The advice online for how to write .a resume if you're over 20 doesn't make sense

Jul 21, 2019 at 02:19 PM

Granted, I taught resume writing in the business writing course I taught nearly 15 years ago at my former community college job, so I KNOW resumes' formats and content evolve and change over time.

But 2019's "suggestions" by so-called "resume experts" seems catch-22 to me:

Don't include dates for your jobs
Don't include dates for your college or high school graduation
Don't put your college degree on your resume
Don't write an objective
Do write a professional summary
Don't include computer proficiency
Don't include education
Don't include work experience that's older than 10 years
Write about your achievements, not about what you did in each of your job descriptions
Don't have more than 2 bullet points
Include a headline under each job title that summarizes your job, then put 2 bullet points

So, about the "don't includes dates" advice on the resume. How is a prospective employer supposed to know if you're telling the truth or totally lying?

I get that a lot of employers discriminate by age (a 20-something recruiter told me on Friday over the phone that some of his agency's clients request only 20-something admins, which is blatant age discrimination). But a resume without dates seems like a useless piece of paper?

Any advice for an old lady (48) like me, who is trying to reformat her resume?

Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

Jul 21, 2019 at 07:49 PM

I don't think any recruiter would consider a resume without dates for the education and experience. It's suspicious.

It's sad they are discriminating against age, too. The saddest part is that no one can prove any kind of discrimination in the hiring process. It's up to how the recruiter and hiring manager feel about you. The process is far from objective.

seesaw · Jul 21, 2019 at 10:46 PM

I review resumes. Don't include dates for education. I would include jobs that show work history the last 10 years with dates. Definitely write about achievements for each job in direct relationship to the job you are applying for and not just a job description. Objective is worthless. A professional summary of your career is helpful if it's geared towards the job you've applied for. In terms of number of bullet points, I think you can do 3-4, but you need to be consistent with each one to have similar formatting. And also watch the overall length. I recommend no more than 2 pages. The 1 page thing is a myth.

Also, women have a tendency to phrase things as "assisted with" or "helped lead".., remove the assisted and the helped. Just say "I did x" or "I led y." Men do this and it's more effective.

Chyialee · Jul 22, 2019 at 03:09 PM

/\ What seesaw said. ANd never never ever submit a resume that is more than 2 pages. I 1/2 is better.

At bottom, put REFERENCES: Will be provided upon request.
Then take separate page and (under a heading w/your name, addy, et al) list said references. Take that page with you to any interview, but don't mail it out wholesale or attach it to initial application nor resume.

That's what I taught in workshops, anyhow.

Best,

Chyia

TheSeaCat · Jul 27, 2019 at 03:12 AM

I have also reviewed several resumes and agree with Seesaw's points. I would also like to add a few of my own points.

1. Don't include education dates; but do include honors/awards. Don't go overboard and post exact GPA but graduated from X University Cum Laude. I am in my 20's and even I don't have my graduation date on my resume. The exception to this rule is if you are getting ready to graduate and then I would recommend to put down your estimated date of graduation; but once you formally graduate take it off the resume.

2. Please post dates of employment, I'm not talking exact dates but Month and Year: I like to personally see dates of employment; plus who can remember the exact dates they worked for a company. Month and Year is typically preferred.

3. If you have a college degree; don't include your high school degree; that is pretty much a given that you graduated high school or have a GED.

4.Please include your major of study; I don't know who said to leave that off; but don't listen to them. I want to see what you majored in; if it's interesting it can be used as a talking point during an interview.

5. I agree that objectives are outdated; it's much better to go with a paragraph professional summary. Objectives can sometimes clutter up a resume; a small paragraph looks better in most manager's opinion.

6. It's a very technological world so I would hope and assume that most everyone has some level of computer proficiency in this day in age; my exception is if it's a computer based job; like a receptionist or data entry where WPM and Microsoft Office matters.

7. I agree with the 10 year rule; actually I prefer more of a 5 year rule; I do not care that you worked fast food to get you through college. I enjoy seeing relevant work experience; I would rather see an unpaid internship over that fast food position. The unpaid internship tells me you at least have a general knowledge of what you have applied for. Now if the job is entry level; go ahead and put that fast food job down.

8. I would rather hear about the achievements you accomplished than a day to day description. Did you help implement something big? Did you change a bunch of policies while you were there; highlight the big achievements in 2-4 bullet points; don't go overboard with the I's and Me's. It's better to use generalized terms and let the hiring manager fill in the blanks; makes you look like more of a team player instead of a one-two brag fest. Highlight what you feel is important to you. I agree with Seesaw's viewpoint on taking out the extra words; men are typically more direct; while woman will add more words; which sometimes will hurt them.

9. Length is important; I like to see a 1 to 1.5 page resume; once it reaches 2 pages or over; I doubt I would pick it up and read it. That's just me though; some hiring managers might like length. I'm just not that person.

10. If you have left a job for any reason don't put it down on your resume or application; it's better to talk about that during an interview.

