Resumes for Older Workers: Win More Interviews With Confidence
Today, more and more older workers delay retirement and actively apply for new jobs. However, many senior workers face age discrimination in the job market. 74% of older Americans believe their age could be the barrier to getting hired.
By updating and modernizing your resume and highlighting fresh technology skills, you can overcome the age bias and get more quality interviews. Today, we share hiring manager-approved resume tips for older workers and templates to help you create an interview-winning resume.
What Are Common Resume Mistakes Older Workers Make?
When describing their relevant skills or work history, older job-seekers can make mistakes that cost them interviews. Here are the major pitfalls to avoid if you want to maximize job opportunities in your 50s or 60s:
- Making the resume 3+ pages long. You may have 30+ years of relevant experience, but there's no need to list every job and project. Including every job you've had in your career makes the document too long and turns off hiring managers.
- Out-of-date tech skills. Twenty years ago including Windows 2000 and Microsoft Word could give your resume a boost. Today, listing such skills is considered outdated.
- Including an objective instead of a professional summary. Objectives are not used in modern resumes. You should have an employer-centered career summary instead.
- Not including accomplishments. Modern resumes focus on achievements, not job duties. Having a long work tenure is great, but without measurable achievements, it won't impress younger hiring managers.
- Forgetting about ATS. Today's resumes are scanned by applicant tracking systems (ATS, also known as resume robots) before a human recruiter sees them. If you don't insert keywords, your application might get tossed.
These and other resume shortcomings in boomers' resumes can cause setbacks in the hiring process even if you have decades of relevant experience. But worry not - keep reading to find out how to fix them and make your resume attractive to employers.
How to Age-Proof Your Resume (With Examples)
Age bias against older workers is based on the premise that seniors are overqualified, lack technical skills, and slowly adapt to ever-changing environments. By modernizing your old resume and adapting it for a job description, you can beat the bias and boost your chances of landing an interview. Here are the key points to take care of.
Use modern formatting
Black-and-white Microsoft Word resumes are out of fashion. If you want to submit a resume as a Microsoft Word document, do this:
- Create your resume using the most recent version of MS Word software so that fonts and formatting look modern. A fresh, polished document won't reveal your age before time.
- Use a Word resume template. Click on the Search, type Resume and you'll see available templates.
- Use a touch of color and a sans-serif font, such as Arial, Helvetica, or Calibri.
Include relevant skills and keywords
Unlike older resumes, modern documents include the most relevant skills as a list. The Skills section quickly communicates your competencies to recruiters, and it's also good for ATS. Here's how to add key skills to your resume effectively:
- Read the job description and highlight the required skills and qualifications
- Include these skills as a bulleted list (provided that you have these skills, of course)
- Add both hard skills (analytical, technical, and software skills) and soft skills (such as communication or problem-solving)
- Keep a reasonable number of skills (usually between 10 and 20) for a strong resume.
Remove outdated information
To make your job search more effective, remove outdated skills, jobs, and other information that adds no value to potential employers. Here's what to remove from your resume if you have 20+ years of experience:
- Outdated skills (such as old computer software, programming languages, or skills irrelevant to your target job)
- Graduation dates. If you graduated over 15 years ago, always skip the dates.
- Jobs you had over 15 years ago. Don't list every job you've had since graduation - they take up valuable space and instantly reveal your age.
- Unprofessional email. Use an email address with your first and last name.
Consider a functional resume
If you've had employment gaps, a functional format can conceal them. This resume focuses on your skills and competencies over the work history timeline. It starts with a summary and a detailed list of skills, and the work experience is listed briefly near the bottom. If you assume that a functional resume might be a good fit, read our guide to writing a job-winning functional resume.
How Many Years of Experience Should You List on Your Resume?
According to resume experts, mature workers should include the most recent 10-15 years of professional experience. You can go back a little further if your older experience is highly relevant (i.e. you worked for an industry-leading company). It's great if your resume also shows career progression and growth - even if with the same company.
This is because recruiters are interested in your recent experience and fresh skills. Keeping your experience recent and relevant is key to landing interviews. That being said, you can remove irrelevant jobs without hesitation or list them under a different subheading.
Don't forget to attach a matching cover letter with your resume, as 60% of employers expect them. Read our step-by-step guide to writing an effective cover letter.
