The mature-age guide to resume skills

After a break from work or gaining a postgraduate qualification and moving into a new field, it’s normal to feel hesitant when diving back into the job market. 

It’s also common for mature-age students and workers to undersell themselves, thinking the younger generation is better at technology, learning and self-confidence. 

But that’s not true. You have lived experience that translates into strong, desirable skills on a resume. You have had plenty more opportunities to develop qualities that only time can bring, such as perspective, problem-solving, and perseverance.

Revealing transferable skills in your day-to-day

It comes down to how you view the strengths you have, or more accurately, how you uncover and present them. You may not realise how many valuable skills you already possess that are transferable to a range of careers. 

The table below will help you identify your hidden professional strengths. More than that, it also shows you how to translate your capabilities into what employers want to hear. 

Examples of transferable skills

How to prove your skills are legitimate 

Now that you’ve identified your transferable skills, you need to prove them. It’s not enough to say you did something. Recruiters will ask you for examples to illustrate your experience to show clear, measurable results, and they love it when you use the STAR method.

The STAR Method

First, work on proving your skills using the STAR method. Think about a past role and write bullet points according to the: 

• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result

For example, instead of saying that you volunteered at your children’s school, you could say:

• Situation: The school was planning a fair and needed help.
• Task: I offered to run the canteen.
• Action: I coordinated food donations, organised the kitchen and ensured it complied with relevant safety codes, rostered volunteers for cooking and serving, and managed the cash flow.
• Result: The canteen made a $1000 profit at the fair.

You can now use this example to underscore your strengths in leadership, project management, event coordination, cash flow management and community engagement.

Use AI as your translator

If you’re not great with words, Generative AI tools (like ChatGPT or Gemini) are here to help. They can rewrite your STAR scenario into words that appeal to potential employers.

For example, using the above scenario, you could try this prompt: 

[Copy & paste your STAR scenario bullet points]. Rewrite my duties to highlight transferable corporate skills like project management, leadership and event management. Keep it professional and suitable for a formal interview.

You’ll see that the more details you add into STAR method, the better the result will be.

How do you explain employment gaps on a resume?

Many people have gaps in their resumes. In fact, a recent Forbes article noted that around 52% of people have gaps of at least a month, and 33% have gaps of at least six months.

If you’re worried about it, here are some strategies to turn it into a strong positive.

Don’t discount the professional skills you already have

The job market may be shifting towards more reliance on technology, but that is also creating a need for more human-connection related competencies. There are five skills that mature-age workers have in abundance, simply because of their experience in life: 

1. Adaptability (AQ)
   You have likely experienced enough challenging situations, difficult people and tough times to know how to accept, adapt and look for ways through. You can make realistic decisions and often be more flexible than younger employees.
   
   
2. Emotional intelligence (EQ)
   You have a good understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, how your behaviour affects others, and the empathy and communication skills to build and maintain relationships.
   
   
3. Critical thinking
   You are probably better at identifying issues and analysing a range of solutions than someone with less life experience. This means your thought processes will be deeper and your judgements more thoughtful. 
   
   
4. Resilience
   Think of everything you have been through so far. No one gets an easy ride in every aspect of life. You have likely developed strong coping mechanisms that will help you navigate challenges and cope with dynamic work environments. 
   
   
5. Mentorship
   Sharing your knowledge and experience can help develop younger staff and improve team performance.

You can also read UNSW’s Future of Work research to see more about what skills will be required in the future.