Executive Resume Tips for Baby Boomers: How to Reduce The Chances of Age Discrimination

My executive-level clients are often conce
ed about “age discrimination.” I am sure in some cases there might be some truth to this, but I prefer to focus on the positive aspects of the benefits a company gains from hiring a professional with a lifetime of knowledge and experience to bring to the table.

It’s interesting to note that if you are a professional over 50 years old, the more you focus on the results you can bring to the table and essentially holding the right mindset will set the tone and pace of all your career-related conversations and interviews.

There have been multiple articles and studies written about a very possible shortage in executive talent by 2018 due to mass retiring of Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) out of the workforce. For example, a 2010 study conducted by Barry Bluestone and Mark Melnik from the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeaste
University estimated that by 2018 there could be more than five million unfilled jobs in the United States due to a lack of Baby Boomers in the workforce.

In my opinion, the actual increased need for expertise in a particular post or industry means that Baby Boomers should focus on their areas of expertise and specialization, really concentrate on the expertise they bring to the table, and highlight the mentoring they can provide to younger team members. This goes back to branding, as outlined in previous chapters.

Fortunately for most professionals with over 20-years of experience, identifying the areas where they shine and what they most love to do is usually very clear to them.
Here are some additional points you can apply to your executive resume that will help minimize any potential red flags and maximize your candidacy:

Don’t go back more than 20 years in your experience unless you absolutely have to.

Don’t list dates you were in the military.

Don’t list dates you graduated from college.

Don’t list dates of every training course you have been through in the last 30 years.

Make sure the content you list in your resume is fresh and relevant.

Demonstrate you are current on trends, certifications, emerging technologies, and new management structures or generally new ways of doing business.

Realize that many credible sources have warned of a looming shortage in senior executives as Baby Boomers retire out of the market and Gen Y employees pose new and difficult challenges for companies.

Consider management consulting.

Be SURE to keyword match your ideal job search using indeed.com and insert these keywords into the first page of your executive resume.

Unless you are going after a high visibility C-level position, keep your executive resume to 2 pages.

Most important of all: showcase your metric driven results. Your quantifiable accomplishments trump everything else and most powerfully communicate your tangible value to employers.

These are powerful tips that are easy to apply and will help your audience make better decisions as they are working to determine your value to their company.