I remember talking to a friend in 2020 who had been laid off and was finding it hard to get interviews and they were wondering if it may have been due to their age. That conversation inspired me to write this quick article.
How To Make Your Resume Ageless:
- Focus on Skills and Achievements: Highlight your skills, accomplishments, and results rather than emphasizing chronological work history.
- Use a Clean and Modern Format: Choose a simple and contemporary resume design that is easy to read and visually appealing.
- Avoid Outdated Terminology: Use current industry terminology and avoid outdated buzzwords or phrases that may date your resume.
- Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each job application by focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills.
- Quantify Your Achievements: Whenever possible, use numbers and metrics to quantify your accomplishments and demonstrate your impact.
- Highlight Transferable Skills: Emphasize skills that are transferable across different industries or roles, showcasing your versatility.
- Omit Irrelevant Experience: Remove older or irrelevant work experiences that are not directly related to the position you’re applying for.
- Stay Concise: Keep your resume concise and to the point, avoiding unnecessary details or lengthy descriptions.
- Include Recent Training or Education: Showcase any recent training, certifications, or education that demonstrates your commitment to staying current in your field.
- Proofread Carefully: Ensure that your resume is free of typos, grammatical errors, and inconsistencies, presenting yourself as a polished and professional candidate.
After talking to different recruiters and headhunters some have suggested that if you have more than 15 years of experience you should leave it of your resume, I feel that can be a double edge sword and am not fully convinced.
By following these steps, you can create a resume that effectively showcases your skills and experiences while remaining timeless and relevant to employers.