The economy has left millions of Americans out of work, having to compete against each other for the few number of jobs that are available. Because of this job shortage, older workers who have been laid off because their companies reduced their staff or went out of business are competing against job seekers who are recent college graduates. In order to market themselves against younger career hopefuls, older workers who are unemployed must carefully tailor their resume, according to CNN Money. Unemployment for older workers has gone up 331% in the past decade, indicating that many companies are looking for a younger staff. One of the suggestions on how to stand out is to whittle down the experience listed on the resume. Because mature workers normally have an extensive background filled with qualifications, they should just try to focus on what's really important. Additionally, older career hopefuls may want to consider leaving off their graduation dates so they don't reveal their age. They should also focus on what they've accomplished in the past decade rather than what they did right out of college. According to The New York Times, the majority of individuals who are out of work for six months or more are 45 and older.  |