of the initial contacts take place via email. While you’ve probably used email since it first became available, make sure you’re using a “newer” address.
If you’re still using AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, or your service provider’s email address, don’t use it in your job seeking. An email address ending in one of those implies that you may not be tech savvy and use outdated products. Again, there’s nothing wrong with that. But it will tell a recruiter that you’re an older job seeker. And it may reinforce the notion that you either don’t understand or refuse to embrace new technology.
Sign up for a free Gmail account and list that on your resume. While Gmail isn’t new by any means, it is widely used and won’t give away your age like the other accounts might. You don’t have to switch all of your communications over to that account, though. You can use the Gmail account strictly for job seeking.
Among the most important resume tips for older workers is to avoid getting stagnant. Recruiters may (unfairly) assume that this group is “set in their ways” and unwilling—or unable—to learn new skills and techniques.
Make sure you include examples of your willingness to learn. Include recent certifications you’ve obtained and mention seminars or continuing education classes you’ve attended. Online classes count, too!
If you haven’t attended any “formal” education, consider talking about other experiences where you’ve gained new skills. Volunteering or mentoring are great places to start. List the relevant skills you’ve gained while you helped out your community.
Job Search Advice for Over 50 Year Olds
What are the best tips for resumes for older workers?
One of the best tips for resumes for older workers is to avoid using graduation dates in the education section. It’s difficult to work around your age if your college graduation date is there in black-and-white.
Should you put experience on a resume if you’re over 50?
For older job seekers, experience is often less of an issue so it may be better to emphasize achievements and skills. If you’re over 50 years old and considering a change in careers or jobs, it’s important to understand how to craft a resume that can highlight your unique qualities.
How to write a resume for older workers?
When it comes to tips for resumes for older workers, this one is critical. Every resume that you submit must be tailored to match the desired position. That means using keywords from the job posting and narrowing down experience and skills to ensure that they’re relevant.
How do I write an effective resume as an older professional?
Here are some tips you can use to write an effective resume as an older professional: Choose the right format. Hiring managers receive many applications and often have little time to review them. Make sure to submit a concise resume that displays your qualifications for the job immediately.
