Job seekers of all ages face challenges when writing a resume. For older workers, however, writing a strong resume is especially difficult because of issues that arise from age discrimination.
As a seasoned job seeker looking to take the next step in your career, you need to know a few tips to stand out from the younger competition and land an interview:
Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.
1. Use a resume format that plays to your strengths
Hiring managers focus on your skills and experience to determine if you’re a good fit for the position. So choose a resume format that showcases your most relevant qualifications.
For example, a chronological resume is ideal if you have no career gaps because it clearly shows your career progression. But a functional resume emphasizes your skills and education, so it’s best if you have minimal relevant experience in your target industry.
2. Make your resume the right length
How long your resume should be depends on your experience. If you have:
- 10+ years of relevant experience make a two-page resume
- less than 10 years of relevant experience write a one-page resume
3. Use modern resume formatting
Here are some tips to follow to ensure your resume formatting is up-to-date:
- Write your resume using the latest version of Microsoft Word using default resume margins and spacing — submitting a resume created with an outdated version of Word can reveal your age too early in the hiring process
- Don’t insert double spaces after periods
- Pick a modern resume font, such as Cambria or Arial
4. Don’t list dates
Limit or cut out dates, especially for older work experience.
Don’t add your graduation dates on your resume if they’re older than 15 years. This highlights your age, which could be an issue if the hiring manager is younger than you are. So when you list your diploma or degree on your resume, remove the dates, like this:
Date
LASELL UNIVERSITY, Newton, MA
Master of Science in Communication (concentration: public relations), June 19XX
Honors: cum laude (GPA: 3.6/4.0)
No Date
LASELL UNIVERSITY, Newton, MA
Master of Science in Communication (concentration: public relations),
Honors: cum laude (GPA: 3.6/4.0)
However, if you recently completed a certification, master’s or Ph.D., include your graduation year in your resume to show that your education and training are current.
5. Highlight your tech skills
Most jobs require at least basic computer skills. Show your technical expertise on your resume so hiring managers don’t assume that you haven’t kept your technical skills up-to-date.
Here are some examples of skills to list on your resume that show your target employer you’re experienced:
- Names of the latest software or equipment in your industry
- Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)
- Cloud collaboration tools (Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Dropbox)
- Remote communication platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams)
Provide data and examples of how you used your technical skills to create value for your employer. Giving hard numbers and examples helps convince the hiring manager you’re qualified for the job.
If you lack hard skills required for your target job, ensure your resume includes examples of how you’ve used your soft skills to quickly learn similar information in the past.
6. Don’t list every job you’ve ever had
Only include the last decade of relevant experience to make your resume concise and emphasize your current skills and value.
However, if your work history is more than 10 years old and it best matches the requirements for the job you want, add it to your resume.
You can summarize older experiences in a section titled “Previous Experience” or “Additional Experience”, especially if they are not directly related to the position you are applying for, but still showcase transferrable skills. Provide company names, job titles, and a brief description, without dates.
Here’s how a senior Director of Operations listed additional experience that is relevant but not recent:
Marketing Manager, Heinz Cooper Corp. — Managed a team of 5 and led several digital and print campaigns that resulted in a 10% sales increase
Sales Associate, Hellman’s Inc. — Consistently exceeded sales targets and contributed to customer retention strategies
Using a minimalist resume format allows you to list only noteworthy job experience, without you running the risk of your resume looking inadequate and unqualified.
7. Include an up-to-date LinkedIn URL
You should put an up-to-date LinkedIn URL on your resume header to show employers:
- a more comprehensive view of your professional background
- additional details like recommendations, skills endorsements
- how tech savvy you are
Make sure your profile is aligned with the information on your resume and regularly updated to reflect new roles, accomplishments, or certifications.
8. Use a modern resume template
Submitting your resume in a modern resume template is a great way to show hiring managers that you’ll fit well in a modern workplace. Here’s how to upgrade your resume with a template:
- Find a resume template that matches your qualifications and target industry
- Download the template (you’ll likely find either Microsoft Word or Google Docs resume templates)
- Open the file and replace the information in the template with your resume accomplishments and skills
- Save the file with an appropriate resume file name so the hiring manager can easily find it when they save it on their computer (for example, “Your-Name-Resume-Job-Title”)
To make the resume writing process faster, use one of our templates designed for professionals with many years of experience:
Paramount
Classic
Elite
When you pick a resume template, ensure you can get a matching cover letter template to help the hiring manager keep your application organized and separate from other applicants’ documents.
