Pongo Resume

Fighting the effects of aging is all the rage these days, with everything from little blue pills for your you-know-what to facial injections that promise freedom of expression (that's expression, singular). If everything else gets softer and flimsier as we age, why does job seeking get harder? It seems unjust. But not to worry; old dogs can indeed learn new tricks, so here are three quick and easy tricks to put that youthful vigor back into your resumes and cover letters.

1. Replace Your Fossilized Email Address

You need a professional sounding email name for job hunting, including the part that comes after the "@" sign. For my money, a free Gmail account is the way to go. As Jibber Jobber's Jason Alba recently pointed out:

"Gmail makes you look more sophisticated (or up to speed, or whatever) than other providers like AOL (old), Juno (older), Yahoo, etc."

Gmail is Google's web-based email service, and it's fast becoming a favorite among the technically savvy, who love it for its excellent spam control, among other things. (I don't have any vested interest in Gmail. I'm just sayin'.)  
 
2. Webinar Your Way to the Latest Knowledge

Webinars—web seminars you can "attend" on your computer—are available on just about any work-related topic you can think of. They're great for helping you get up to speed on the latest trends and information in your field. Most webinars are free and typically last 90 minutes or less.

To find them, do a web search on your desired topic (e.g., "marketing best practices webinars" or "graphic design webinars") and follow the instructions for signing up. Webinars and other online resources (such as Interview Tips) will not only boost your confidence, they'll also show that you're always learning new things.

Keep track of the names, sponsors, and dates of the job-related webinars you attend, and list them on your resume under a heading such as Specialized Training or Professional Development. It might look something like this:

SPECIALIZED TRAINING
• Demystifying Web Analytics, ACME Industries Webinar, Mar. 2009
• Measuring Market Share, TopMarketer Webinar, Apr. 2009
• Search Marketing Best Practices, SEOpro Webinar, May 2009

3. Be More Intimate with Your Readers

Cover letters and resumes used to be formal and generic. "To Whom It May Concern," your letter might start, "Please accept the enclosed resume as an expression of my keen interest in blah, blah, blah." Can you imagine a hiring manager in this millennium getting inspired to read a whole letter written in that kind of stuffy language, let alone the accompanying resume?

Business casual is not just for clothing; career documents are more conversational and authentic these days, too. Here's an example of a cover letter opening with a bit of life in it:

Dear Mr. Ortiz:

ABC Development has been one of the Top 3 places I'd like to work ever since you came out with the successful Widget 3.0 Line in 2005, so I was excited to learn about the Development Director opening. With 14 years of progressive experience as a Development Specialist with companies like  XYZ, Acme, and DevCorp, my background seems tailor-made for this position....

Think about capturing the reader's attention, standing out from the masses, and subtly countering the ageist stereotypes facing middle-aged and older job seekers in the job hunt.

Hiring managers have little time and a lot of applicants for every job, so present yourself as a seasoned professional who offers fluency in the latest technologies, web resources, and resume trends, bundled with the wisdom that comes only from experience.

Have you faced age discrimination in your job hunt? Do you think subtle changes like these might help? Please share your thoughts in a comment below.

RELATED LINKS
10 Old-School Resume Rules That Don't Apply Today
Writing a Resume When You Haven't Worked for Years
5 Bits of Bad Job Search Advice

It's kinda shameful that Job seekers MUST APPEAR to be younger than they are. The word that comes to mind is 'Hip!'

But again, PONGO, y'all have hit the head-of-the-nail...Right On.

I am hip - lol - I am a 51 year old female, I ride a motorcycle and in general I am an awesome lady - just ask me, I will tell ya :)

I had stopped dying my hair then I saw how almost 3/4 gray it was against my black natural color and now I am a dark brown with blonde highlights. (Yeah blondes do have more fun) lol

But this is the first time since I was 40 that I have been job hunting and yes I do feel the age thing is a barrier

I would like to find an organization that would take a chance on a felon. A sincere felon. This country shouts about the "revolving doors" when it comes to felons, but those people are also the ones that wont take a chance that some of us are sincere and would be the best employee they have. After all, it's so hard for us to find employment, why would we screw it up for ourselves!?!

I certainly have felt the ageism. I am 51 and a mother of 4. I worked in my physician husband's office for most of my life. I am an awesome office manager but with my gray hair and the fact that my boss was my husband, there is little I can do to reverse the problem.

