Job Search: Proof of Age of Your Resume

Older job seekers fear interviews in which their age cannot be hidden and in which an initial response of dismay on the interviewer’s face, which is quickly hidden, confirms their anticipation of discrimination. The mature job seeker often prefers the anonymity of mailed résumés, email inquiries, Internet applications, and telephone contacts.

Interviews, however, are the goal of everyone who wants to work. There is so much pre-screening and screening before an interview is even granted that simply getting this far into the process provides at least some expectation that an offer will be made. It is when interviews are not available that real concern is needed. Ask yourself if you may be inadvertently triggering detection filters because of the documentation you submit.

Review the following three “red flags” and see if your own presentation might be out of date and needlessly sabotage your jobs drive.

1. Old educational data.

You may have earned a degree or completed a vocational course many years ago. While you obviously can’t change your graduation year, you can focus on detailing other training received more recently. Any class, workshop, or seminar you’ve attended in the past two years, even something in progress, identifies you as a person who continues to learn and grow, someone who is aware of recent developments and open to new ideas and updated approaches. .

2. Job titles.

A job title is designed to explain, in a few words, your typical duties. Over the years, such titles change even as the tasks and responsibilities remain similar. Review your resume titles that may reflect what your position was called at the time, but no longer fit into today’s business environment. “Secretary”, for example, is now rare. Similar job duties, adapted to innovations in technology, are now called “Administrative Assistant,” “Office Manager,” “Office Analyst,” or “Personal Assistant.” Check your local classifieds and focus on titles that seem to involve job tasks you’ve done in the past. Then review your resume and applications and update job titles accordingly.

3. Jargon.

You probably have a resume that lists the duties and responsibilities of each of your previous positions. He rereads those descriptions, concentrating on the actual words he has used, especially the verbs (actions). Do those descriptions date you? Some obvious phrases are the old “assorted tasks,” which are now generally referred to as “multitasking,” and “assisted with” now translates to “customer service.” “Typing speed,” so ubiquitous thirty years ago, is now invariably “keyboard skills.” There are many other less obvious areas. One way to approach them is to go to the newspaper or the Internet and review a series of job descriptions in your field. You should investigate any unfamiliar words or phrases, as they may describe a task you have done before with a different description. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, check with a library, employment agency, or someone in the field. If the new phrase fits you, substitute it on your resume and all future applications. If it’s important enough to include in a job description, it deserves your attention, and neglecting the required research can ruin your job search efforts.

Your goal is to get a potential employer to read your resume and become familiar with the terms you use. It is your responsibility to adapt, be flexible, and avoid being written off because of inappropriate vocabulary. Don’t expect an employer to take the time to find out if he really has the skills he’s looking for. Remember that resumes are used for screening, to reduce the pile of “possible interviews” to a manageable size.

When your resume and written applications have been meticulously age-proofed, practice the same terminology verbally, with a friend, so you’re ready for a fully up-to-date self-introduction when that inevitably soon-scheduled interview rolls around.