Give your resume a facelift to look years younger

by | Jan 17, 2017 | Blog, Job Search Advice, resume, Resume Service, resume writing, Roanoke Resume Writer | 0 comments

Don’t let your resume date you.

I review a lot of resumes, and have noticed a recurring issue with older career professionals. The resume offers up more information than it should. Those little hints that reveal your age, or make you look older than you are. When it’s time to update your resume, resist the urge to just add a new job on it, and ignore everything else. Instead, give it a facelift with these 9 tips.

  1. List only one telephone number. Studies show the majority of households no longer have a landline home phone, and those under the age of 30 are more likely to only use a cell phone. By listing both a home number and a cell number you’re hinting that you’re of a certain your age. List the phone number you’re most likely to respond to quickly for your job search. There is no need to label it as a cell or home phone.
  1. Remove your street address. Gone are the days where you have to provide your snailmail address. Due to privacy issues and the possibility of ID Theft, it’s now in your best interest to keep your house number and street off your resume. Recruiters no longer require it and it’s nobody’s business where you live, what the front of your house looks like (thanks Google Streetview!), what you paid for it, or your annual tax bill. This information is easily obtainable online just by your street address. Do include your city, state, and zip code for a location match with the applicant tracking systems. Keep in mind that most companies start their search for local candidates first, which is why you want to list your city and zip code.
  1. Check your email address. By now we know that RedHotMama@email.com is not the best email address to use for a job search, but what does the email domain say about you? If your email address ends with aol or yahoo.com, take heed. The Oatmeal  may be a comic strip, but “What your email address says about your computer skills” is spot on. It reveals your perceived skill level based on your email domain. The best domain contains your own name. Second on the list is gmail.com. Hotmail, yahoo, and aol are considered suspicious because they are commonly used to perpetuate the majority of spam and virus-laden emails.
  1. Add your Linkedin url to your address line and make sure it’s customized. It’s free, and it demonstrates you are technologically savvy. Plus it’s easier to transpose (and more professional) than your assigned random numbers and letters. Mine is Linkedin.com/in/1stRateResumes.
  1. Make sure the verb tense in your previous job(s) are changed from present to past tense. Since you are no longer working in that capacity, the resume needs to accurately reflect that. (example: Change “Manage 12 employees” to “Managed 12 employees.”)
  1. Update the computer skills section. Access and ACT! used to be THE programs to include on your resume. Now Salesforce and social media platforms are trending. Unless your next job requires them, get obsolete programs off your resume. It’s another hint of your age bracket.
  1. Check recent vacancy announcements and job descriptions for relevant keywords. Companies vary when it comes to job titles, even when the responsibilities are the same. Buyer, purchasing agent, procurement manager are a good example of three different job titles that are basically the same job. Using various version of your job title will ensure all bases are covered during a keyword search.
  1. Remove jobs from long ago (15+ years) unless they are absolutely relevant to your future job.
  1. Take off your college graduation date if the degree was earned more than 5 years ago.

Refreshing your resume with these tips will help your resume, and you, look years younger.

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