Resume Sample and Tips for Older Job Seekers

Resume Sample and Tips for Older Job SeekersResume Sample and Tips for Older Job SeekersAge isnt always an advantage when youre job searching, especially in a competitive job market. Hiring managers can view older workers as more expensive to hire, as having outdated experience or too much experience, or as not being current with todays technology and workplaces - even though it is illegal to discriminate based on age. Even though One way to overcome the perception that your age is an issue is toage proofand carefully edit your resume. Your resume isntyourCV,so it doesnt need to include everything youve ever done. Limiting what you include on your resume, from a chronological perspective, can help job seekers avoid the stigma of being considered too old by a prospective employer. Also, showing that youre up to speed with the latest technology and skills needed for your profession, will help maximize your chances of getting selected for an interview. The following resume writing tips for older job seekers will help market your candidacy and showcase your skills to employerswithouthighlightingyourage. Resume Tips for Older Job Seekers Limit Your Related Experience.Limit the related experience (related to the job you are applying for) you include on your resume to 10 to 15 years, leaving older jobs off your resume entirely. Alternatively, you can include the older jobs in another section of your resume, but dont list the dates when you worked. Drop Your Other Experience.You want to keep your resume experience relevant for the job youre hoping to land, and unrelated experience is probably just not necessary. Leave all that experience off your resume or list it without dates in acategorylabeled Other Experience or More Experience. Dont Include Dates.Dont include high school and college graduation dates or dates for any other courses you took, or professional development classes that were in the past. If you have a college degree, dont list your high school gradu ation date on your resume. Be Careful About Years.Dont list the length of experience you have in yourresume objective,if you use one. For example, its not advantageous to say you have 20 or 30 years of experience in anything. Itll flag you as older, and your resume may just get tossed out. Target Your Resume.Take the time to write atargeted resumethats customized so that it specifically highlights the experience you have thats relevant to the specific job opening youre applying for. The same targeted resume wont work for every job, and youll need a different one for each job opening. Consider a Functional or Combination Resume.If youre currently using achronological resume, which lists your experience in date order, it may be time to switch to a different format that doesnt focus on the years. Consider using afunctional resume, which focuses on your skills and experience and lists your accomplishments at the top of your resume. Alternatively, you could use acombination resume, which features both skills and your work history, just dont go backmorethan 10or15 years. Highlight Your Skills.All your years of experience probably meansyouve built up an impressive skill set. Shine a light on the skills that are fruchtwein valuable and that show youre comfortable with contemporary technology. Promote the fact that youre up-to-date with current technology by including the latest programs and apps you know how to use and leaving off out-of-date technology. Show Youre Connected.Include alink to your LinkedIn profile on your resume. It will show hiring managers youre engaged in current means of communicating and networking. Depending on your usage, you may want to list your social media handles as well, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram but only if theyre up to professional scrutiny. Polish Your Resume.Presentation matters. Make sure your resume is polished and well presented. You dont want your resume to look old-fashioned. Hire a resume writer or browse the vari ous resume sites to find the latest templates that will give your resume a freshlook. Be Prepared to Email Your Resume.Keep in mind that most resumes are emailed or uploaded to a company website or job site to apply for jobs. Email a copy of your resume to yourself to be suretheformatting doesnt get lost during transmission (sending your resume as a PDF is probably best). Review theseemail etiquetteguidelines to be sure youre following the right protocol for emailing your resume. Review an Example Resume Example (Text Version) Edward Elder123 Old Growth RoadMt. Vernon, WA 98273(123) 456-7890eelderemail.comwww.linked.com/in/edwardelderSALES PROFESSIONALProducing consistent YOY growth through strategic goal-setting and sales floor management.Charismatic and focused in onboarding, developing, and coaching highly productive retail sales teams. Skillfully train sales associates in winning customer engagement, merchandising, and inventory control methods.Analytical and cost-conscious in establishing pricing strategies, preventing shrink, and championing effective customer zurckhalten programs. Lead by example to ensure provision of best-in-class customer service.PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEHOMEWORKS CENTRAL, Mt. Vernon, Washingtonschlussverkauf Manager(February 2008 Present)Meticulously perform scope of retail management responsibilities including team building, merchandising, inventory control, scheduling, and sales training and development for established home improvement store.Notable accomplishmentsRedesigned store plan-o-grams that improved cross-salesby 72%and time-in-storeby 81%.Implemented staff recognition and incentive programs that heightened employee retentionto 95%.Introduced first-ever succession planning process that ensured seamless transition of sales associates to positions of increased authority as older personnel retired, preventing the need to hire from outside.CARS R US, Ferndale, WashingtonSales Manager(November 2004 January 2008)Trained and mentored 35 Sales Executives in customer service and sales negotiation / closing skills. Forecasted monthly sales expenses, conveyed sales goals, and designed incentive programs.Notable accomplishmentsPioneered dealerships launch of online sales arm, increasing lead percentage by 63%.Increased overall market share by more than 15% YOY throughout tenure.Promoted to management from original role as Sales Representative (June 2002 November 2004). Additional experience includes roles as a Sales Executive for Retro Auto (Yakima, Washington) and as a Sales Representative for Home Hardware Sales (Yakima, Washington). EDUCATION CREDENTIALSEASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, Cheney, WashingtonBachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Emphasis Marketing)Information Technology Skills Microsoft Office Suite POS systems SalesForce Expand