Is there such a thing as age bias?

Yeah, there’s age bias. Just like there’s bias against kids just getting out of college who have thin to nonexistent resumes. And there’s bias against people who have gaps of a few years here and there on their resumes. So if you’re over 50 (that’s arbitrary…over-40s can have trouble, too) and you lose your job, it’s probably going to be harder for you to find a new opportunity than it will be for somebody who’s younger. It’ll probably take longer, too.

Hiring companies might assume you’re too expensive. They might worry you’ll lack energy and stamina. They might guess you’ve got your sights set on retirement so won’t be interested in sticking around. They might be afraid you’ll be set in your ways…or bristle at the idea of working for someone younger than you.

You need to prove them wrong. Which, of course, you can do. The biggest challenge is making it past the initial gatekeeper. Once you do and get into an interview setting, the odds improve dramatically. There are some inherent strengths older workers bring to the table; when you get into an interview situation, you can play to them.

But you have to make it to the interview.

Which means you have to give careful consideration to your resume.

Use the wrong word, or the wrong phrase, and they’ll move on to the next resume faster than you can say “rejected.”

Let’s peek at some real resumes to have a look at mistakes to avoid:

- The very first word in your qualifications summary shouldn’t be “seasoned.”

- Don’t use the phrase “grandfather of XXXXXXX” to describe yourself. (This was actually a fairly young guy – a very complimentary feature article in a business journal used this phrase to describe him because he’d taken a nascent technology from launch to near-ubiquitous use in less than 10 years. He was using the quote in his submission materials. Without the benefit of context, though – the word “grandfather” isn’t doing this candidate any favors. Even worse, it was right up there in his opening lines.)

- Don’t list every job back going back to the stone age…and in detail (I’m sorry the 1970s qualify as the stone age in this context…but they do!).

- Don’t submit a five page resume because you’ve listed all those jobs going back nearly 35-40 years.

There are lots of other things you can do to turn the tables and give yourself an advantage. For now, think about putting on your “30-year-old hiring manager” hat and reviewing your resume through that person’s eyes.

Rebecca Metschke helps professionals improve their marketability. The author of The Interview Edge (http://www.TheInterviewEdge.com), a comprehensive career guide to career management, she also writes a daily blog posting strategies, tips and advice for those whose careers are in transition (http://blog.TheInterviewEdge.com). You’re welcome to friend her on Facebook

Similar Posts:

• Getting A Recommendation From A Past Employer
• Top 5 Employment Trends for 2012
• Staying Motivated at a Dead-End Job
• Why The Workplace Office Is Becoming Arbitrary