Reasons to Remove Graduation Year From Resume

⛏️ "Your Resume: A Goldmine for Scammers and Identity Thieves" 🏧 Sending out your resume might seem like a routine part of job searching, but have you ever stopped to think about the personal information you’re sharing? As someone who’s been an AWOL-chasing MP, a private investigator, and a bounty hunter, I’ve seen firsthand how much can be uncovered with just a few data points, and a resume often provides far more than most people realize. Think about it. Your resume typically includes: Your full legal name City and state where you live Phone number and email address Employment history with dates and locations Degrees earned, universities attended, and sometimes even the year This is a treasure trove of information for a nefarious actor. With these details, someone can easily begin piecing together your life. From past job locations, I can figure out where you’ve lived. With university information, I can potentially find your graduation year and narrow down age demographics. Once I’ve gathered this, I’m just a few clicks away from accessing public records or databases to pull your birth certificate. And from there? A copy of your Social Security card isn’t far behind. Armed with this information, a scammer could: Open lines of credit in your name. Steal your identity and even your home. Access your criminal history or personal background. Impersonate you online, potentially damaging your reputation. If this sounds alarming, it should be. Your resume, while a powerful tool in landing your next job, can also expose you to significant risk if it falls into the wrong hands. How to Protect Yourself: Remove your physical address and limit location details to just the city/state. Use a professional email not tied to your personal accounts. Leave off graduation years or dates unless explicitly required. Be cautious about sharing your resume on public job boards or with unknown recruiters. In today’s digital world, protecting your personal information is just as important as finding the right job. Don’t let a piece of paper make you a target!

Don’t fall for this trap in your next interview Recruiters might casually ask about the year you graduated. Sounds chill, right? Well, not necessarily. And in some states, this is actually an illegal question. It can be a backdoor way to figure out your age, which can lead to bias. We live in a society that has a lot of “OK Boomer” and “kids these days” stereotypes all over the place, including at work. The World Health Organization says 50% of people hold ageist beliefs. Half!! So my take is, why give them extra data to work with that has nothing to do with the job you’re applying for? Here’s what to do instead: Redirect to how you can add value from your experience and how you will contribute to the role at hand. Your age? It truly is irrelevant to your work. And it’s none of their business. — PS. want more no-BS advice on surviving age bias at work? Follow me here and sign up for my newsletter/podcast for career strategies that work after 40 at itgetslateearly.com ❤️ #ageism #hiring #interviewing #careers #olderworkersmonth

Your age shouldn't dictate your job prospects. But revealing it early on can trigger ageism. 7 practical tips for staying ahead of it ↓ 1) Avoid dates that indicate your age: ➝ Remove graduation and job dates over 15 years ❌ "Job title, company, city, state, 1982—1990" ✅ List only recent and relevant experience 2) Reframe extensive experience: ➝ Highlight skills rather than years of experience ❌ "Over 20 years of experience doing [thing]" ✅ Show specific results and relevant skills 3) Modernize your email address: ➝ Use an email that doesn't hint at your age ❌ "oldhighschoolnickname@aol(dot)com" ✅ Use a current and professional email 4) Refresh your job titles: ➝ Use modern terms to describe your roles ❌ "Programmer" or "Personnel Manager" ✅ Use "Developer" or "HR Manager" 5) Showcase continuous learning: ➝ Highlight recent training, certs, or courses ❌ "COBOL, MS-DOS, Lotus Notes, Novell" ✅ Use relevant, current skills and certs 6) Limit your outdated work history: ➝ Focus on the last 10-15 years of your career ❌ Career history from the 1980s and 1990s ✅ Recent positions and relevant results. 7) Use age-neutral language: ➝ Avoid phrases that might highlight your age ❌ "Seasoned professional," "Worked with" ✅ Use "Experienced," "Partnered with" Tackling age bias is simpler than you think. But your early oversharing won't help. ——— ✍️ What's your best tip for modernizing your resume? ♻️ Share and support your network in staying current