Getting older can represent new challenges in the job market. Many older workers are concerned that they will not be considered for opportunities or even get called back for interviews based on their age. Most likely, and the “good news” is that their actual age isn’t really the issue, but rather what their age represents such as “They don’t know how to use computers”, “They will retire in a few years”, or “They’re inflexible.” Why is that good news? You can’t change your age, but you can change the perceptions of how you present yourself to employers. You may also find that your age comes with advantages that are not available to younger workers such as experience and stability. If you’re not getting many responses from employers to your resume, here are a few things you can do to help:
Give your resume a youthful spin
Only include your more recent experience. 15 or so years of work history should be sufficient. Exclude earlier jobs that are not relevant to your current career. This will help you from appearing “too experienced” or “overqualified”. After that, include a skills section that will showcase your use of technologies, software, or anything else relative to the positions you are applying to, as well as including an education summary at the bottom. Also, remove age indicators from your resume such as college graduation years, unless they are specifically asked for. Some employers may request this information to verify your degree since people falsifying this information on their resume is common. However, you do still want to keep dates for former employers.
Keep your resume to 2 pages or less. It’s unlikely that a recruiter will read through a resume that’s 3-4 or more pages. If you have a longer work-history you can make mention of other special or important projects you’ve worked on that are relevant.
Brush up on interview skills
If you’re not landing very many interviews, you’ll want to make the most out of the ones you get. Take the time to brush up on interview questions and mock interviews with friends, or better yet, try going on a few interviews for jobs you’re not that enthusiastic about and don’t care if you mess up the interview. If you’re not familiar with or comfortable with remote interviews, make sure you’re up to speed with the technology and how to set up to interview from home.
Networking
One of the biggest advantages of being a more experienced worker is having a wider network of connections. Take advantage of the network you’ve built over the years to help you find a new job. Utilize LinkedIn to connect with people who can help you in your job search. Find out who works in the industry that you’d like to connect with. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions to get the conversation started.
Show of your tech skills
Throughout your resume, include and reference current technologies that you’re skilled in, and remove mentions of old and outdated technologies that will give off an outdated impression. If you need to update your technology skills, consider obtaining a current Microsoft Office certification and familiarize yourself with how to use social media networks such as LinkedIn and Twitter. If you’re seeking positions where you hold a certain expertise you may even want to consider writing your own blog to showcase your knowledge. An easy way to do this and show off that your tech skills are up to par is to write articles on LinkedIn.
Consider contract and part-time work
Taking on a project-based role is a great way to show an employer what you can do and can lead to being hired full-time after you’ve shown off your capabilities. And who knows, maybe you’ll even prefer the flexibility of contract roles to a full-time role.
Make your age an asset
Many employers value hiring someone with experience. If you’ve solved similar challenges to that facing a prospective employer, or if you have mentored team members in the past, show that you’ll be a positive and valued asset to the team.
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Before we start working with a client, we will research them, have in-depth conversations with their hiring team and visit their facilities to get to know them and what makes a candidate successful in their company culture. To connect with a recruiter and find out about our currently available opportunities in Information Technology, Accounting/Finance, Engineering and Business Administration/Process, please visit our job board. Or, submit your resume here for consideration to connect with one of our experienced recruiters in either our Grand Rapids, Michigan or Tampa, Florida location.
