You Know You Sound Old When….
Have you ever put your “foot in your mouth” at a meeting and wondered what people thought of you? You want to reverse time and take back those words. On a resume candidates oftentimes commit a similar faux 
pas. Maturity and longevity in the workforce is to be revered. However, we need to be strategic about the image we create. Here are a few missteps that you should avoid when writing your resume.
You include a fax number in your contact information.
Including a fax number on a resume is so 1990. You will not be contacted for a job by fax. Listing the fax shows that you are out of sync with today’s communication standards. Also, please omit the cutesy little clip art of a telephone and pencil in your contact information section.
Your resume opens with “26 years of progressively-responsible experience.”
The calculations begin. Wow, she was working when I was in 3rd grade. That’s not the ideal first impression. Most experts agree that ten to fifteen years of experience is the optimal amount to include on a resume. Going back twenty or more years can actually hinder your job search. Opening your resume with that number can distract the reader from the value that you offer by focusing on the length of your career. Let’s face it - it shifts the focus to your age.
You boast in your profile that you are “energetic.”
If you have to tell an employer that you are energetic that could be a red flag that you perceive your level of energy as an issue. It is best to omit that attribute and focus on required qualifications and unique skills that show you as an exceptional candidate.
Your computer skills include DOS, Lotus 1-2-3, and VisiCalc.
With those qualifications, you may as well write that you know how to operate a photocopy machine or 
microfiche equipment. A resume does not need to include a complete list of all technologies that you have used. Instead, trim your list to show the technical skills that are most relevant in your target job.
You list “Internet” as a skill on your resume.
This is similar to saying that you are competent in the use of telephones and elevators. You simply don’t need to include “Internet” as a skill. Listing it will be viewed as a weakness.
Adept at generating sales through cold calling.
Cold calling – that went out last decade! Today’s savvy sales and marketing 
professionals don’t cold call, they conduct research, identify prospects, and customize a meaningful message for that prospect. They don’t cast the wide net of making random connections.
Send your resume via snail mail on linen resume paper.
In today’s market (and for some time now) candidates apply for positions online. Most large employers use application tracking systems and prefer to receive resumes via email or on their website. This allows the employer to store your resume in their database and find your resume by keywords for suitable openings. The exception is, of course, if the hiring employer specifically asks candidates to mail resumes. Sometimes people will do both to make more of an impact; because we all know that the only things that come in the mail these days are bills!
Follow these tips to modernize your resume. Separate yourself from the crowd by featuring your skills, knowledge, and major accomplishments rather than by being the candidate with the greatest longevity. If you have questions about your resume, contact me. I would love to help you create a compelling and sophisticated resume.