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Q:  I just eliminated all of the dates from my resume because I fear “age-ism” is playing a role in the low response rate I’m receiving.  What is your advice?  Should I keep the dates on?

A:  This topic has definitely evolved in the employment world. It used to be that submitting a resume without graduation dates raised all kinds of questions about integrity, truth and honesty.  Now, it happens quite frequently, and because more candidates submit resumes without dates, it has become a much more acceptable practice.

The bigger question is whether to eliminate dates associated with specific jobs.  If you do, the resume becomes rather open-ended.  If you don’t, it is tantamount to keeping your graduation dates on the resume as most professionals acquire their first jobs at or soon after graduation from either college or graduate school.

Consider these approaches to your resume format when deciding whether or not to include dates:

1. Redraft the resume into a functionally, not chronologically, including an opening bio section referencing your total years of service.  That way, you get the benefit of being considered a “senior” player without all of the disadvantages associated with being specific about exact graduation dates.
2. Include dates in the heading describing your professional life but not with each entry.  This gives the reader a general sense of your professional history without getting too deep into the nuts and bolts of timing.
3. Keep the resume date free, and use the cover letter to give the reader broad time frameworks.

The format you choose will depend on the level of job you seek, the time that has lapsed since you graduated from college and the number of intervening experiences you have had.  Someone who has held several leadership roles will have different choices to make compared to someone who has been with two or three organizations during the course of a lengthy career.

No matter which format you choose, circulate the final version to a group of trusted references for immediate feedback and commentary, and pay attention to the comments you receive.  If the responses regarding dates is critical, try another approach.  If the way you handled dates seems acceptable, proceed with confidence.

Contact Karen Alphonse at Karena@execSearches.com or visit ExecSearches.com for more information about our career coaching services.

ExecSearches.com is a job board for nonprofit job seekers interested in fundraising, management and executive nonprofit jobs.

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