How to Write Resume for Older Workers (with Tips and Actionable Examples)

Older Americans are a significant presence in the workforce. Nearly 9 million Americans over the age of 65 are now employed, up from just 4 million in 2000. Another 26 million are between 55 and 65, and many of these will be working beyond 65. These employees often delay retirement and remain in the workforce for various reasons. This causes many different generations to work together in the same office, creating a new dynamic and sometimes having negative impacts, including age discrimination.

Most modern workers do not work in physically demanding jobs, and the generally improving lifespans and state of health make it possible to work at much more advanced ages than were once thought practical. Some keep working because they enjoy their work or prefer to stay engaged, but in many cases, they simply need the money. Many Americans do not have enough savings to fund retirement and have to continue working as long as they can.

Age-Proof Your Resume

Does your resume scream “old”? Does it look like you’re trying to conceal your age? If it does, revise it or consult a professional resume writer. You want a resume that’s fresh, direct, and to the point, presenting you as an experienced, capable hire without giving any reason to speculate about your age.

Modernize Your Resume Without Hiding Your Age

The first step to breaking age-related stereotypes is to overcome the initial screening point. The key to this is in your resume and cover letter, which will determine whether you’ll get an interview. Older workers face the complex challenge of condensing decades of work experience into a document that fits on one or two pages and captures the reader’s attention at first glance. A resume for older workers should take a few crucial factors into consideration: 

✅ Keep It Relevant

Stick to the last 10 to 15 years of experience. Hiring managers want to know what you've done lately. Older roles are often less relevant and can unintentionally signal your age.

• Leave out jobs from the 1980s and early 90s unless they are directly related to your target role
• Focus on results, not responsibilities
• Use a summary instead of an objective

For example, instead of: "Responsible for managing IT systems at XYZ from 1992–2005," try: "Managed multi-location IT infrastructure with 99.9% uptime, saving $250K annually in operating costs."

✅ Drop the Dates That Date You

You don't need to list the year you earned your degree if it was a long time ago. Recruiters care more about your skills and recent experience.

Skip:

• Graduation years from the 1970s–90s
• "30+ years of experience" language

Say instead:

- "Seasoned operations manager with proven leadership in logistics and cost control"

- "Experienced in managing cross-functional teams across industries"

✅ Use a Modern Resume Format

A clean, contemporary format helps you look up-to-date.

Avoid:

• Times New Roman font
• Dense blocks of text
• Double spacing between sections
• Headers like "Work Chronology" or "Professional History" (replace with "Professional Experience" or "Career Progression")

Do instead:

• Use Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica
• Bold your job titles
• Use bullet points for achievements
• Keep it to 1 or 2 pages

✅ Focus on Skills, Not Job Titles

Sometimes older applicants get passed over for being "overqualified." You can reduce this risk by focusing on skills rather than hierarchy.

For example, instead of highlighting your title as "Vice President of Sales," say: "Skilled in enterprise-level B2B sales, strategic partnerships, and revenue growth." Then back it up with metrics that show results without overemphasizing the seniority of the title.

✅ Address AI and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Most medium to large companies now use ATS software to screen, sort, and organize resume databases; partly due to the large number of applicants one corporate job now receives, partly due to this being a very time-saving and convenient way of storing and sorting through the applications. These systems look for specific keywords, not your age or experience level.

Tips:

• Tailor your resume to the job description
• Use the same language as the posting
• Avoid graphics or charts - these confuse most ATS tools
• Save your file as a PDF or .docx

✅ Keep Your Tech Skills Fresh

Outdated tech is a red flag. Even if you aren't in a technical role, some digital fluency is expected. Include familiarity with Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, CRM, project management, or scheduling software, online collaboration platforms, etc. 

Consider adding a small "Technical Skills" section at the bottom of your resume.

✅ Use a Short Summary, Not a Long Objective

The old-school resume objective is no longer standard. A short, powerful summary at the top is more effective. Avoid awkward phrasing like "Seeking a full-time position to contribute my decades of experience in…" This is much better: "Experienced finance professional with a strong track record in budgeting, cost reduction, and cross-team leadership."

✅ Don't Label Yourself as "Senior" Unless You Want Senior Roles

Avoid terms like "seasoned," "veteran," or "senior" in your headline if you're open to a range of roles. These can unintentionally pigeonhole you. Instead, focus on function and value: "Project manager with expertise in risk mitigation and cross-team collaboration"

✅ Maintain an Active Professional Online Presence 

Keep your LinkedIn page up to date and consistent with your resume. All of the resume hints above apply equally to your LinkedIn profile, and you’ll want to pay attention to your profile picture.

There’s always a temptation to use an old photo, but going too far out of date looks like deception. You don’t want an interviewer to wonder if this is the same person they saw online. You don’t need to use an outdated pic to break the age-related stereotypes. You want a picture that communicates energy, initiative, and positivity. If you don’t have one, get one taken by a professional. The idea that an older worker won’t have the vigor to contribute consistently is another of those damaging stereotypes, and a single glance at the right picture can do a lot to dispel that impression.

Ace the Interview

Everything we’ve discussed to this point is aimed at this moment. You have the interview, your resume has made a strong first impression and opened the door, and you’re sitting across from an interviewer. What you say and do now determines whether you will get the job or not. You don’t know what exactly the interviewer will ask, but you can put effort into clarifying the image that you want to convey.

