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You list what's relevant. I've been working since the mid-90's (probably just a tad younger than you). But my resume is only including 10 years worth. I simply don't feel like going further. And most people aren't going to make any assumptions. If they are... probably want to avoid them anyways TBH.
At the end of the day - people are going to think what they think. Worrying about that is not really productive.
A resume is your marketing slick. Make it as presentable as possible. Have other people look at it, etc. and modify it as needed. Your age/group is going to be revealed at some point. And if people are going to judge you by that... again, probably better that they passed on you.
What I'm seeing happen more often is when the boomers retire, the millennials are getting promoted directly into those senior jobs, skipping over the Gen X'ers in the middle. When said millennials get promoted into those decision making jobs, they don't like having the more experienced Gen X'ers "under" them because the Gen X'ers are able to call BS on a lot of their brilliant management textbook ideas (most of us have been there, done that, and got the scars from it). Instead they hire younger millennials into those positions because they are more "relatable." Pretty much if you even look over 50, or even late 40s, kiss that promotion opportunity good bye.
You list what's relevant. I've been working since the mid-90's (probably just a tad younger than you). But my resume is only including 10 years worth. I simply don't feel like going further. And most people aren't going to make any assumptions. If they are... probably want to avoid them anyways TBH.
At the end of the day - people are going to think what they think. Worrying about that is not really productive.
A resume is your marketing slick. Make it as presentable as possible. Have other people look at it, etc. and modify it as needed. Your age/group is going to be revealed at some point. And if people are going to judge you by that... again, probably better that they passed on you.
It's easy to say not to worry about this but when you're unemployed and in your late 50s, you have good reason to worry. There's a reason why older workers take much longer to find new employment.
Why would they be pissed unless they're age discriminators? Are you saying you never glassdoored them and seen if they have this issue?
I would have pushed back asking "why do you need to know this?"
This is an illegal question, used for age discrimination.
Also, I'm not putting all my high school jobs and Mcjobs I worked as a younger guy on my resume. That's not lying.
The interviewer said he asked me my graduation date because he wanted an idea of what I was doing before the jobs actually listed on my resume. And absolutely, I believe they are age discriminators. The thing is, the two women I interviewed with loved me. I was their final and only candidate. But they always have the national sales guy interview their final candidates. Ultimately, they "went another direction." The company didn't notify me at all. I got a text from the outside recruiter that they turned me down. Classy, huh?
It's easy to say not to worry about this but when you're unemployed and in your late 50s, you have good reason to worry. There's a reason why older workers take much longer to find new employment.
As I posted earlier, I am older than you and I did not hide my age, yet I get plenty of inquiries from Head Hunters. On my resume, I listed ALL my job experience since college (including date of graduation). I'd figured the employer might as well know up front how old I am so it doesn't waste my time.
Do I get rejections because of my age? Of course! But I learned what companies prefer youngsters and what companies value age & experience. Then there are companies with insecure managers intimidated by your experience. They're just looking for excuse NOT to hire you.
If you hide your age on your resume and when you show up for an interview they are surprised at your age, then the bell of "he LIED TO US" goes off. That may explain why the other guy asked all of your job experience since college, it turns into an interrogation instead of an interview.
Look, it's just like going to a singles bar. You can't expect hooking up with a young 20-some year old with wrinkles and a set of grey hair. You might as well target the 55+ singles meet-up.
The problem is, if you leave large chunks of your resume out, when you appear on the Teams interview call and you're 20+ years older than they expected, they get pissed thinking you're trying to pull one on them.
In an interview 2 weeks ago, one of the first questions he asked was what year I graduated from college. I told him 1988 so he had me go thru my work history from then till the first job listed on my resume. It's not the first time I've had to discuss positions NOT listed on my resume.
I can't seem to win with this.
No one gets upset, and there is nothing to "pull" on anyone. You list the experience that pertains to the job, that's it. This is not a congressional hearing where you are expected to list every possible job you've had in your life. Nobody cares if you did something 20 years ago unless it pertains to the job you are applying for. If it doesn't, then leave it off. It is just clutter on your resume and HR doesn't have time to read your 4-6 page resume. No decent company would ask what year you graduated college, because it is of no importance. For those that claim they need to know this to see if your education is no longer applicable to the job, that's just hogwash. They don't go around firing everyone who graduated college 10 years ago because of it. You were foolish to allow yourself to be subjected to this nonsense. You didn't do your homework on this company to know what they were like. Any company that asks what year you graduated college, you can ask them why they won't to know just to see what they say, but I would end the interview and move on.
I'm not sure what or who you're referring to as being "vague."
I have 20+ years in medical equipment sales. I am only applying to jobs where my direct experience is 100% relevant to the jobs being applied for. I check all or most of the bullet points for what companies are looking for.
I think companies have an image in mind, someone 30s-40s. And then a guy in his 50s shows up.
That's all in your head. You should be networking with people who can help you find a job you want. Build relationships with people that can refer you, instead of getting hung up on something no one can change, which is their age.
First, don't put your graduation dates.
Second, include only your last 10 years of experience. Anything beyond that and you risk getting rejected.
See, I think the opposite. I go back more than 10 years on my resume and on applications before to make sure they know I have been working for a long time, and it gives them some sense of my current age bracket. I am proud of my long work history.
If they don't want an older worker, I don't want them. I certainly don't want to walk into an interview and have the interviewer be dissapointed that I am past "prime employment age". Why waste their time, and mine?
The prospective employer wants a good fit. I have a lot to offer, and so do I.
As I posted earlier, I am older than you and I did not hide my age, yet I get plenty of inquiries from Head Hunters. On my resume, I listed ALL my job experience since college (including date of graduation). I'd figured the employer might as well know up front how old I am so it doesn't waste my time.
Do I get rejections because of my age? Of course! But I learned what companies prefer youngsters and what companies value age & experience. Then there are companies with insecure managers intimidated by your experience. They're just looking for excuse NOT to hire you.
If you hide your age on your resume and when you show up for an interview they are surprised at your age, then the bell of "he LIED TO US" goes off. That may explain why the other guy asked all of your job experience since college, it turns into an interrogation instead of an interview.
Look, it's just like going to a singles bar. You can't expect hooking up with a young 20-some year old with wrinkles and a set of grey hair. You might as well target the 55+ singles meet-up.
I think what you do for a living can sometimes end up with different results. If you are in an occupation where qualified workers are hard to find, companies will relax their age standards.
You do realize, don't you, that older workers finding work as easily as you puts you in the minority, don't you?
Original poster here. Two weeks ago, I revised my resume and extended back to the early 90s all my work history since then. Whereas before I did that I would hear back from about 25% of the companies I applied for seeking an initial interview.
After I revised my resume? Crickets. Except for form letters saying thanks but no thanks.
Original poster here. Two weeks ago, I revised my resume and extended back to the early 90s all my work history since then. Whereas before I did that I would hear back from about 25% of the companies I applied for seeking an initial interview.
After I revised my resume? Crickets. Except for form letters saying thanks but no thanks.
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