Moreover, as the U.S. economy shifts from physically-demanding manufacturing jobs to service positions, there are more jobs in which cognitive skills and tapping your knowledge and experience are the key. That translates to more opportunities for older workers.
It's true, though, that for a worker 55 and older, it does often take longer to land a new job when you lose one, than it does someone younger. And it's imperative that you keep your resume alive by skill-based volunteering or doing part-time consulting projects, while you job hunt! Keeping your skills up to date and sharp is non-negotiable.
JB: This is quite heartening. Let's talk brass tacks. In order to get a foot in the door, you need to send a resume, with or without cover letter. If it contains a picture or other "evidence," the potential employer will know that you are not a newly minted college grad. Can a resume/cover letter overcome that initial age prejudice?
KH: Yikes. No photos on resumes, please. You are not looking for a date. The key to a great resume is short, no more than two pages, and tell your story.
Think advertisement not obituary. Cull to last 10 or 15 years of jobs listed. Package your earlier experiences into one paragraph at the end of your resumes 'experience' section and omit dates. And only use the work history that's relevant to the job you're applying for now.
Don't just list a title and job description, but explain how you raised 15 percent more than the fundraising goal, brought a project in two months ahead of schedule, ramped up sales by 20 percent in six months. Something that shows what you can do and how you can hit the ground running. Employers are looking for people who can solve their problem right now.
Experienced workers have that in their quiver. That said, be sure you have attained the credentials required for the job, and use keywords from the job posting in your resume whenever possible, in case there's an automated screening system. Don't put dates of graduation and so forth. They will figure that out. And truthfully, that's not a bad thing. Years of experience won't cost you the job. Not having an up-to-date skill set will.
You might need a new email address. Using an AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo email address on a resume can hold people back from landing an interview. It says you are not up with the times, and you're not tech savvy.
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