Sample resumes for older workers
To give you an idea of what hiring managers expect from you, here are three examples of resumes for older workers to take inspiration from before you write your resume:
1. Resume for a worker with 25+ years of experience
The PR manager resume example below shows you how to fit 25+ years of relevant work history on your resume:
PR MANAGER
Northampton, MA 12345 | (123) 456-7890
linkedin.com/in/yourname/| yourname@email.com
Public relations manager with extensive experience delivering PR results. Expert at formulating and managing marketing strategies for organizations in the education and corporate fields. Excited to apply a wealth of industry knowledge to the open Vice President of Public Relations position at Mondelez International.
- Oversee all public relations, media outreach, and marketing needs for the organization’s 15 departments
- Write, supervise, and distribute marketing materials through various channels
- Coordinate the appearances of 20+ scholarship athletes for photoshoots, and radio, TV, and newspaper interviews
- Analyze the performance of marketing media, increasing exposure by at least 12% each quarter
- Worked closely with senior executives to brainstorm and implement strategy
- Delivered branded messaging and proactive news stories across all media channels
- Increased brand awareness by marketing company and clients’ products, directly contributing to $4.5 million in annual sales revenue
- Worked cohesively with other team members to create strategies and campaigns that increased enrollment by 9%
- Wrote and proofread 8+ monthly press releases
- Responded to questions and inquiries from the press, public, and other organizations
- Coordinated and strategized with department heads to formulate and deliver 10+ monthly press releases
- Cold called local and national media outlets to find interview opportunities for marketing managers
- Trained 5 interns in answering phone calls and emails, researching data for press releases, and data entry
LASELL UNIVERSITY, Newton, MA
Master of Science in Communication (concentration: public relations)
Honors: cum laude (GPA: 3.6/4.0)
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, Austin, TX
Bachelor of Science in Public Relations
Honors: cum laude (GPA: 3.6/4.0)
- Marketer of the Month, Hemmingways Comm. Ltd.
- Bright Idea Award, Texas State Public Relations Association (TSPRA)
- Best Innovator Award, Dell Inc.
- Expertise in industry-standard CRM management software (Salesforce, Blackbaud, Oracle Eloqua)
- Well-versed in remote communication technology (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet)
- Maintain in-depth knowledge of social media marketing (LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook)
- Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
- Native-level fluent in English and French (Quebec), conversational in Spanish (European) and Italian
2. Resume for older worker returning to work
Are you re-entering the workforce after deciding to return from retirement? Here’s an example of a senior health care resume tailored for someone returning to work after a career break:
HEALTH CARE MANAGER
your.name@email.com | (123) 456-7890
linkedin.com/in/yourname/
Driven health care manager with 15+ years of experience directing and leading various departments. Proven expertise in providing solutions and meeting internal and external stakeholder needs. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills coupled with problem solving and analytical skills
- Managed 8 departments and 370+ employees
- Ensured the hospital’s policies and operations complied with local, state, and federal laws
- Represented the institution at 12+ weekly meetings with internal and external stakeholders
- Managed a $2.3 million budget for business travel, overhead costs, and payroll
- Created shift schedules for 40+ direct care providers
- Managed a $400,000 annual budget for procuring medical supplies and equipment
- Supervised 25+ clinical staff in day-to-day operations
- Demonstrated knowledge of policy and health procedures in daily operations at the hospital, during joint medical forums, and in performance reviews
- Supervised 20+ nurses and healthcare staff in a busy inpatient unit
- Coordinated with physicians and department heads to improve patient care processes, leading to a 15% increase in patient satisfaction
- Developed staff training programs, reducing errors in patient care by 10%
- Oversaw daily administrative operations for a 100-bed facility, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations
- Managed a $400,000 annual budget for procuring medical supplies and equipment
- Implemented electronic health record systems, increasing efficiency and reducing paperwork by 20%
Jan 20XX – Present
- Volunteer work: Habitat for Humanity, River Region United Way, and the Dannon Project
Master of Science, Healthcare Management
Western Governs University, Millcreek, UT
Bachelor of Science, Health Information Management
Western Governs University, Millcreek, UT
Certified Healthcare Manager (CHM) – American Institute of Healthcare Management
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification – University of Alabama, College of Continuing Studies
Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) – National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ)
- Microsoft Office
- Slack and Zoom
- Google Docs/Sheets
- Epic Systems
- Oracle Hyperion
- CPT
- Spanish (fluent)
Be prepared to explain your resume gap in interviews. Talk about relevant skills and life lessons you learned during your career break.
