How to Defend Against Ageism
We’ve heard it said that “age is just a number”, but when you’re anxious about employers being worried about you having too much experience, or looking to retire soon, then it’s much more.
At any age, we deserve the same treatment when it comes to fair and diverse hiring practices. But as we apply for jobs, we’re not always sure the person on the other end of our application shares those same values.
That’s why it’s a good idea to make an effort to shield yourself from the bias known as “ageism”: a discrimination or prejudice based upon a person’s age.
In today’s article, we’ll explore some ways that you can rework your resume to find work without any bias towards your age! Let’s take a look!
Start with a summary
An objective statement is as outmoded as not having a digital copy of your resume. And yet, many job seekers still use them to outline their employment goals at the start of their resume.
A more current approach is to replace your “objective statement” with a “professional summary”.
A professional summary is a brief blurb about the qualifications and values that you bring to the table. So whereas an objective statement outlines your goals, a professional summary is a better indicator of how you’ll help the employer reach their goals. This means it’s also a better way to sell them on the idea of hiring you in general!
Let’s rewrite this objective statement:
“I am seeking a position as a professional dog trainer with ABC Dog Company”
Into a professional summary:
“Professional dog trainer with proven experience at developing skills in dogs and their owners. Specializes in difficult breeds, and show dogs.”
Now who would you hire?
Keep your resume relevant
If you have a few decades of work experience under your belt, then it’s likely your full resume of jobs, positions, and promotions could go well over the expected 1-2 page limit of a modern resume.
Unless you are specifically requested to submit a CV, your resume should respect the 1-2 page limit. Which means that you’ll need to whittle down your information.
When it comes to deciding what to keep and what to remove, focus on how relevant that experience is. Read the job requirements and look for keywords that best describe the job to which you’re applying — then look for jobs in your employment history that best match that description!
Some recruiters may even use software that scans resumes for specific keywords related to the job, as a way to cut down on how many resumes they have to read themselves. So making sure you are able to include descriptions of your experience that directly correlate to any keywords on the job description can be more important than you know!
To add dates, or not to add dates?
The short answer is: ADD DATES!
Some job seekers may want to include dates because they’re concerned it will make them vulnerable to ageism. But not including dates of certain things like employment history can be a red flag in and of itself, so you want to be as honest as possible.
That said, certain things don’t require dates, such as education or training/certifications. You should include dates for employment history to show that you have recent experience, and no gaps in your work history. But most of your educational credentials are not time-sensitive.
That said, be mindful of what credentials may be outdated themselves. Having a certification for Microsoft Office 2000 instead of a more current version will show that you haven’t been keeping up to date with your skills.
Not sure your skills are relevant? Consider taking some more recent training to help pad your resume! It never hurts to work on yourself — especially when it can help you find work!
Conclusion
Are you looking for assistance finding a job that doesn’t care about your age?
META can help you with building an ageism-proof application, or introducing you to employers who have a proven track record of not discriminating against qualified applicants.
Book a free 1-on-1 appointment today to get 1-on-1 help with your job search!
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