How Long Should a Resume Be for 20+ Years of Experience?
No matter the total career length, older workers should keep their resume to 1-2 pages. Recruiters review each resume for a few seconds only, and if you submit a multi-page resume, the recruiter won't be able to locate the details they need.
Moreover, keeping your resume short and targeted increases your chances of being shortlisted. If you only keep the work experience, skills, and achievements relevant to this particular company, they will see you as a potentially great fit. Making the resume recent, relevant, and tailored also shows that you're aware of the current resume practices and will feel comfortable in any modern workplace.
7 Expert Resume Tips for Older Professionals
Trim your resume to 1-2 pages.
Narrow down your experience to keep your resume to 1-2 pages. Longer resumes often signal that you lack focus. Include the last 10-15 years of your employment history and cut off the outdated information as suggested above. This tip will give you a competitive edge in your job hunting.
Use a modern, ATS-friendly template.
Use a modern resume template in Word or download our expert template below. Employers initially scan your resume for 7 seconds, and if you use a neat template and a standard resume format, it will make a positive impression. Make sure that the template you use has simple formatting and is ATS-compliant.
Focus on recent achievements and skills.
No matter how many years you've been in the job market, companies only care about your most recent experience. Focus on your 1-2 most recent roles in your resume. Add measurable results, achievements, and skills to give a comprehensive idea of what exactly you have done and what you can bring to the table.
Remove education dates older than 15-20 years.
If you graduated over 15 years ago, leave graduation dates out as they can reveal your age. Remove academic achievements and GPA if you haven't done it before - including them is important only for recent graduates.
Highlight technology and digital skills.
To show that you stay up to date with the technology, add remote communication platforms, cloud collaboration tools, Microsoft Teams, and similar digital skills to your resume. It will persuade the potential employer that you are well aware of the standards of the modern workplace and can effectively collaborate with younger candidates.
Include your LinkedIn profile URL.
Including your social media presence will show the employer that you're tech-savvy and keep up to date with the trends of the evolving job market. Plus, a completed LinkedIn profile will give the employer a broader picture of your qualifications, strengths, and work history.
Tailor your resume to each job posting.
In 2025, sending out a generic resume everywhere doesn't work. You need to customize your resume for each job you're applying for. No need to rewrite everything - just revise a brief description in your summary, skills, and most recent job so that it looks relevant to the employer's needs.
Download Free Resume Template for Older Workers
Our resume experts developed an ATS-friendly Google Docs resume template suitable for older job-seekers. Download it and paste your information to create a modern-looking resume that attracts the recruiter's attention in seconds! Click here to grab your free template.
3 Real Resume Examples From Professionals 50+
Professional returning to work
This senior job-seeker shows a steady career progression, specific skills for the role, and measurable achievements. This resume format will suit an experienced worker who wants to continue their career after a long break or career gaps.
Career changer
This sample resume is for older professionals changing careers in their 50s or 60s. It uses a functional format focused on the person's qualifications and impact and lists the education section and employment briefly.
Retiree seeking new opportunities
https://resumegenius.com/blog/resume-help/resume-for-older-workers#samples
This resume example is for retired professionals seeking part-time or consulting opportunities. It showcases qualifications, skills, and strengths persuasively to sell the experience to potential employers or clients.
FAQ: Resumes for Older Workers
How many years of experience should I include on my resume?
Even though you have a wealth of experience, focus on the last 10-15 years of your work history. You can include earlier experience only if it's super relevant to the job you're targeting or can give you a competitive edge.
How long should a resume be for 20+ years of experience?
An ideal resume length for someone with 20+ years of experience is 1-2 pages. For a successful job search, summarize your most relevant skills, accomplishments, and career progression, tailoring the content to match the specific job requirements.
What is the best resume format for older professionals?
The best format for older professionals is a combination or hybrid resume. It includes a professional summary and skills and a detailed career history. This format allows you to highlight both your career progression and your key skills and accomplishments.
Get professional help with your resume
At ResumePerk, we prepare modern-looking, tailored resumes for older workers returning to work. Our expert will work one-on-one with you to emphasize your rich experience and achievements concisely and attract the attention of younger hiring managers. Chat with us to learn more and get your special welcome discount!
Additional Resources
Browse more career articles and resume-writing tips from our experts: