Resume Do’s And Don’ts For Workers Over 50

Having trouble landing interviews? Your resume could be the issue.

A strong resume is key to landing a job at any age. For workers over 50, it’s especially important to show your experience in a way that feels current and relevant. While your background is important, how you tell your story can make all the difference.

AARP Foundation has helped older workers expand their job search options for over 60 years. Here are some easy tips on what to do and what not to do when making your resume today.

Do Choose the Right Resume Format

While the type of resume needed can vary by industry and even job, most Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) work best with reverse-chronological resumes, which list your work experience starting with your most recent position. Most hiring managers are probably familiar with this format. You’ll still want to emphasize your skills in this format by:

• Starting with a strong professional summary that highlights key qualifications
• Including a “Core Competencies” section with relevant skills
• Listing accomplishments within your work experience descriptions

When choosing a resume format, a reverse-chronological resume is usually a good option for sharing your employment history. Application Tracking Systems (ATS) read this style most easily, which helps your experience get noticed. Recruiters also like it because it clearly shows where you worked and when. Functional or hybrid resumes focus more on your skills than your history. While they can help in certain cases, they may look like you’re trying to hide gaps or issues in your history. If you are not sure which style is best, you can discuss it with a recruiter or a career coach to help determine which you should use. Otherwise, a reverse-chronological resume is a good option.

Don’t List Every Job You’ve Had

As tempting as it may be to include all of your work experience, most hiring managers are only interested in the last 10 years or so. The exception to this rule? If you held a job more than 10 years ago similar to the one you’re applying for, include it to show your relevant experience.

Do Go for a Modern Look

A current, well-formatted resume shows that you are aware of today’s professional styles and trends. Choose a resume template that uses easier-to-read fonts like Arial or Garamond. (Times New Roman is considered outdated.) Avoid design-heavy templates with images, icons, or charts that can confuse the ATS programs that many employers use to screen resumes.

If the job you are applying for is one where design and visuals are important, it’s likely you will have an opportunity to share your skills further in the process. Keep your contact information in the main body of your resume, not in headers or footers, where an ATS may not always read it. Be sure to include a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile if you have one.

Don’t Highlight Your Graduation Year

If you attended college, the year you graduated can give away your age. An easy fix is to simply list your college and degree without your graduation date.

Do Play Up Your Tech Skills

Show that you know how to use new technology and can learn more if needed. Use some of the same words you see in the job ad. List the computer programs you use, like:

such as:

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)
• Cloud collaboration tools (Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Dropbox)
• Remote communication platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Slack)

Don’t Use a Casual or Social Email Address, or One That Is Dated

Make sure your email address name is professional and uses a common email service provider, such as Outlook or Gmail. If you’re still using AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, or your service provider’s email address, you may appear out of touch with current trends.

And while you’ll need to provide a phone number in your contact information section, you can list your cell number if that is your primary number.

Do Give Your Resume File a Name

Before uploading your resume document, make sure you give it a professional name such as “Firstname.Lastname.Resume.Date.” Save it as a Word document(.doc or .docx) or PDF only if the job posting specifically allows PDFs.

Do Pay Attention To Detail

ATSs are known to eliminate resumes from the start if there are typos and other mistakes. Consider having someone else review your resume to make sure it’s completely error-free.

Don’t Go It Alone

Share your resume with a friend or relative for a quick proofread before you send it. And if you’re still feeling uneasy about what to include, there’s plenty of free advice online. Search for “resume tips for older workers.”

You can also connect with AARP Foundation job search coaches who can help you get your resume in tip-top shape. We offer free programs specifically designed to help people over 50 who didn’t expect to be out of work at this point in their lives. We’ve been helping older workers “get back to work” for more than 60 years, and we can help you, too.