Remember that not all stereotypes associated with age are negative. You need to be aware of the positive perceptions of age as well and emphasize those while negating the less attractive perceptions. How you show up in energy, appearance, and mindset can have just as much impact as what’s on your resume. While no hiring decision is made based on a single glance, first impressions often shape the tone of an entire interview.

Physical Presence Matters

You don’t need to look or move like a fitness coach, but demonstrating energy and confidence can set you apart. Someone who walks into the room with good posture, moves comfortably, and speaks with ease tends to leave a better impression than someone who seems low-energy or physically strained. Try to maintain a consistent, simple fitness routine: even daily walking or stretching makes a difference. Rest well before the interviews. Fatigue shows more than you might think. Nobody expects you to be an Olympic athlete, but a decent base of physical fitness does make a difference.

Reframe Age into Experience

Remember, you are not old - you’re wise and experienced. You’ve "been there and done that", and you bring that experience and wisdom to the table. You come from a generation that stuck to tasks, stayed with a job, and showed loyalty to employers. You have a record of success and accomplishment, you have stable and realistic expectations, and you can serve as a mentor and a stabilizing influence on younger employees.

You don’t need to talk like Master Yoda, but a touch of that Jedi attitude is not a bad thing. Wisdom is a rare and sought-after quality that is associated with age. Use that association in your favor. 

Understand Ageism in the Job Market

Age discrimination in employment is a real problem, especially in relatively low-skill jobs. A 2017 study covering over 40,000 applicants for over 13,000 positions in 11 states found that “age discrimination in the workplace exists, and it is worse for older women than older men”.

The report noted that “older (64 to 66 years) female applicants for administrative assistant jobs had a 47% lower callback rate than young (29 to 31 years) female applicants, and older female applicants for sales jobs had a 36% lower callback rate than young female applicants”.

People over 45 also tend to be unemployed for a significantly longer period between jobs, although in some cases, they may simply be more selective than their younger counterparts. In some industries, notably technology, workers as young as their 30s may already face a stigma associated with age!

Breaking the discrimination trap requires planning and strategy, so let’s examine some job-hunting realities that are particularly applicable to older applicants.

Know Your Rights

Age discrimination in the workplace is illegal, but that doesn’t mean it never happens. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 protects workers aged 40 and older from unfair treatment in hiring, promotions, benefits, pay, training access, and other employment-related matters.

This law also prohibits harassment based on age. Employers and interviewers are not allowed to ask for your birthdate, graduation year, or anything that would intentionally reveal your age. Despite this, many older workers still report being overlooked, passed up, or subtly filtered out during the application process.

If you believe you've been the target of age discrimination, you can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This is often the first step before any legal action. More information can be found on the official EEOC website. You can seek help from advocacy organizations like AARP for resources and guidance.

While legal protections exist, proving ageism can be difficult. Subconscious bias is a real factor—even employers who think they’re being fair may be influenced by age-based stereotypes. In 2019, a high-profile case involved an IBM age discrimination lawsuit, where internal documents revealed efforts to push out older workers. The company faced multiple legal actions from former employees.

This is why it’s important to focus not just on your rights, but on your strategy. How you present yourself (through your energy, resume, and tone) can help combat stereotypes. Using a strong, modern, and updated resume template for older workers can be part of that strategy. It allows you to emphasize your value clearly while removing cues that might trigger bias.

Don't Confuse "Overqualified" with Ageism

Being labeled "overqualified" can feel like age discrimination, but it’s not always about age. Often, it’s about how well your past experience lines up with the specific demands and expectations of the role. 

If you're repeatedly being told you're "too experienced," the issue may be about perceived mismatch, not bias.

Real-life examples

- Paul, 60, applied for an entry-level marketing role. The recruiter worried he'd leave after six months. After rewriting his resume to show interest in mentoring and long-term stability, he got hired for a coordinator role.

- Lena, 55, applied for an admin assistant job after 20 years in executive leadership. Recruiters doubted the fit. She repositioned herself as an operational support professional and removed senior roles from her resume entirely - and was hired.

What they did differently the second time around:

• Emphasized what they want now, not what they've done before
• Said they are "looking for a stable, collaborative role" instead of aiming to "leverage leadership experience"
• Downplayed past titles as they no longer reflected their goals

Conclusion & Action Plan

Job hunting in your 50s and 60s comes with a unique set of challenges. But with a properly formatted resume, approach, and mindset, older workers are perfectly capable of finding fulfilling, well-compensated, and meaningful roles. 

Do not hide your age, but present your strengths in the clearest, most relevant way. A modern resume, strategic positioning, and a positive presence will help you stand out for all the right reasons.

Here's a checklist to help you turn this guide into action:

Resume Readiness Checklist

BONUS TIPS

• Ask a trusted peer or coach to review your resume for clarity and tone

• Practice a short, confident introduction for interviews that reflects your value

• Take a short course or certification in your industry to reinforce relevancy

• Don't let a few rejections discourage you - it's usually about timing and fit, not about your age 

Believe in Your Next Chapter

The truth is, many companies today are actively seeking mature professionals who bring wisdom, calm under pressure, and long-term thinking. By following this guide and presenting yourself with clarity and purpose, you put yourself in the best possible position to land the kind of job you truly want.

You've already done the hard part - gaining years of experience. Now it's time to shape that experience into a resume that opens doors.