As we enter 2014, many job seekers fall into the category of “older” applicant. The common wisdom is that these candidates have an uphill battle in what is already a very tight employment market. If you are one of these “seasoned professionals” (perhaps 40-60 years of age) how do you create a resume that stands out from the pack, while not calling undue attention to your age?
Simply put, the key is to ensure that your resume reflects your superior experience and attributes to best advantage vis a vis younger applicants who do not have your track record of proven success. Put another way, consider showcasing your age-related expertise as a strength not shared by younger candidates in the marketplace.
Having said this, too many applicants – of all ages – offer up resumes that are boring or lifeless in the eyes of corporate reviewers who will likely spend one minute or less in assessing a typical resume. Be sure that your resume features your strengths and accomplishments quickly for maximum impact. This should include your seasoned judgment and decision-making abilities; your ability to adapt to changing corporate objectives; your dependability and work ethic; and specific examples of what you “brought to the party” for previous employers. Be sure that such attributes are highlighted early on in your resume, and you may find that an appreciative employer will want you as an addition to their team early in 2014.
current job. So basically my husband has been on his job for 9 years and doing a good job… how to write an good resume showcasing his work there.
I would strongly consider having a professional reference checking organization either reviewing your husband’s resume for enhancement, and/or performing a professional re-write of the resume. Both are services offered by Allison & Taylor (see the reference critiquing offering on http://www.allisontaylor.com).
Note that resume interviewers tend to be inundated (especially in the current economy) with resumes for review and many (if not most) only get a very cursory review – an annual CareerBuilder survey indicated that 45 percent of human resource managers say they spend, on average, less than one minute reviewing an application. Therefore, it’s critical to get the reviewer’s attention right off the bat – otherwise, most will never make it past the first page.