5 Ways to Express Experience on Your Resume Without Expressing Your Age, According to a Career Coach

If you aren’t new to the job market but you are looking for creative ways to express your experience on your resume without expressing your age, you have to come the right place! Let’s discuss 5 easy ways to get the job done:

1. Focus on your skills.  

Employers are excited to learn about the skills you are bringing to the table. They need to hire competent and capable employees to fill available positions. Does it make sense to hide the ball? No. Use the space on your resume to highlight your skills, technical abilities and certifications rather than focusing on years of experience. This will demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate for the position and why they should schedule an interview to speak with you immediately. 

2. And detail what experience matters most.

Does everything have to go on your resume? No. As a seasoned person in your career, it might be impossible to state all your experiences on one page, and very few people are going to take the time to read a resume that is any longer. Also, having a lengthy resume only allows hiring personnel to focus on how advanced you are in your career. Focus on spelling out the experience that best suites each role you are applying for, organizing these roles at the top of your application. Remove anything that isn't relevant.

3. Don’t remove hiring dates. 

It might seem counterintuitive to keep hiring dates on your resume, but removing the dates makes it clear that there is something you are trying to hide. You don’t want people to read your resume questioning the formatting or wondering about obvious missing information. 

4. But do remove your graduation dates.

But when it comes to graduation dates, this information doesn’t have be shared on your resume. Your degree type and major is what needs to be stated, while your graduation date is irrelevant when you are a more experienced candidate.  

5. Use language that resonates with all readers.

 When crafting your resume, it is important to use language that resonates with all parties reading it. Whether they are a technical or non-technical person, they need to read your resume and understand the who, what, when, where, why and how of you! Think of your resume as an appetizer. It is tasty enough to get some attention. But you are the main course of the night. If the appetizer is yummy enough, people can’t wait to eat the main course. Design your resume to instantly capture the  attention of everyone who reads it, use concise sentences and bring up your relevant skills and experience first. Then, you are on the path to success. 

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Natasha Nurse is a speaker, coach, podcaster, and content creator. She started Dressing Room 8 to provide a web-based resource where women can gain personal and professional empowerment through her fashion and lifestyle focused blog. Dressing Room 8 helps women learn how to think with clarity, dress with confidence, and live with purpose. She is the Lifestyle Editor for Plus Model Magazine and she co-hosts a podcast with her husband called WokeNFree.  Follow Natasha on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. Don’t forget to join her Dressing Room 8 and WokeNFree groups on FGB.