With the effects of rising inflation, purchasing everyday necessities has become a challenge, especially for those on a fixed income. Retirees who may have left a 30-year career and settled into a life of leisure with their grandchildren are now finding themselves trying to re-enter the workforce just to make the ends meet. Despite years of professional experience, they may struggle to navigate a job search in an ever-increasing technological age. Even finding a part-time or contingent job becomes a problem when a retiree makes these 3 big mistakes on their resume.
1. Not targeting a specific role. A retiree with a past professional career may think that their experience would qualify them for a ton of jobs in today’s labor market with its shortage of workers. And theoretically, that could be the case, but every candidate should target their resume for a specific role, regardless of how much experience and how many different qualifications a person has. Choose a target and then build the resume to support that target. Include only the most current education, work history, and skillset relevant to the targeted role.
2. Putting too many years and too much information on the resume. Although a retiree may have decades’ worth of experience, it is important that the resume only contains the last 10-15 years of relevant work history. With the vast amount of information that a candidate could include on a resume, especially with previous years of experience to consider, deciding what should be cut and what should be kept can be daunting. Many fear that streamlining the content will minimize their value and somehow reduce their chances of being contacted for an interview. When just the opposite is true. Targeting the resume and reviewing job descriptions that match the role will guide the choice of content to supply, improving the chances of being noticed by employers.
3. Making claims without providing demonstrative examples. This is a common mistake that just about everyone has made at one time or another. Claiming to possess certain skills or knowledge, performing at a high level, or accomplishing specific results without providing any numerical data or real-world examples decreases the effectiveness of a resume’s message. Job seekers should take time to think back on their contributions and figure out a way to quantify them. Did you reduce errors by a certain percentage? How much did you increase sales in one quarter? How many people have you trained? Candidates should review past performance appraisals, if they have them, to be reminded of the positive impact they made in their previous positions and use some of that content on the resume.
Creating a concise, impactful resume that serves as a powerful job marketing tool can be difficult, to say the least. When you factor in the use of applicant tracking system (ATS) software and keyword optimization, today’s application process can become a barrier to retirees who have reached a point in life where they may actually have no choice but to seek employment again. With all of this to consider, it would be wise to pursue professional resume writing services. Work with an expert who can develop a fully targeted, streamlined, keyword-optimized resume with a cover letter designed to present skills and experience in a way that calls attention to a retiree’s ability—not their age. SuperNova Resumes can do just that. Visit our website to get started today.
Nova Yeoman-Forrestall - Writer, Consultant & Mentor specializing in Career Development and Job Search Readiness. HRM Certified professional who has helped 100s advance toward the achievement of their goals while working for a division of Manpower Group, Monster.com, and as the CEO & Owner of SuperNova Resumes.
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