Let’s take a brief moment here to acknowledge that age discrimination is a very real thing in the workplace. (So are several other unpleasant -isms, I fear.) It stinks, but it’s there. And while there’s no magic answer that fixes everything, there are some things we can do from the outset to increase your chances of being seen as a serious candidate.
Before I dig it, let me also note that what we’re trying to do here isn’t deceive anyone or be dishonest in any way. Instead, we’re aiming to make your age not get in the way of things at the start. Most of us have some unconscious biases that cause us to think that older workers are less energetic, less skilled with technology, and maybe even set in their ways, so the goal of all of this is to get past the initial weeding out of candidates who are easy to weed out.
Okay, so let’s dig in to the resume!
These are some basic tips:
- Update that email address! [email protected] ain’t making you look young.
- Skip the objective. Instead, put together a professional summary that captures the stuff you want them to see right away.
- Don’t put in your whole physical address. Just city and state is fine.
- Keep your experience current. Your main focus should be the last 10-15 years. If you have something you really want them to see that’s older than that, remove the dates.
- Delete “references available upon request.” That’s assumed now.
- If your graduation date starts with “19,” remove the date! Just the degree name (and where you got it) is plenty.
- Don’t tell them about outdated tech. It’s not going to score you points that you’re really familiar with GoToMeeting.
- Put in “career break” or “active career break” or “planned career break” if you’ve been out of work for a while.
Now the cover letter:
- Avoid being overly formal. “To Whom It May Concern” is a dead giveaway that you’re north of 40. Instead, try “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear [Department].”
- Try not to be formulaic. Give them some warmth and tell some stories. Your cover letter shouldn’t be a repeat of your resume, but should instead tell them who you are and how your experiences relate to what they’re looking for.
- Feel free to use contractions. They help to keep the overall tone less stuffy.
- Don’t draw attention to things like those career breaks. Focus on the positives like your enthusiasm and up-to-date tech skills.
And finally, if you’re hoping to find specific advice and help for older workers (and to be clear, that means 40+, which isn’t very old in my book), check out resources like AgeFriendlyJobs and their parent org, the Age-Friendly Institute, AARP’s resources on age discrimination, and general resources for older folks like this list from my home city, Denver.
And if you know of any other resources, please share them! I’ll be happy to add them
