Resume Help tip: Avoid Age Discrimination

If you're between 40 and 60 years old, the job market may hold a special treat for your resume - Age Discrimination.

Most people who are victims of age discrimination never even make it to an interview. This means your resume said something tat caused an employer to set it aside, and yo need some resume help fast!

Resume Mistake. Remember that you don't have to list your entire work history in every resume you send out!

Listing your entire 30-year work history on your resume might actually hurt you. The HR department I used to work for was concerned with overqualified employees. There was a fear that the employee would take our job to tide them over until their "real" dream job came knocking on their door.

Rather that listing your entire 30-year work history on your resume, you can simply label that part of your resume "Recent Work History" or "Relevant Work History" and then describe only the last 10 or 15 years of your experience.

If something relevant to the job you are applying for is in the distant past, there is an artful way you can list this experience as well. After your 10-15 year work history, add a small paragraph headed "Prior relevant experience" and simply refer to that ancient job without mentioning dates. You get your message across without opening yourself to age discrimination.

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Resumes Employers Want to See!

1. Communication skills
   (verbal and written)
2. Honesty/integrity
3. Teamwork skills
   (works well with others)
4. Interpersonal skills
   (relates well to others)
5. Motivation/initiative
6. Strong work ethic
7. Analytical skills
8. Flexibility/adaptability
9. Computer skills
10. Organizational skills

• Relevant work experience    4
• Internship experience           3.9
• Any work experience            3.6
• Co-op experience                  3.2