Well, the answer to that question may be “yes,” but I can’t think of any good reason to modify our past experiences to the point of leaving out pertinent facts on your resume.  My thesis is — you’ll get found out. 

No matter how many qualified candidates apply for a position, any reputable employer will be checking references.  So if I’ve under-reported my title or job responsibilities, those facts will come to light in the reference check.

So pick one:

• Take the risk of seeming over-qualified for a job? 
• Or take the risk of being caught in a lie?

I know which one I’d pick.

P.S.  I wasn’t quoted in the article.  I don’t think I said what the reporter wanted to hear!

Age discrimination is against the law, but the reality is that some recruiters will sort a resume to the bottom of the stack if the candidate appears to be of a certain generation.  That makes absolutely no sense to me because mature workers are good workers — work experience, life experience, integrity, loyalty… you’ve seen my list before.

But to be on the safe side, there are some things you can do to avoid being sorted out because of your age:

• Consider your resume your best sales tool — work hard to make it relevant and customized for the specific job opening.
• Don’t go back to your very first job 30 years ago — focus on the relevant skills and accomplishments of the last ten years or so.
• If possible, don’t list the year you graduated from high school, technical college or university.  Be sure you list your educational accomplishments, but avoid calling attention to the fact that you graduated during the Nixon administration!
• Use technology, where appropriate.  Virtually every job has a technology element to it — so show off your technical knowledge.  Develop a profile in LinkedIn or other social networking site.  If you’ve got a website of your own, provide a link so your potential employer can see your technical skills showcased.
• Don’t take “you’re over qualified” as an answer.  Assure your potential employer that you’re serious about this application and you’ll do everything you can to help the company succeed.
• Finally, even though I’m advising that you avoid calling attention to your age, be very proud of your age and experience.  Know that you bring a lot of great things to work!

Good luck in your job search.  Employers are looking for qualified employees who can add value and help them succeed.  And you could be the perfect match — no matter how old you are!

So if you fit into the ‘over-50′ category and are looking for a job, take a look.  You might learn something.

What kinds of workplace flexibility would make your life easier?

But according to Staffing Industry Analysts, today’s average worker will hold nine jobs between the ages of 18 and 34.  Do the math.  That’s fewer than two years on each job.

So don’t stop investing in the young because — obviously — they are the future.  But don’t skip the mature worker either.  One of our most prominent work ethic characteristics is loyalty:  offer me a job, make it interesting and rewarding, be flexible and invest in my future – I’ll stick around for a looooong time.

You’ll get your ROI!

The population is aging while more and more of us are eligible for retirement.  Some estimate that 43% of the civilian population will be eligible to retire within ten years or so.  If that happens, companies may be in trouble as they watch knowledge and productivity walk out the door.  So is the aging workforce a problem for businesses?  Yes.

Depending on how you read life expectancy charts, most of us can confidently expect to live at least 20 years after traditional retirement age.  That means there are millions of us out there with good work ethic, relevant skills, valuable workplace knowledge — along with a strong desire to work.  So can the aging workforce be a solution?  Yes.

What do you think?

Read some terrific examples of aging workforce flexibility and creativity (and some quotes from me) in an article that appeared in today’s Wall St. Journal.

So employers take note:  Invest in this demographic!

What does that mean?

• Flexible work options
• Career opportunities
• Low- or no-stress work environment
• Training and development
• Fair, consistent age-neutral salary criteria

We’ll talk more about these in future posts.

• Mature workers?
• Aging workers?
• Experienced workers?
• Older workers?
• 50+ workers?
• Senior workers?

Did I miss anything?  What do you think we should be called?