How to Write a Resume When You are Older and Not Retiring

Individually you: Tips for baby boomers on how to write a resume

Baby boomers are in a whole other category with respect to employment. You are older, but not retired. You may no longer have your old job, but you are not even thinking of retirement yet. You may be job hunting for any number of other reasons, like extra income. Perhaps you have not written a resume for many years and at this time in your life, you don't know where to start.

Guess what! A lot of baby boomers are in the same predicament.

Here are some tips to follow:

What is a resume?

First, a resume is not intended to be your autobiography, although it may include autobiographical information about you, your education, training, job skills, employment and interests. It is a document you are preparing to submit to a prospective employer with respect to obtaining employment.

Remember that your resume is individually you and your unique marketing tool.

What should be included in a resume?

A resume consists of two parts. The first part is your cover letter and the second part will include pertinent information about your education, employment experience and other interests.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is your letter of introduction to a prospective new employer.

What should be included in a cover letter?

Your cover letter should include your name, address and telephone number, as this identifies you immediately and shows your potential employer how to contact you. If you can add an e-mail address and a URL for your own personal website, that will be to your advantage. In this era, potential employers prefer to have resumes submitted by e-mail and may prefer to contact you by e-mail.

Why should an employer hire you?

Ask yourself this question and include your answer in one or two sentences or a short paragraph, in your cover letter. Include technical and generic skills like analytic and problem solving skills, motivational skills or time management skills and leadership ability.

How does one begin to construct or write the second part of the resume?

The easiest way to begin this part of your resume is to make a working copy first. Use three separate pages and list your education and training on one page, your employment experience on another page and your other interests on the third page. List these in reverse chronological order.

Now condense all of this to one or two pages, at the most.

Your education or training, employment experience and other interests should consist of that which pertains only to the last ten to twelve years, although you may have compiled pages of other information. Condense other prior information into one or two short paragraphs.

Focus on your personal skills and strengths in different areas of education, employment and other interests. List any special skills like computer, certificates obtained, ability to speak or write in other languages, major achievements, awards and volunteer work.

It is a good idea to have contact information or professional references available, as these may be required. While it is not always necessary to submit this information immediately, you might state that references are available upon request.

Note that it not necessary to include either your social security number, or your date of birth.

Make certain that your resume is well organized and printed out on good quality paper. An error free resume will make a better impression.

Keep a copy of your resume and a record of any place that you have submitted it, with dates and results. It will make your job search easier.

Good luck and remember that baby boomers everywhere will be job hunting in the near future!