The 12 Tell-Tale Signs You May Be an “Old” Job Seeker

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Mark Babbitt

We all know that age is relative, a state of mind – to both the recruiter and the recruited – and that most of us are ready to contribute right now, regardless of our birth generation.

However, among Boomer job seekers, it seems there is growing bias against workforce veterans… and that relevancy as a candidate is perhaps determined in large part by their age. So, how can you best mitigate the perception of “old” – or at least “old school” during your job search?

Here are twelve tell-tale signs – through outdated resumes and interview techniques or by the lack of a digital presence – you just may be perceived as an old job seeker, regardless of your actual age, or ability to contribute:

Resume

1.  Times New Roman or Courier

With so many creative fonts available, it is a sign that you may be an older candidate if you stick with the default of Times New Roman. Worse yet is the use of Courier, which looks like you created your resume on a typewriter.

2.  “References available upon request”

In today’s job market it’s a given that you have references lined up for the recruiter – probably on your Linkedin profile for all to see. It’s also a given that you aren’t going to provide references that would ever say anything bad about you. Leave this old-school line completely off your resume.

3.  Objective Statement

For most recruiters today, the Objective Statement is passé… the mark of a candidate who is behind the times. Especially in this challenging economy, skip the Objective Statement – or at least roll that valuable space on your resume into how you’re going to help solve the company’s problems.

4.  Wholly Chronological Resume

With exceptions such as engineering, nursing and other fields that still rely on old-school resumes, today’s most effective resumes talk about foundation skills transferable to any employer: work ethic, leadership and problem solving. Your old school resume that lists every job you ever had, with every single responsibility ever delegated to you, can be seen as a huge red flag in today’s recruiting world.

Application and Interview

5.  Email Addresses from AOL, Earthlink or Prodigy

The original “Rat Pack” of email providers were born back in the stone ages of the Internet (15 years ago). You’re looking for a job – so better not to take chances… create an email address specifically for your job search using Gmail or another of the more “modern” email providers.

6.  You Hesitate to Participate in Phone or Skype Interviews

To paraphrase an old commercial “this isn’t your father’s interview…” Many companies have found screening the initial round of applicants via phone or Skype to be a great way to save time and money. Don’t act surprised when asked… or you’ll be considered a dinosaur.

7.  Canned Answers to Common Interview Questions (i.e., “greatest weakness”)

Recruiters don’t want you to “spin” an answer based on 20 year old wisdom that says you’re expected to spin a weakness into a positive (“I care too much” or “I work too hard” are great examples). Spare the recruiter the spin. Give a straight, short answer. Otherwise, you’ll not only come across as old-school – you just may be labeled insincere.

8.  You Talk Without Contractions or Use 50-Cent Words when a Penny Word Will Do

Sure you’ll want to make a good impression by displaying your intelligence – but leave the giant words and perfect cadence to English professors – and those recruiting English professors. In the days of IM and texting, recruiters know that few in the real world talks like that. Today, an interview is just a conversation between two normal people.

Digital Presence

9.  Lack of a Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter Account

Social media is how many people communicate today. Don’t have a Facebook or Twitter account? You’re labeling yourself “I’m really old.” You don’t have to be an expert – or even a dedicated user. But when a recruiter Googles you… you better show up. For job seekers, this is especially true for Linkedin.

10.  Exclaiming “Facebook is for the kids”

No, you don’t have to be an expert. But to downplay the presence of Facebook (or, for that matter any major social media platform except MySpace) instantly labels you as not just old-fashioned… but perhaps unwilling to learn and change.

11.  Not Following the Influential Blogs in Your Industry/Market

To anyone under 40, blogging is the Gen Y version of a newspaper. To not follow the major blogs in your chosen career field may make it seem as though you’ve made no effort to change. Worse yet, it may show that you do not have the latest information available to you to make good decisions at critical times.

12.  Not understanding basic internet tools (Google, Skype, etc.)

At a minimum, job seekers of every age should understand internet basics: Google and Google Docs, the previously mentioned Skype and perhaps a CRM like Salesforce and online meeting software like GotoMeeting. Each is very easy to use, and all have thousands of blog posts, online video tutorials and help forums to help you master them quickly. In the eyes of most recruiters… there is no excuse for not being able to use these tools effectively.

The good news for older job seekers: all 12 of these indicators of an “old school” job seeker are easily remedied. In fact, in just a couple days – and with the help of those around you – you can be fluent enough to convince 90% recruiters that you are willing to adapt, learn and are coach-able.

