When Experience Is Dismissed Because Of Age

When it comes to experience, older workers have the advantage on younger employees and job candidates. You may have a wealth of experience in your field. Perhaps you stayed with one company for the last ten to thirty years. Or maybe you worked for two different companies in that time frame. You are probably hoping that this will be a plus on your resume as you begin your job search. Or if you are gunning for a promotion, your long tenure with the firm may seem like the reason they ought to move you to a higher position.

Unfortunately, some of these old rules do not apply to the modern workplace. In contrast to how it used to be, experience and tenure at a company can actually work against you. Many older job applicants are turned away with the excuse that they are overqualified. This may or may not be a form of ageism. The person doing the hiring may feel that your long tenure at your previous job could keep you from easily adapting to the new position and company atmosphere. Or they might think that your long work experience entitles you to a salary that they are not prepared to offer you.

One way to deal with this scenario is to limit the amount of experience that you list on your resume. Try only representing the latter part of your work history. If you are in a managerial position or you are seeking one, list your related experience over the last fifteen years. This will show ample time for you to have moved up in the ranks of your previous firm, but will not show so much history that you may be more of a liability in terms of change and salary. If you are in a technology field, limit your work history to the last ten years.

If you feel that your experience prior to the last ten or fifteen years is important to your qualifications as a candidate and you could precluded without it, try listing it under "Other Experience" where you can describe it without dates.

Another common problem with older workers with a lot of work experience is that the experience they have is dismissed due to their age. While there may be no factual way to prove this violation of the age discrimination laws, most people are aware when it is happening. This occurs especially in industries where the landscape changes on a regular basis, such as technology or marketing. You may find yourself with years of experience that will seem irrelevant to a younger employer.

In this scenario, think about how you can divide your experience down into types of work. Again, leave off any work history beyond the last ten or fifteen years and list other experience in another section of your resume without dates. Add special emphasis to your most recent training by placing it in a prominent position.

If you are current in your industry, you should not be discriminated against for experience that occurred many years ago. Use your skills wisely and think about what the modern employer really wants in a new hire.

Click here to go to the next ageism article - Top Tips for Combating Ageism