If you’re job hunting in your 40’s, 50’s, or 60’s, it’s certainly occurred to you by now that age discrimination is alive and well in the market.

Employers spend considerable time filtering out the candidates that they consider outdated and expensive in order to focus on the right demographic for their businesses.

When you're trying to get your foot in the door to explain why you’re MORE agile and ready to work than your 20- or 30-something competition, you’ll want to use the optimum age-defying strategy on your resume—and I’m NOT referring to the dates that you’ve put down on it.

Believe it or not, the biggest tip-offs to your age come from the terms you use, the type of information you include, and the length of the resume you write.

In other words, if you haven’t kept up with the times, it’s going to be obvious.

So how can you combat these screen-out factors and at least snag an interview?

Look carefully at the INFORMATION you've offered and the presentation STYLE that you’ve chosen to state your case, using these pointers:

* A too-long resume is probably the first error made by over-40 job hunters.

I can't count the number of times that over-50 job hunters have sent me 5-page novels! Two pages is the MAXIMUM most people should strive for, unless you’re at a CEO or CIO level with many complex achievements.

Your story has to be briefly encapsulated, with high points that reflect your current level—not what you did 20-odd years ago.

* Speaking of which, look at your phrasing.

Does your profile proudly proclaim that you have “30 years of experience” in your industry or did you call yourself (ouch) "seasoned?"

If so, you have 2 choices: either kiss that job interview goodbye or better yet, find a stronger, more vivid way to describe your qualifications.

* Are you in a field that changes rapidly—such as information technology—but you’re still using early-career titles like Data Entry Specialist or Punch Card Operator?

You’ve just told the reader that your experience dates back to the 70’s – not a good move.

Peel these older titles off the work chronology and summarize them up in a category such as Previous Computer Support Positions.

Yes, as an experienced candidate, you SHOULD be proud of your experience and aptitude!

Just be sure to sum it up in a well-crafted branding message that tells employers what hiring YOU means to THEM, instead of inadvertently offering up age as your only differentiator.