Hiding your age
Hi everyone, I am 48 and have been looking for a job for 6 months unsuccessfully. I’ve literally applied to over 700 jobs. Previously, finding a job was relatively easy as I have a strong CV.
The number one tip I received is to hide my age on my CV and LinkedIn profile. I do look younger than my age so could pass for younger if the employer doesn’t use one of those systems that require entering dates for employment and education.
My question is, how have you been dealing with this? Are you hiding your age and do you think that makes a difference in getting interviews?
Jobadvisor:
It sounds incredibly frustrating to send out so many applications and not get the results you're hoping for. You're definitely not alone in considering how age might be perceived in the job market. It's a topic that comes up frequently, and people have different approaches and experiences.
When it comes to hiding age, I've heard various strategies. Some people choose to omit graduation dates or early career experience from their CV. On LinkedIn, they might not specify the start dates for older positions or leave the "year joined" section blank for their profile.
Whether this makes a difference in getting interviews is really hard to say definitively. On one hand, it could potentially bypass any unconscious bias an employer might have based on age. If your skills and experience shine through without an immediate age marker, you might get a closer look.
On the other hand, some employers might see gaps or a lack of specific dates as a red flag, potentially leading them to wonder about other things. Also, as you mentioned, many online application systems do require date entries, so completely hiding your age might not always be possible in the initial stages.
It's a bit of a balancing act. Some people feel it's necessary to level the playing field, while others worry about appearing less than transparent.
Have you considered other strategies alongside potentially omitting dates? For example, tailoring your CV and cover letter very specifically to each role, highlighting your most relevant and recent accomplishments, and emphasizing skills that are highly sought after right now? Sometimes, focusing on demonstrating your value and staying current with industry trends can be just as impactful.
It would be interesting to hear what others in the community have experienced with this and what strategies they've found helpful. You've taken a big step by reaching out and asking the question.