Get started right away. Knock off one item on this list every hour or so. By next Monday, you’ll be a digital media superstar – and wise beyond your years. Who knows… the 20-somethings might even think you are cool!

The original version of this post was published by our friends at 12Most.com.

About the Author: A passionate supporter of Gen Y talent, CEO and Founder of YouTern Mark Babbitt is a serial entrepreneur and mentor. Mark has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Mashable, Forbes and Under30CEO regarding internships, higher education’s role in preparing emerging talent for the workforce and career development. Recently, Mark was honored to be named to GenJuice’s list of “Top 100 Most Desirable Mentors”. You can contact Mark via email or on Twitter: @YouTernMark.

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  • Anonymous

    Yep, I’ve have seen a lot of  these especially from job seekers in the Federal sector. One of my Fed clients had a Netscape account that was unknowingly disabled. 

    I find that older people that do not exude energy or passion in any form are the last to know. There are many 50+ job seekers who have energy and display a deep well of knowledge. It’s very appealing to younger employers.  

  • Tessaduckett

    I have an “old” friend looking for employment- I had to  send this to him.  Good information and relevant.

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  • Weinert George

    Thanks, but  the COURIER comment surprised me – does ANYONE still  use that?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WMNADPBZJM2TOACRHA6MQE7IFA Kat Gallagher

    Regarding #12, there has been a lot of press about Skype’s policies regarding confidentiality as well as their use of customer’s bandwidth. Understanding these two issues and caution regarding same does not equate one with age, it is inherent wisdom and sensibility. To equate knowledge about technology and exercising caution with being old is illogical. This also shows a bias on the writer’s part. 

  • http://charilotta.com Nyseups

    There are three stages of generational evolution: “PAST, PRESENT and too OLD to care!” lol

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  • GreenTalent

    I agree with a lot of points here, esp. 2, 3 and 6.  If the “Objective” is something like “To obtain a position with your organization where I add value etc…” it’s not really useful at all…

    I’m not convinced on #1, unless you’re applying for a creative job. Many of the hiring managers I’ve worked with recently could care less what font you use, as long as the information is clear.  Stay away from fonts that distract from the resume.

    The technology comments are dead on!  Comfort using common internet tool like Google and Skype are just part of the business environment now, like a telephone or a fax machine.

    I really really like #8.  Part of the social media sea-change in the professional word is a relaxing of the artificial formality of the past.  That doesn’t mean that all language is acceptable in all circumstances, but the “conversation between two normal people” is a perfect way to express the new standard.

  • Karen

    This is interesting, but doesn’t 25 years of experience also peg you as old? 

  • Coolrayfruge

    The Old ways were the best way’s.
    You filled out a app. Turned it in .They called you for a interview and most of the time they would hire you just  for your willingness to want to work.
    Now we got all this B.S. to go through to get approved.
    To be scruttionized and judged.
    I just read that employers are now going as far as having you fill out a questionaire’s about  your personnal childhood to see what kind of trouble you got into as a kid.
    Or using your e-mail address to check sites you’ve been on,to see what statments you’ve made on blogs.
    to see where you stand on Politics or Religion.
    They have done almost everything to infringe on the freedoms, rights and privacy of the people’s lives.
    These are the same ones bitching about all the people on welfare,foodstamps and SSDI.
    Accusing most of the people out of work, of being lazy and socialist, looking for a free handout.
    Tell me, what incentive does that give a person to want to try and find a job if they know their chances of getting a job is slim to none.
    Being discrimminate before your even given a chance to prove yourself.
    Just because you were bad at one job doesn’t mean your bad at all.
    We all know that people excell at a jobs they enjoy and don’t at the one’s they don’t enjoy.
    We never know what job that is untill we’ve had a chance at it.

  • Janeir

    Good information for the older job seeker. I’m curious about the very first one on your list. Don’t job seekers of all ages need to have a text only, common font resume for the ATS? I certainly appreciate the creative resume, but we need to be certain we are not giving the impression that it’s the one that gets downloaded or copied and pasted for the ATS, right?

    • http://www.youtern.com Mark Babbitt

      Janier, you are correct. We are not suggesting using multiple or hard-to-read fonts. Instead, use an easy-to-read, contemporary font like Calibri or Tahoma. This is especially important when submitting an application to a large corporation that is most likely using ATS to filter incoming resumes.