Dates on a resume tell an employer your approximate age. Learn how to list your dates to avoid age discrimination.
A common question among job hunters when writing their resume is: “How far back in my work history should I go?” As a general rule, you needn’t go back more than 10 years; however, if it’s to your benefit, you may go back further. To help you decide how far back to go, ask yourself the following:
- How relevant are your earlier positions to your current objective?
- How old do you want to appear on your resume?
Although age discrimination is illegal, some employers may try to determine your age by using the dates you list. Employers often have an age range they believe to be ideal for a particular position, based on the skill level required, the ability to supervise or be supervised, salary expectations, amount of life experience needed, and other criteria.
A quick and easy formula
Here’s a great way to understand how the dates on your resume create an impression of your age. It’s called the EPT (Experience Plus Twenty) formula:
- Subtract the earliest work history date on your resume from today’s date (years only, not months).
- Add that number of years to 20 (used as a ballpark figure for how old you probably were when you started working) to get a total of x, meaning that you are at least x years old.
For example, a resume written in 2009 with a work history that starts in 1995 tells the reader that the job seeker is at least 34 years old (14 years of experience + 20 = 34).
A well-crafted resume uses dates to lead the employer to deduce that you are within the ideal age range for the position you are seeking, regardless of what your actual age is. Following are two examples of how to use dates to create the image you want.
Going for a “younger look”
Irene, a 37-year-old women, wanted to apply for a position as a makeup consultant in the cosmetics department of a retail clothing and accessories store that caters to young professional women. She figured that the employer was probably seeking a 20-something woman, someone who would fit in with the image of the store and who would not expect wages as high as someone who had more experience in the field.
In order to present herself as an ideal candidate, Irene decided to list only five years of experience on her resume, since the employer would probably:
- Start with the belief that the candidate was 20 years old.
- Add the 5 years of work experience listed in her resume’s work history.
- Conclude that Irene was at least 25 years old.
Likewise, in her education, Irene listed her degree but did not include her graduation date, since doing so would reveal her actual age.
All of the dates on Irene’s resume were true and accurate, but they didn’t tell all. During her interview she would have the opportunity to present her energy and enthusiasm, professionalism, and appropriate salary request, thereby meeting the employer’s expectations of an ideal candidate.
Going for an “older look”
Tony is a recent college grad who worked in his uncle’s hardware store throughout high school and college. He stood out as an achiever and was capable of greater responsibility in the job market than most people his age. When he applied for a position as a store manager at a local video store, he knew that if he could just get an interview, he’d be able to convince the owner that he could handle the job.
Tony decided that the employer was probably expecting to hire someone in his late 20s. So he went back eight years in the work history on his resume, to when he started working for his uncle in entry-level positions, and then listed his progression over the years to higher levels of responsibility. He stated that he had a college degree, but did not list his graduation date, as it might reveal that he was only 22.
Everything listed on Tony’s resume painted an honest and accurate picture of someone who had the experience and maturity of a 28-year-old (remember, 20 years + eight years of work experience = 28 years old), without ever revealing his actual age.
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How to List Dates on Your Resume
Dates on a resume tell an employer your approximate age. Learn how to list your dates to avoid age discrimination.
A common question among job hunters when writing their resume is: “How far back in my work history should I go?” As a general rule, you needn’t go back more than 10 years; however, if it’s to your benefit, you may go back further. To help you decide how far back to go, ask yourself the following:
Although age discrimination is illegal, some employers may try to determine your age by using the dates you list. Employers often have an age range they believe to be ideal for a particular position, based on the skill level required, the ability to supervise or be supervised, salary expectations, amount of life experience needed, and other criteria.
A quick and easy formula
Here’s a great way to understand how the dates on your resume create an impression of your age. It’s called the EPT (Experience Plus Twenty) formula:
For example, a resume written in 2009 with a work history that starts in 1995 tells the reader that the job seeker is at least 34 years old (14 years of experience + 20 = 34).
A well-crafted resume uses dates to lead the employer to deduce that you are within the ideal age range for the position you are seeking, regardless of what your actual age is. Following are two examples of how to use dates to create the image you want.
Going for a “younger look”
Irene, a 37-year-old women, wanted to apply for a position as a makeup consultant in the cosmetics department of a retail clothing and accessories store that caters to young professional women. She figured that the employer was probably seeking a 20-something woman, someone who would fit in with the image of the store and who would not expect wages as high as someone who had more experience in the field.
In order to present herself as an ideal candidate, Irene decided to list only five years of experience on her resume, since the employer would probably:
Likewise, in her education, Irene listed her degree but did not include her graduation date, since doing so would reveal her actual age.
All of the dates on Irene’s resume were true and accurate, but they didn’t tell all. During her interview she would have the opportunity to present her energy and enthusiasm, professionalism, and appropriate salary request, thereby meeting the employer’s expectations of an ideal candidate.
Going for an “older look”
Tony is a recent college grad who worked in his uncle’s hardware store throughout high school and college. He stood out as an achiever and was capable of greater responsibility in the job market than most people his age. When he applied for a position as a store manager at a local video store, he knew that if he could just get an interview, he’d be able to convince the owner that he could handle the job.
Tony decided that the employer was probably expecting to hire someone in his late 20s. So he went back eight years in the work history on his resume, to when he started working for his uncle in entry-level positions, and then listed his progression over the years to higher levels of responsibility. He stated that he had a college degree, but did not list his graduation date, as it might reveal that he was only 22.
Everything listed on Tony’s resume painted an honest and accurate picture of someone who had the experience and maturity of a 28-year-old (remember, 20 years + eight years of work experience = 28 years old), without ever revealing his actual age.
90 Resume Samples
Ready-Made Resumes Software
Professional Resume Writers