It would be naïve to say that ageism doesn’t exist, but trends are changing and the labor outlook may be brighter than you think.

In generations past, people tended to stay with one or two employers throughout their entire careers. But the decade of the 1990s changed that for the majority of the workforce. With the advent of downsizing, rightsizing, corporate mergers, and massive layoffs, today’s workers are on the move – from one job to another. The old model of employment longevity is long gone. Today, change and volatility in the employment market are the status quo. Likewise, workers are more mobile themselves.

Recognizing that employers are more likely to lay people off during a business down-turn, they are much more willing to shop their skills and talents, test the market to see what they’re worth, and jump ship when a better offer comes along. As a result, companies have changed how they hire, realizing that they are not hiring for life. Rather, they are hiring employees they need today with the knowledge and understanding that in years to come, they may no longer need them. In this environment, older employees actually offer certain advantages.

In writing resume, it’s appropriate to consider some of the traditional stereotypes of the older worker if only to better understand and dispel them. A few of the common ones include:

• Older workers are near the top of their pay scale and would be dissatisfied in lower-paying positions.

• Workers older than 50 have outdated skills compared to more recent graduates.

• Older workers aren’t motivated to acquire new skills or knowledge.

• Older workers are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with technology, and therefore unable to function effectively in the electronic age.

• Workers older than 50 are inflexible and set in their ways.

By creating resume that demonstrates your flexibility, eagerness to learn new skills and accept new challenges, and familiarity with technology as it relates to your particular career path, you can overcome most of these stereotypes and present yourself as a vibrant, engaged and valuable candidate.

Focus on your most recent experiences and be judicious in how you display dates on your resume. Concentrate on your last 10-15 years of employment experience and summarize highlights from your earlier positions without necessarily including exact dates.

And if you are older than 50 and earned your college degree in your early 20s, we suggest that you do not include your date of graduation. Not all employers discriminate, but why give an employer a reason to possibly exclude you from consideration? Of course, if you completed your degree within the past 10 years, then include the date and let potential employers draw their own conclusions.

It’s not unethical or dishonest to prepare your resume in a way that best portrays your true capabilities. It is perfectly acceptable to leave out information that’s a tip-off to your age. Remember, a resume is not an autobiography. Rather, it’s a document designed to sell you into your next position.

Use your resume wisely to get interviews. Then, once you’re in the door, you will have the opportunity to sell prospective employers on just how dynamic, knowledgeable, and adaptable you can be in contributing to their success.

Source Enelow, Wendy & Boldt, Arnold No-Nonsense Resumes, 52-53. Career Press, 2006

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Resume: Sell It, Don’t Tell It