Ageism & the Job Search: What You Can Control on Your Resume

Are you an experienced professional facing the daunting challenge of ageism in your job search? It's an unfortunate reality many job seekers over 50 face when searching for new opportunities. In a perfect world bias in the workplace and hiring process would be non-existent. The relentless optimist in me is hopeful that overall American workplaces are working toward an inclusive, equitable future. America isn't there… YET. This blog post focuses on what the jobseeker can control to eliminate potential bias during resume review. Here are a few suggestions to update your resume and eliminate aging yourself “on paper”. Here is how to showcase your skills, achievements, and vibrant personality while minimizing the impact of ageism.

First impressions matter, and your resume is the ticket to getting noticed. Let's revamp that old resume by focusing on these five areas:

 - Formatting: Say goodbye to the old-school format. Keep things clean and contemporary, skip your full address and opt for your city and state only. Include essential contact points like your email, cell phone, and LinkedIn profile. Lay your old email address from outdated systems such as yahoo, hotmail, or aol to rest. RIP. It gives the impression you're not keeping up with the times. Remove information such as citizenship, marital or family status, hobbies, inspirational quotes, date of birth, or headshots. Get rid of "References available upon request".

- The Professional Summary: Swap out the dusty "objective" section for a  "professional summary". Showcase your industry credentials, and highlight your skills, experience, and attributes that make you a standout candidate. Don’t include specifics related to your years of experience (for example, "25 years of sales experience" or “40 years of industry excellence”)

- Recent Roles and Achievements: Shine a spotlight on your recent accomplishments that directly relate to the position you're applying for. By showcasing your recent wins, you divert attention from your age and emphasize your ability to make a real impact. Hiring Managers care about results. Recent results. Think about all the obsolete technology you’ve worked with in the past. It doesn’t matter today. Make sure to communicate what action you took, then the results that followed. Action, Result. Measurable results are preferred.

- Other Relevant Work History: Let's keep it fresh! Trim down the work experience section to the past 10-15 years, focusing on what is most relevant to your current goals. If there's still an older experience worth mentioning, present it briefly in a separate section called "Other Relevant Work History." List it with the company and your relevant title(s), and skip adding a date range.

-The Education Section: Avoid unnecessary details that reveal your age. Go ahead and skip the dates of graduation completely. No one cares when you went to high school or college. They want to know if you can do the job or have a degree. Consider formatting your educational experience like this:

• High School Diploma: North Shore High School, North Shore, CA

• Undergraduate Degree: University of Missouri, BS, Marketing/Marketing Management

• Masters Degree: University of Phoenix, MBA, Masters of Business Administration

Ageism is an unfortunate reality in the job search landscape, but with a little optimism, personality, and a revamped resume, you can face it head-on. By giving your resume a makeover that highlights your recent achievements, streamlines your work history, and showcases your vibrant personality, you'll minimize the impact of ageism and stand out as a seasoned professional with a lot to offer. Remember, your experience and skills are invaluable. With the right approach and a focus on what you can control, you'll find the perfect opportunity that appreciates your talent and wisdom. Good luck, and let your revamped resume be your secret weapon in conquering ageism during the resume review process.

Have you experienced ageism during the hiring process?