Often, jobseekers are so eager to establish industry expertise within their resumes that they neglect to consider potential ageism issues. It's not a pretty subject, but the truth is ageism DOES exist in today's marketplace, and if your resume contains one of the "red flags" recruiters and hiring agents look for, such as a work history stretching back 20+ years or highlighting outdated skills, you might be inadvertently opening yourself up to rejection. Here are 3 expert tips to safeguard against this:

1) Create an Opening Paragraph that Highlights What Employers Are Looking For

The days of beginning a resume with an "Objective" line stating personal goals are pretty much over. Instead, think in terms of giving an employer exactly what they're looking for. Analyze relevant job postings to pick out 3-4 in-demand skills (which you possess) and highlight them. Include professional certifications and memberships. Additionally, if you're currently taking an advanced training course in your field, mention it! This approach shows that you're up-to-date on what the industry's looking for and willing to adapt to succeed in a new position.

2) Emphasize Positions Held Within the Past 10-12 Years in Your Work History

Recruiters and hiring agents primarily focus on the past 10-12 years of a candidate's work history. Make their job easier through emphasizing these positions, separating each job into a brief paragraph listing unique responsibilities followed by a "Key Accomplishments" section listing concrete successes. Older positions can be placed within an "Additional Experience" section with 1-2 highlights per job, no dates.

3) Utilize a Current and Visually Appealing Format

Nothing screams "old jobseeker" quite like a resume that looks like it was composed on a typewriter. In today's job search marketplace where readers typically spend less than a minute on a first pass of a candidate's resume, VISUALS MATTER. Avoid using creaky MS Word templates and create a simple, visually appealing format that supports the text. If you're having problems, don't hesitate to consult with a professional resume writer. The time you invest in creating current and effective job search documents will pay off exponentially in the form of a shortened job search.

Anish Majumdar is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Owner at Resume Orbit. 95% of clients report a significant increase in interviews within 30 days, and all work comes backed by a 100% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee (in writing).

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