Amanda Clark
Everyone knows that age discrimination in employment is illegal, but that doesn’t mean that it never happens. Sometimes the information that job seekers provide can unintentionally lead to discrimination. While many people think that age keeps older adults from landing jobs, it can also affect young adults. To level the playing field and have your resume judged based on your ability to do the job rather than your age, it can be beneficial to remove small details that may hint at your age, be it younger, older, or somewhere in the middle.
- Graduation dates. This can be a telltale sign of your approximate age, even though it can be deceiving if you went back to school. The year that you graduated is not as important as the fact that you earned the degree. Some exceptions may be if you are in the process of completing your degree or are switching fields and recently graduated.
- Excessive experience. It is generally sufficient to cover the last 10 to 15 years of employment. Anything beyond that probably does not hold as much relevance as things you have done more recently. If the job opening is looking for a certain number of years of experience, you could simply add “more than 10 years of experience” in your summary of qualifications rather than specifying the exact number.
- Outdated email providers. AOL accounts are a thing of the past and can quickly date you. Professionals today typically use Gmail or an address through current Internet providers. You can keep your AOL account for personal use but consider creating a new account for job searching.
- Contact information. Landlines are not nearly as popular as cell phones in today’s world. Giving your cell number means that employers can contact you at any time and you don’t have to worry about someone else answering and not giving you the message. Another way to show that you are up with times is to include links to social media such as LinkedIn or a personal, professional website. This shows employers that you are connected and provides additional information.
Another area to consider is the overall format of your resume. Both young and old job seekers alike can fall victim to using a generic template that leaves much to be desired. Ditch the template and create your own layout that clearly details each part of your resume. Also, leave off the objective and references. These trends have long since passed and can show that you are not up-to-date with current standards and expectations.
Don’t let seemingly minor details trigger the possibility of age discrimination.
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