Your Age Is Showing!
I was interviewed this morning about whether or not recruiters discriminate against mature candidates and — if you are a mature candidate — how to avoid being passed over because of your age.
Age discrimination is against the law, but the reality is that some recruiters will sort a resume to the bottom of the stack if the candidate appears to be of a certain generation. That makes absolutely no sense to me because mature workers are good workers — work experience, life experience, integrity, loyalty… you’ve seen my list before.
But to be on the safe side, there are some things you can do to avoid being sorted out because of your age:
- Consider your resume your best sales tool — work hard to make it relevant and customized for the specific job opening.
- Don’t go back to your very first job 30 years ago — focus on the relevant skills and accomplishments of the last ten years or so.
- If possible, don’t list the year you graduated from high school, technical college or university. Be sure you list your educational accomplishments, but avoid calling attention to the fact that you graduated during the Nixon administration!
- Use technology, where appropriate. Virtually every job has a technology element to it — so show off your technical knowledge. Develop a profile in LinkedIn or other social networking site. If you’ve got a website of your own, provide a link so your potential employer can see your technical skills showcased.
- Don’t take “you’re over qualified” as an answer. Assure your potential employer that you’re serious about this application and you’ll do everything you can to help the company succeed.
- Finally, even though I’m advising that you avoid calling attention to your age, be very proud of your age and experience. Know that you bring a lot of great things to work!
Good luck in your job search. Employers are looking for qualified employees who can add value and help them succeed. And you could be the perfect match — no matter how old you are!
