“What if my job age requirement is 28 and I’m 35 years old?
Should I apply and what age should I put in my resume?”
Chelsea R.
Dear Chelsea,
Stating the exact dates of your graduation and various work experiences is what gives your potential employer a clear picture of your approximate age. Even if you don’t include your birth date into a resume, those dates reveal it to the reader.
There is a rather simple way to understand how certain dates on any resume bring out an applicant’s age. The method used by most employers for calculating your age is called EPT (Experience Plus Twenty).
Here is how it works:
- we find the first date (only years) in your working experience history and subtract it from today’s date;
- we add 20 to the result in order to get a total number, meaning your current age
For instance, if the first date in your working history list is 1999 and your resume is written in 2011, it gives your prospective employer an impression that you are about 32 years old (12 years in career + 20 = 32).
In addition to that, eliminating your graduation date while mentioning your degree will help you hide your actual age and you will get a chance to sell yourself as the best candidate for the opening during an interview.
In your particular case, it is also advisable to avoid writing your graduation date. In addition to that, you should list not more than 5-8 years of professional experience. According to the EPT formula your employer will assume that you are approximately 25-28 years old. Such well-crafted resume will definitely win you an interview, where you can show your strongest sides and prove that age does not matter.
There is no secret in making your resume successful and remarkable. Using an EPT method will help you stay honest providing such true and accurate data, which will only favor your candidature. Use the EPT trick to pave the way to your future career regardless of the age requirements.
If you still experience troubles with managing the dates in your resume or presenting yourself within the accepted age range, contact us for assistance. Our experts in writing effective resumes will make you look as young or as old as you want!
Regards,
KeyResumeHelp.com Team