On the other hand, I've written a number of articles about ageism in tech stores. They won't believe that you actually know what you are doing with a computer. The best thing to say to the 20something tech is, "Any software that you suggest I buy due to your tech's screwing up my computer, I intend to buy from your competitors." It hasn't helped the job hunt, but I have had a lot less comments about how I need new software since I had them write that comment on my work order.

After managing my own business and hiring tons of assistants to help me, I can emphatically say, age has NOTHING to do with how valuable an employee is. It's all about attitude. Attitude is a difficult thing to measure in a resume....so be sure to FIND A WAY TO EXPRESS IT.

First the employer will read your qualifications, but then they'll look for ways to measure your attitude quotient. I just made that phrase up, but I think I'll use it myself, as I'm now in a position to look for a job, and I need to remind myself about what I was looking for back when I used to hire....POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

Employers will look for subtle ways to measure this, and think they see answers in everything from your clothes to your posture, to whether you were on time for an interview....so make sure everything you do reflects positivity...IF that's who you really are.

My employment was recently terminated after 26 years. How should I address my termination with prospective employers? I have a positive attitude and am considering my situation as a blessing.

@Julie

Congratulations on this, uh, "blessing," and on your excellent attitude. The short answer is: address the termination honestly, briefly, and in positive terms.

If there is any anger or bitterness over being terminated, I would suggest telling the full story to a neutral party, and asking them to help you craft a version that is free of emotion or blame or negativity. Even if your old employer gave you a raw deal, RESIST the urge to "whine" about it.

A prospective employer won't say "Aw, Julie got a raw deal from that bad ol' boss, I think I'll hire her." They'll say, "Ugh, Julie is a whiner who bad-mouths her bosses... NEXT!"

Also, be sure to stress all the changes in roles, bosses, technologies, and so on that you weathered during those 26 years, so you don't give the impression of someone who can't change with the times or roll with the punches.

As the previous commenter said, attitude is everything! Vent to your friends, but be all business and positivity in your interviews!

Good luck!

~ Julie O'M.

Julie, just be honest, but brief. Just say you were laid off -- that your company was a casualty of the economy. If you were fired, use the word "terminated" instead of fired. Try not to go into a lot of detail. "I was told my services were no longer needed" or "the company is in the process of downsizing and those of us with higher salaries were included in the first round of terminations." These two situations are so common today...I don't think an employer will be too concerned; just don't dwell on it or do any badmouthing.

I am in my 50s and have had several successful interviews and job offers. Be sure when you go for an interview, you dress stylish but appropriate (not old-ladyish) and be warm and friendly. Be sure your voice "smiles" on the telephone when they call you.

I'd also advise not going into a situation where you will be the oldest worker and everyone else is under 30. Being the token "older worker" is not an ideal spot to be in.

Just an FYI for my family generations below me.

Sure I am know beginning to feel like I am being discriminated against. I worked for the State of California until age 43 and left to return to school to complete my degrees. Upon coming back have not been able to find a job anywhere, and its been 7 years. Have outside as well as 30 years with the State with automatic reentry rights. I am 50 now, aI really want to work, and be employed for at least 12 more years, and cannot find anything; and this is in Sacramento, CA. Would appreciate suggestions, advice or just a hang in there from anyone, smile. Comments read online offer disparity in benefits? Online is promoting a lot of untruths, who would not want an employee you don't have to train or who is not interested in benefits or my own office. I can telecommute and work in my own home office?

The current economic state has been a frustrating time for all job seekers so try and stay positive and keep your chin up. :) Another thing that I would do is be as proactive as possible. If you send your resume out to 5 companies and don't get a response or get a "we've elected to go with another candidate," don't be afraid to ask questions. What about the resume turned them off? Is there anything you could change that may make your resume more appealing? Try and really understand why companies are passing--you'd be surprised at the constructive feedback you get!!

I'm glad that you are interested in helping someone improve their chances to get a job, but I absolutely would not ask a company why you were not hired. Be proactive with your resume and get as many educated eyes on it as possible. Taylor it to the job you are applying for, and be as up to date with technology as you can. If you are an alumni go back to your college and have them take a look at it. That's what I did today. I'm 26 and my resume was outdated! :0