Entering a job search either voluntarily or involuntarily can be a stressful time. On top of the usual concerns, one of the biggest fears I heard from professionals at a recent hiring conference was a concern about ageism, and how it might hinder them in transitioning to a new job. “Ageism” is when someone is discriminated or stereotyped due to their age. As employees are remaining in the workforce or working later in their years, it can be a genuine concern. I recently conducted a survey of hiring professionals throughout L.A., and came away with some key strategies for candidates on the job hunt.
When it is time to begin interviewing, many people do the same thing. They open up their saved resumes (from their last job search) and update their most recent position and then begin sending it out, and this is how a resume can end up looking dated. Use this opportunity to review and possibly even rewrite your entire resume! Check for the following:
- Unless your schooling was recent (in the last 5 years) then remove the dates of graduation from your resume. 78% of hiring professionals that responded to our survey don’t care about dates of school or graduation as long as you have earned the degree that you have listed. When you include dates people begin to calculate your age and how long you’ve been in the workforce
- Consider including only the last 10-15 years of employment, or only employment that is relevant. This rule isn’t set in stone, as there may be exceptions to this based on each individual, but it’s generally accepted in the hiring world that a candidate can chose to only include their last 10-15 years. If you are unsure, use the rule of thumb of keeping your resume to two pages. Now is the time to take off your resume the bartending you did after graduation!
- Format your resume to a modern resume format and style, and make sure you don’t have any outdated verbiage on your resume. One example a survey respondent gave was the phrase “References available upon request” on the bottom of a resume. Current application and hiring processes don’t require references on a resume, and this statement doesn’t add much value.
- Stay updated with technologies, and be sure and list those technologies on your resume. One of the most impactful things you can do as a job seeker is to seek training on new and relevant technology being used at work, as this will overcome one of the fears of companies when it comes to hiring older candidates.
Once you’ve implemented these steps to improve your resume, here are a few other things to consider when interviewing:
- Know the dress code. In today’s company culture and atmosphere, you can no longer just plan on wearing your “interview suit” to an interview, as many companies are so casual in the workplace that you risk sticking out as outdated if you wear a formal blazer, etc. Look on the company’s social media page to get an idea of the dress and atmosphere, and then ask your Recruiter or HR contact what they would like to see someone wear in an interview. They should be able to give you guidance on what is appropriate.
- Have a professionally taken photo on LinkedIn. I’ve met older candidates who fear including their profile picture on LinkedIn as they think they might be discriminated against, but most Recruiters surveyed would rather someone be transparent than try and hide. You’ll be better served by including a modern photograph that is updated and taken specifically for LinkedIn, than using an old, unprofessional picture.
- Network with younger professionals. You will feel more comfortable interviewing with a 20-something recruiter or hiring manager if you’ve socialized with that generation. Attend a networking event and seek out younger professionals to learn about their past and workplace motivations.
- Be prepared to communicate in various mediums. Companies are now confirming interviews via text message, or a note through social media. Be prepared and know that you might hear from a company in a format that is nontraditional.
I think 62 year old Joe Maddon, Manager of the Chicago Cubs says it best. Per Maddon (via Sports Illustrated) “I do all I can to remain contemporary because, if you remain contemporary, you remain employable.”
Age discrimination does exist, but it does not mean that you should give up on finding your dream job if you are an older candidate. Implement these steps to set yourself up for success on your hunt.