Remember all hiring managers look for different things; but I feel like these ten tips will hopefully help you out.

Jul 27, 2019 at 02:15 PM

Here's the format of my resume:

My name, my email and my cellphone # (top, centered)
Professional Summary (6-10 sentences) below my name

Relevant Work History (underlined)

Here's where I usually tailor my resume for each job for admin support roles that I apply for.

Job Title, Company Name, City/State, dates worked
Summary in 1-3 sentences of job duties
Bullet list of job duties

Education Work History (underlined)

Where I list my teaching work history

Job Title, School Name, City/State, dates worked
Summary in 1-3 sentences of job duties
Bullet list of job duties

Education (underlined)

1st Masters degree, date of graduation
2nd Masters degree, date of graduation
1st Bachelors degree, date of graduation

If you can suggest a different format? I have used functional with no luck. I've used chronological with very little luck.

seesaw · Jul 27, 2019 at 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StreetcarBlanche

Here's the format of my resume:

My name, my email and my cellphone # (top, centered)
Professional Summary (6-10 sentences) below my name

Relevant Work History (underlined)

Here's where I usually tailor my resume for each job for admin support roles that I apply for.

Job Title, Company Name, City/State, dates worked
Summary in 1-3 sentences of job duties
Bullet list of job duties

Education Work History (underlined)

Where I list my teaching work history

Job Title, School Name, City/State, dates worked
Summary in 1-3 sentences of job duties
Bullet list of job duties

Education (underlined)

1st Masters degree, date of graduation
2nd Masters degree, date of graduation
1st Bachelors degree, date of graduation

If you can suggest a different format? I have used functional with no luck. I've used chronological with very little luck.

Professional summary seems long, and I would remove dates of graduation.

Jul 27, 2019 at 02:59 PM

Yes well I'm not going to remove any dates. If there is age discrimination going on with the people I contact about jobs, then I wouldn't want to work for someone who thinks a 48 year old is "too old." If they hired me, they'd find out my true age after I complete my tax paperwork and have a birthday at the office. Will they fire me once they find out my true age, b/c I didn't list my graduation dates on my resume? Dates stay on my resume. Period.

Jul 27, 2019 at 03:44 PM

You can include a section after your professional summary that includes a summary of skills that are applicable to the job you are applying for (technical and soft skills). Your professional summary and the summary of skills can be adjusted for different jobs. Your education need not to change for different jobs, but your format above doesn't include school names and locations. Your jobs duties can be changed for different jobs as well to emphasize skills you used and that are required for the new job.

Jul 27, 2019 at 04:50 PM

This is the resume format I am using.

Midlevel Administrative Assistant Resume Sample | Monster.com

Executive Administrative Assistant Resume Sample | Monster.com

I write about 4-6 sentences for the "professional summary." All very short sentences.

seesaw · Jul 27, 2019 at 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StreetcarBlanche

Yes well I'm not going to remove any dates. If there is age discrimination going on with the people I contact about jobs, then I wouldn't want to work for someone who thinks a 48 year old is "too old." If they hired me, they'd find out my true age after I complete my tax paperwork and have a birthday at the office. Will they fire me once they find out my true age, b/c I didn't list my graduation dates on my resume? Dates stay on my resume. Period.

Well, certainly do what works for you. I'd just suggest considering, however, that age discrimination and age bias are not quite the same thing. ALL employers exhibit some age bias. Not listing your graduation dates help to combat this. Will they fire you because of age after hiring you? Well, that's highly unlikely. But age bias can be combated by doing a few things that take age as a factor out of the employer's head. It's the same with gender bias.

But do as you please.

seesaw · Jul 27, 2019 at 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StreetcarBlanche

This is the resume format I am using.

Midlevel Administrative Assistant Resume Sample | Monster.com

Executive Administrative Assistant Resume Sample | Monster.com

I write about 4-6 sentences for the "professional summary." All very short sentences.

I find all those bullets above the computer skills to be useless. As a reviewer, it's just you alleging things about yourself. What's relevant on a resume is your actual achievements, actual work you have done, factual things that can be proven, not suppositions about who you are as an employee or things I have to take your word on.

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The advice online for how to write .a resume if you're over 20 doesn't make sense

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Anonymous40099 Guest Posts: n/a	Jul 21, 2019 at 07:49 PM #2 I don't think any recruiter would consider a resume without dates for the education and experience. It's suspicious. It's sad they are discriminating against age, too. The saddest part is that no one can prove any kind of discrimination in the hiring process. It's up to how the recruiter and hiring manager feel about you. The process is far from objective.
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Anonymous48672 Guest Posts: n/a	Jul 27, 2019 at 04:50 PM #10 This is the resume format I am using. Midlevel Administrative Assistant Resume Sample \| Monster.com Executive Administrative Assistant Resume Sample \| Monster.com I write about 4-6 sentences for the "professional summary." All very short sentences.
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