Resume for Older Workers: Examples for 25+ Years' Experience

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:

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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:

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the latest version of Microsoft Word using default resume margins and spacing — submitting a resume created with an outdated version of Word can reveal your age too early in the hiring process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:

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.

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:

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:

Use this template

Paramount

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Classic

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Elite

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:

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:

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:

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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.