How to Downplay Your Age on a Resume

Experience and wisdom counts for an awful lot in any kind of work. You simply can't beat the power of having done many things for lots of years to give a person unique strategies and experiences to draw from.

But employers don't always see age in such positive terms. Age discrimination happens, despite the fact that it's against the law. In fact it's so illegal that few people will even admit to themselves that they've tossed someone's resume out because of the age he appeared to be. It's played off as much more acceptable things, such as "He just didn't seem to fit in," or "He didn't seem like he'd be willing to accept what the job would pay."

So what can you do to keep from being the victim of age discrimination? Start from the very beginning, before they even meet you. Most people don't realize it, but a resume often sends clear signals as to a person's age, even without mentioning it specifically.

Here's how to avoid telegraphing your age on your resume:

Don't List Your Graduation Year
There's no law saying you have to state when you got your degree on your resume. Granted, hiring managers may assume that you left it off for the very reason that you're trying to cover your age. But they can't say for sure if that's true, so you're usually better off taking the gamble. At what point in your career should you drop the date? Any set rule on the matter will be too rigid, but consider leaving the year you graduated off your resume if it was 25 years or more ago.

Don't Use Archaic Resume and Career Conventions
Nothing says "Old Timer" more than out-of-date resume and cover-letter conventions. Such things as using a Courier (typewriter) style font, or stating at the bottom of the resume, "References Available Upon Request" can send clear signals of a career that began before Jimmy Carter was president. And while you're at it, lose such stuffy words as "upon."