How to Stand Out in Today's Job Market
As an older adult, you may feel that your age is a disadvantage when it comes to job hunting. However, you could have valuable experience and skills that make you an asset to any employer, so showcasing your experience and skills in your resume is important. Read on for some resume writing tips on how to create an effective resume, what online resources are available to help you and a list of some popular job categories for older adults.
Resume Tips
Here are some resume tips for older adults.
Focus on Your Most Recent Experience
If you've been in the workforce for a long time, you may have a lot of experience to include on your resume. However, it's important to focus on your most recent experience. Employers are usually more interested in what you've been doing in the past few years. If your most recent job was a long time ago, consider including a brief summary of what you've been doing since then.
Highlight Your Skills
Your skills are just as important as your experience. Make sure you include a skills section on your resume. List skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for. If you're not sure what skills to include, look at job postings for similar positions and see what skills they're looking for. If you're changing careers or have a non-traditional work history, a skills-based resume may be more effective than a chronological one. This type of resume focuses on your skills and accomplishments rather than your work history.
Keep It Concise
Your resume should be at most two pages long. Keep it concise and to the point. Use bullet points to highlight your experience and skills. Use a clear font, and make sure the formatting is consistent throughout the document.
Use Keywords
Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes. These systems look for specific keywords that match the job posting. Ensure you include keywords relevant to the job you're applying for. This will increase your chances of getting past the ATS and getting your resume in front of a human recruiter.
Keep It Professional
Your resume should be professional in both tone and appearance. Avoid using overly casual language or unprofessional fonts and formatting.
Online Resources
Many online resume resources can help you with your resume. My Perfect Resume, Grammarly, LiveCareer and Resume.com are some popular options.
My Perfect Resume
My Perfect Resume is a popular online resume builder that allows you to create a professional-looking resume in minutes. This site provides templates that you can customize to your liking. You can choose from a variety of formats, including chronological, functional and combination. My Perfect Resume also provides tips and advice on resume writing.
Grammarly
Grammarly is a writing assistant that can help you check for grammar and spelling errors in your resume. The tool provides suggestions for improving your writing and can help you make your resume more readable and professional.
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LiveCareer
Live Career offers resume-writing services and job-search advice. This site provides templates that you can customize to your liking. You can also use LiveCareer to search for job openings, and get advice on job-search strategies.
Resume.com
This website offers a free resume builder tool, templates and examples. Resume.com also offers a variety of career resources, including job search tips and interview advice.
Popular Jobs for Older Workers
Unsure of the type of job that may be suitable for you? Here are some job categories that are popular amongst older workers.
Consultants
Many older workers have valuable experience and expertise that can be applied in a consulting role. Consulting can be a great way to continue working while enjoying more flexibility and control over your schedule.
Non-Profit Work
Non-profit organizations often value the skills and experience of older workers. Many non-profits offer opportunities to work part-time or on a flexible schedule.
Education
Teaching can be a great option for older workers who have expertise in a particular subject area. Many colleges and universities offer part-time and adjunct teaching positions.
Healthcare
The healthcare industry is in high demand for experienced workers. Older workers with healthcare experience may find opportunities in areas such as patient advocacy, healthcare management and healthcare administration.
Entrepreneurship
Many older workers have a wealth of experience and knowledge that can be leveraged into starting their own businessesThis can include consulting, coaching or launching a new product or service.
Customer Service
Many companies are looking for experienced customer service representatives who can provide high-quality service to their customers.
Financial Services
Older workers with financial expertise may find opportunities in areas such as financial planning, investment management and accounting.
Writing and Editing
Many older workers have strong writing and editing skills that can be applied in various fields, including journalism, marketing and public relations.
Social Work
Older workers with a passion for helping others may find opportunities in social work, counseling and other fields that involve working with people.
Government Jobs
Local, state/provincial and federal government agencies often have job openings for experienced workers in a variety of fields, including administration, law enforcement and education.
Final Notes
Older adults writing or updating their resumes can follow these tips to ensure their resumes stand out and accurately reflect their experience and skills. It's important to keep the resume concise, focus on recent experience, highlight skills and accomplishments and use keywords that match the job description.
Online resources can also be useful in creating a professional-looking resume. Additionally, older workers can explore popular job options such as consulting, non-profit work, education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, customer service, financial services, writing and editing, social work and government jobs. By following these tips and considering these popular job options, older adults can increase their chances of finding fulfilling and rewarding work.
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