Cheat Sheet for the Over-50 Resume
Not Coming Across as Over-50
Most professionals like yourself come to a career coach like me because you are not getting job interviews. The problem usually is that your resume, everything from format to messaging, is out-of-date. Much has probably changed since you had looked for a job or contract assignments.
What you need to know are these current realities:
THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS STRUCTURED TO KNOCK YOUR RESUME OUT OF THE BOX
The average business job receives 250 applications, documents Zippia. AI tools such as keyword screening will eliminate your resume unless you have analyzed the help-wanted and understand the field enough to insert that language into it as well as the cover letter.
EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR SKILLS/EXPERIENCE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SPECIFIC JOB
If you do not have the relevant background, do not bother applying. If you do, use the in-lingo to describe all that and quantify it.
TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE IS REQUIRED
That is why resumes now include a separate section for expertise. Your list might go this way:
AI ChatGPT, Gemini
Microsoft Office
Cloud Collaboration Tools such as Google Docs
Remote Communications Tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams
USE STANDARD TEMPLATES
It is risky to try to get the employer’s attention with an offbeat format.
However, some do land interviews by going outside the box.
Those templates are available free online. Some professions require their own kinds of templates. Check this out before you begin your search process.
It is smart to ask to see the resumes and cover letters of successful professionals in your lines of work.
There are two major types of resumes: Chronological and Functional. But, before you start, set the font for a contemporary one such as Arial or Geneva. Times Roman sends the message that you are “old.” Also, leave off all dates, ranging from education to the employment history. Mandatory is the URL for your LinkedIn Profile. Here is a cheat sheet for presenting yourself on that key professional network.
THE CHRONOLGICAL FORMAT
Chronological. This is what you will use if you have no gaps in your work history. The categories are:
Header with name and type of professional field such as Financial Analyst
Contact Information, including the LinkedIn URL.
Summary. In a brief paragraph make it clear what results you can accomplish for the employer. More and more recommend using the first person instead of the third. “My track record for increasing sales averages 40 percent in a 12-month period.
Professional Experience. Be specific about responsibilities and quantify achievements. Leave out dates.
Education and Training. Leave off dates. Some recommend not listing advanced academic degrees not directly related to the job. Those can make you come across as overqualified, expecting premium wages and maybe having a superior attitude. In most cases, yes, list the BA/BS. Certifications and licenses relevant to the tasks are a plus.
Technological Skills
THE FUNCTIONAL RESUME
Functional Resume. This is what you use if you have been out of the workforce for a significant amount of time. It is ideal for the unretiring who are determined to return to earning income from work.
The categories are:
Headers with name and type of professional field such as Content-Creator in Healthcare
Contact Information, including LinkedIn URL.
Skills relevant to the job. There might be three or four of them.
Professional Experience. Be specific about responsibilities and quantify achievements. Leave out dates.
Education and Training. Leave off dates. Some recommend not listing advanced academic degrees not directly related to the job. That can make you come across as overqualified, expecting premium wages and maybe have a superior attitude. In most cases, yes, list the BA/BS. Certifications and licenses relevant to the tasks are a plus.
Technological Skills
SCREENERS ARE UNFORGIVING ABOUT SPELLING AND GRAMMAR
You have to be downright compulsive about proofreading the resume as well as the cover letter. The errors usually occur as the document goes through multiple revisions. For each round of changes, do complete proofreading.
OKAY TO USE AI FOR FIRST DRAFT, BUT THEN CUSTOMIZE FOR THE FINAL
What infuriates employers are job application material produced entirely by AI. That is very obvious. Also verboten is copying the keywords and the job description from the help-wanted and pasting them to your resume and cover letter.
MULTIPLE RESUMES, YOU BET
It is necessary to align every resume and cover letter to the very specific job description. That means developing several versions and then modifying those as the market and your own experience changes.
Jane Genova Career Coaching for Seniors provides nuts and bolts services such as resume/cover letter development and interview preparation. In addition, she focuses at the front end in diagnosing challenges and proposing strategies. For a complimentary consultation please text/phone 203-468-8579 or janegenova374@gmail.com.