Does your resume date you?

The proper way to write a resume is changing as quickly as the other areas in your life. If you don’t stay in touch with the new ways of finding a job, you risk looking out of touch.

Thankfully, your age and date of birth is no longer expected on your resume. Little did I know that I included enough clues in the information I was proudly sharing with prospective employers for them to know that I am a baby boomer.

I was so anxious so share my skills and accomplishments that I included my last four jobs in the work experience of my resume. I polished the wording of my skills until they shined. What employer wouldn't want to hire me?

The instructor of the resume writing class I attended pointed out that I started the job that gave me such wonderful experience over 25 years age. Surely, she said, I didn't want to date myself like that, especially since she seemed to feel that I was overly concerned about my age.

I realized that touting 40+ years of experience in my cover letter didn't win me any points, either.

Show your work experience going back five years. If you get the interview, you can always discuss your responsibilities prior to that time. That doesn't mean that you have to keep your talents hidden. The latest resume format is to have a special skills section in addition to work history.

Other resume errors that can date you include the very things that may have worked well in the past. Don’t use outdated tactics.

• Long lists of job responsibilities can be boring to the person who is reading your resume, unless they mirror those listed in the job description of the opening. Focus on what you accomplished. Eliminate the words “Duties included”, “Responsible for”, and “Responsibilities included” and devise ways to focus on selling your accomplishments.
• Don’t add information about your high school education unless you just graduated.  Teenagers can get away with it, but for mature adults, why would you want to imply that graduating high school decades ago is your best accomplishment?
• Don’t include references. Do even refer to them unless asked. The prospective employer will assume that if you are looking for a job, you have people who will say good things about you.
• Did you know that it’s outdated to put the objective statement on the resume, but that it’s important to state the job title of the position you are applying for?

A modern resume that will highlight you has to show that you can be the best sales person for yourself and will show that you keep up with the times by having your LinkedIn or other social networking link included.

Happy hunting. Please add tidbits of information that you picked up in your job search. We’re all in this together.