Do you have a question?

Please write to dearsam@dispatch.com. Samantha Nolan is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer with a graduate degree in Marketing and Communication and owner of Ladybug Design, a full-service résumé writing firm.

For more information, call 614-570-3442 or 1-888-9-LADYBUG or visit www.ladybug-design.com.

Dear Sam: I am a 53-year old graphic designer, recently laid-off from a printing company for which I worked many years. The company is experiencing financial decline, and I do not expect to be called back. I saw the "writing on the wall" and began my job search several months ago. I have applied for a number of jobs for which I am qualified but have not been called for interviews. I suspect that my age is an issue in a market that loves young designers. Now I find myself facing two dilemmas that I am unsure how to address to prospective employers: my laidoff status and my age.

What is the appropriate way to address the issue of being laid off? My résumé will reflect an end to my position, and I feel the need to explain this in my letter. I don't want to come off as desperate and therefore willing to accept a lower salary. I also don't want employers to assume that I was fired or quit. With regard to the age issue, I have been advised to leave dates off the résumé or to eliminate job listings from early in my career that date me. I do not feel comfortable doing this,and think it sends a "cover-up" message to an employer.

What advice can you give on both of these issues? - Patricia

Dear Patricia: I'm sorry to hear that. Looking at your résumé, I see you spent the past 17 years with that employer, so I know this is strange and unfamiliar territory you are entering.

You do not need to mention your layoff. But if you feel you do, place a note in the cover letter and not on the résumé. As you worked for a printing company, the assumption is going to be that you were laid off due to the migration from print to online. Don't focus on this. Instead, focus your efforts on differentiating your candidacy by highlighting the areas in which you have contributed value, driven by your experience, exposure to the industry, and ongoing development in the field.

There are many options you can exercise to avoid aging your candidacy. By following these guidelines you are not sending a "cover-up" message as you feared. Instead you are presenting the information a hiring manager wants to know without disqualifying yourself along the way. It is not a good idea to omit all dates on your résumé. Most of the time this presents a picture worse than reality and an unpolished image to the reader. It is a good idea, however, to omit earlier experiences that do little to add value, and which serve to detract from your candidacy because they age your experience. Let me cover some general information that will help you position yourself as a competitive player.

Include only the relevant amount of experience. When reviewing your career, remember hiring managers are more interested in what you have done recently, so including experience from 30 years ago likely will do more harm than good. Be sure to focus on the last 10 to 15 or so years, particularly if you are applying for a position that does not necessitate more experience. What I would prefer to see on your résumé is the past 17 years of your career more fully developed. You have no accomplishments highlighted and instead focus on daily responsibilities. How is it possible that the last 17 years of your career can be summarized in less than 100 words? I am certain you provided much more value than what 95 words can communicate. Fully develop this section, and be sure you are presenting your accomplishments prominently. A hiring manager wants to hire someone who can add value to their organization; someone who does more than just their job. Communicating that you have done so will go a long way in differentiating your candidacy from a younger competitor.

Don't date your education if it ages you. Stating that you received your degree in 1976 allows the hiring manager to figure out your age, not a good thing when you already have noted you are competing in a market that loves young designers. As a side note, I work with a lot of clients who do not have a degree and make the mistake of placing high school information or partially completed degree programs on their résumé. Typically this information does nothing but detract from someone's candidacy while reinforcing the lack of a degree. If the degree program you began but didn't complete enhances your candidacy — meaning that it is in line with your current pursuits and is a requirement for most of the positions you are seeking, then include the uncompleted program. If this is not the case, however, omit the education section entirely to remove the focus on this area.

Include training and current skills. Another vitally important component of a seasoned professional's résumé is a training section. This tells the reader that despite being in the workforce and possibly the same type of position for 20+ years, you have continued to develop yourself professionally. For you, it is imperative you pay particular attention to communicating you have current technical skills. To do this, note the versions of all graphics and page layout software with which you are familiar, as long as they are the most current versions.

Update jargon and outdated job titles. You also will want to make sure the jargon used within your résumé is up-to-date with today's vernacular. Antiquated terms and job titles can serve immediately to age a candidate. Be sure your résumé speaks the language of today's hiring manager. Review your job titles to be sure they are not detracting from your candidacy and modify if necessary. I have worked with clients who list titles such as "secretary," which more commonly is referred to as "administrative assistant" in today's market.

Communicate your compensation requirements. Another problem for senior professionals is that hiring managers often assume you will be seeking higher compensation than less seasoned professionals. If this is not the case, you may want to address this in your cover letter to curtail this assumption.

I hope this sheds some light on what you need to do to present a competitive image to today's hiring managers. To be effective, a résumé cannot be solely a narrative of your career. Instead, it has to be created as a strategic marketing tool targeting the desired audience and packaging the product (you) competitively.