June 2, 2011
by Gary HeitmanI look at lots of resumes every day and have looked at 1000's over the last few years. I found a good article by Marilyn Gardner, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor. Here it is with my additions and comments.
Among the men and women in the over 50 job group – some unemployed, others reentering the workforce – a common concern predominates. They want to know what is the latest and greatest way to create/recreate a resume.
Lots of people tell me they have not written a resume for many years. Autoworkers in SE Michigan are a common example of these people. In those years, resumes have indeed undergone a transformation. Paper documents, once read and filed by people, have turned electronic. They are always screened by an employer's automated job-seeker tracking system. These changes call for new approaches on the part of job-seeker.
Older workers (and many inexperienced workers) don't understand the environment they're putting their automated applications into, They still expect an acknowledgment. With the number of people responding to openings today, it is a buyers market. Do not expect an acknowledgement!
If you are wondering why your resume is not getting interviews, you should consider these questions: Does your resume look weathered (or trite if you use Microsoft Office Template)? Has it grown to three or four pages over time? Is your first job after high school graduation still listed? Are you still displaying the date you graduated from college? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it is time to redo your resume.
Including graduation dates is the subject of debate among career specialists. By eliminating it, you are not hiding anything just not broadcasting it. The important thing is you have an education. Remember the person reviewing your resume is probably way under 50
Many career specialists, including myself, advise older applicants to ensure your resume is no more than two pages and only includes the most recent 15 to 20 years of their work history. Earlier jobs can be summarized under a heading such as "Positions held prior to 1990," with a list of companies and titles.
A new thought is to also avoid the word "experience." The emphasis today is on capabilities, qualifications, and achievements (and metrics), not previous titles, duties, and length of service. This is a very hard concept for many older workers to understand.
The average resume is reviewed for less than 10 seconds. Does yours highlight what you want employers to know right away? Employers are more interested in how you can help them than what you've done in the past (chronology). Since your most important or relevant experience may be three jobs back, companies may not look long enough to see what you have to offer.
One of the biggest concerns employers have about the over 50 crowd is "How computer savvy are you?" This means having a cellphone and e-mail. Without these, employers assume technological ignorance! And by the way if your e-mail address is currently fluffykittens1958, don't use it. It should be mundane and professional (boring is ok in email addresses).
Another big problem I see is with my fellow IT background resume writers. This is references to out-of-date technology. I don't want to know you are proficient with MS-DOS and floppy disks. These can be re-written as having an understanding of operating systems and electronic media.
For men and women over 50 whose careers have been interrupted by family responsibilities – child-rearing and elder care, these experiences can be described in a resume and interview with skills transferable into todays workplace. Besides filling a resume employment gap, these experiences can show responsibility for others, fiscal prowess and dealing with different layers of management (albeit at a school, daycare or senior care facility).
Whatever an over-50 job seeker's resume does or doesn't include, the key is still what your attitude is. Workers looking for new positions can come up with a million reasons why someone isn't going to offer them a job. They'll send out three resumes and not get a response and say, 'See, no one wants to hire me. I'm too old.' If you're 20 and send out three resumes, you're more than likely going to get the same result.
One way to counter age-related stereotypes is to accentuate your openness to technology and learning - mention courses you've taken and professional certifications you've maintained. Add your LinkedIn address to your resume! Employers want people who are willing to learn, adapt, and be stable (not looking for the next job before they start this one). I have found that many mature (older) workers are not very open to emphasizing things they've done outside of work – volunteer work, travel, and diverse experiences.
Career Advisors all agree that the biggest obstacle older applicants face is discouragement - YOU HAVE TO STAY UPBEAT! You have no alternative but to be proud of your age and qualifications so stay positive!
ADVICE FOR OLDER JOB APPLICANTS
Melanie Holmes, a 30-year veteran with Manpower North America, started writing about various workplace topics in a blog called Contemporary Working. She offers the following tips for over-50 job seekers:
• Flexibility is a big plus – emphasize that you can be open to a variety of scheduling, titles, consulting, etc.
• Experience is a given – provide details on your familiarity with processes, equipment, and systems.
• Past titles on your résumé may or may not be useful. Be sure to include a brief explanation of duties and related accomplishments.
• If you've upgraded your skills via a short course or certification, make sure it shows up on your résumé and in the interview.
• If you can work it into your cover letter, talk about loyalty, willingness to learn new things, and your comfort with technology.
• Try to limit your work history to what is relevant to the job for which you are applying. But, beware of leaving employment gaps – these can be a red flag to hiring managers.
One last final piece of advice I can provide is to get out and network and surround yourself with upbeat people. I hear too many people that have given up that with a little more work, could find work. Good luck to all and Go Blue!
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