3. Resume for a retired person
Here’s a two-page car sales manager resume for a retired person with 25+ years of experience who wishes to consult during retirement:
AUTOMOTIVE SALES MANAGER
Dallas, TX 75201
yourname@email.com | (770) 625-9669
Automotive sales professional with 30+ years of experience in the industry, excelling in client relations, team leadership, and sales strategies. Consistently delivered outstanding results in vehicle sales and customer satisfaction. Seeking to contribute expertise in a part-time or consulting role within the automotive sales sector.
- Led a team of 35 salespeople, driving a 10% increase in total sales over three years
- Managed inventory for both new and used vehicles, ensuring optimal stock levels and rotation
- Developed partnerships with local businesses, boosting fleet sales by 20%
- Introduced monthly sales challenges, which increased individual performance by 15%
- Honored as “Sales Leader of the Year” in 20XX
- Oversaw day-to-day operations of a 25-person sales team, achieving consistent monthly growth in both vehicle sales and service packages
- Worked closely with manufacturers to coordinate promotional events, increasing foot traffic by 18%
- Revamped showroom layout, improving customer experience and increasing overall sales by 12%
• Mentored junior sales staff with 8 team members promoted to senior roles during tenure
- Helped generate over $1M in sales annually by consistently meeting customer needs and exceeding expectations
- Increased upselling of warranty and service packages by 10% during the last 3 quarters
- Recognized by management for exceptional customer satisfaction scores, maintaining a 4.9/5 average rating
- Consistently exceeded monthly sales targets by 15% through tailored customer consultations and effective negotiation strategies
- Provided exceptional service to over 50 clients per month, maintaining a customer satisfaction rating of 95% or higher
- Actively upsold Toyota service packages, warranties, and accessories, generating an additional $50,000 in annual revenue
- Conducted vehicle test drives and product demonstrations, highlighting key features to match customer needs and close sales efficiently
Bachelor of Business Administration (concentration: sales)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, Austin, TX
Honors: cum laude (GPA: 3.7/4.0)
- Team leadership and sales strategy
- Customer relations and retention
- Inventory control and forecasting
- Contract negotiation and pricing strategy
- Expertise in new and used vehicle sales
- Sales training and coaching
- Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Outlook, Salesforce, TFS Project Management
Sales Leader of the Year – Lone Star Auto Group
Top Performer – Lone Star Auto Group
Customer Satisfaction Excellence Awards – Texan Motors
Frequently asked questions about resumes for older workers
Do you still have questions about how to best write a resume as a more experienced worker? We’ve answered some common questions below:
How do you list older experience on a resume?
If you have an extensive career, be more selective and only include relevant experience.
If you’re listing older work experience and it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for, summarize it at the end of your work experience section. Provide company names, job titles, and a brief description, without dates.
What is the best resume format for older workers?
The best resume format for mature workers who are continuing work in their field is the chronological resume format as it highlights your wealth of relevant experience.
If you are an older worker who is changing careers, consider using the functional resume format instead as it emphasizes transferable skills and education.
The Resume Genius Team
The Resume Genius Team is a tight-knit crew of career coaches, hiring managers, and staff writers who are passionate about providing the best, most up-to-date career advice possible and helping job seekers land their dream jobs. Every article is reviewed by either Geoff Scott, Samuel Johns, Eva Chan, Corissa Peterson, or Dominique Vatin, our team of in-house Certified Professional Resume Writers. Resume Genius and its authors' career and resume advice have been featured in major publications such as CNBC, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune.
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