5 Resume Tips for Older Professionals

5 Resume Tips for Older Professionals5 Resume Tips for Older Professionals0By law, age should not be a consideration for employment. However, older job seekers sometimes fear it may be an issue. Turn those worries into action by offering employers a stand-out resume that gets them excited by what you bring to the table. Below are five resume tips for older professionals that will have hiring managers looking at your qualifications rather than your age.Here are five resume tips for older professionals1. Target your document.Regardless of an applicants age, a resume should demonstrate why the candidate is the best choice for a given position. Focus on creating a strong case.The single biggest mistake older job searchers make with their resumes is believing that a resume is a comprehensive career history instead of a marketing document that outlines your qualifications for a targeted job, says Duncan Mathison, co-author of Unlock the Hidden Job Market 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times are Tough. Begin by looking at job postings to understand what your targeted employers are looking for and tailor the resume to highlight only those items that match their needs.2. Choose an effective structure.Dont feel bound by convention when presenting your background. Stating things in alternate, yet still truthful, ways can make your document livelier. Two possibilities Mathison suggestsRemove the dates from your degrees and add a section under Education called Professional Coursework. This allows you to highlight the most relevant and recent knowledge needed to perform in your target job. Guess how many hours of training you have had and add relevant course titles. For example, More than 300 hours of professional development courses, including topics such as Effective Performance Management, Cloud Based Computing, and Social Media Marketing. Notice you do not have to list all training you have had, just the relevant topics.Drop off early career jobs, particularly i f they do not directly support your qualifications for your targeted position. If some early career jobs are a critical piece towards your qualifications to your targeted job, close out the Experience section of past positions with a Previous Experience item. Follow that with a brief statement such as Early professional and progressive positions including . . . where you list only relevant job titles.3. Keep up with the times.Remove references to outdated technology. Include your LinkedIn URL (and be sure up-to-date info and a professional-quality photo await the potential viewer). Take courses in your fields hot topics or in areas where you might be lacking. Anything you can do to dispel stereotypes of older workers being stuck in the past will support your candidacy, and lifelong learners get noticed.4. Be proud of your accomplishments.Remember that age can be an asset. Seasoned candidates have a variety of life experiences from which to draw upon and can cite real-world examples of traits employers value such as loyalty, ability to meet deadlines, innovation, and teamwork. When you start seeing yourself as a prized vintage wine, chances are others will too.5. Seek input from others.Finally, dont be afraid to get help. A professional resume writer can work with you to craft an application that truly showcases your abilities and maximizes the chances of getting through the automated resume scanners many firms use nowadays. At the very least, run your resume by a few trusted friends or members of a job-seeker support group. These extra eyes may spot ways you can be clearer, more effective, or convey a better tone.Readers, have you utilized the above resume tips for older professionals? Share your successes and challenges with us below