Resume ‘Botox’: Older Women Fight Age Bias in Job Market

Older Women Face Age Bias in Job Search

Many experienced women are finding themselves shut out of the job market as they get older. Karen Loomis, who had a successful career in corporate marketing, found this out firsthand. She never expected to hit a “barrier” when looking for work, especially after decades of experience. But when she entered her 50s, finding a corporate job became difficult. This is a growing problem for many older workers, particularly women.

‘Resume Botox’ and AI’s Role

Some career experts are now advising job seekers to remove any signs of age from their resumes. They call this practice “resume Botox.” The reason? Artificial intelligence (AI) is now used by many companies to sift through hundreds, even thousands, of job applications. Some job seekers are removing years of experience from their resumes to avoid being filtered out by these systems. One expert controversially suggested, “Should you lie on your resume? Unpopular opinion? Yes.” This expert believes that once people are over 45, employers start avoiding hiring them.

The Impact on Older Workers

Many experienced professionals are proud of their long careers. However, they feel they must hide this experience to get a chance at a job. Career advisor Colleen Paulson notes that needing a resume makeover isn’t just a problem for women. But studies show that older women face a “double whammy” of discrimination. They deal with both gender bias and age bias in the job hunt. This is especially true for women over 50.

Ageism Statistics and AI Concerns

Glassdoor reported that its users mentioned ageism 133% more in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This is happening even though age discrimination has been illegal for decades. Many fear the problem is getting worse because of AI. One job seeker explained, “I’m not getting interviews, I’m putting in the time. And so I knew what I was working for against was algorithms.” They worry that only those who know how to use technology and “game the system” will be seen as employable. This happens before they even get a chance to show their skills.

Applicant Tracking Systems and Lawsuits

Around 98% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to help with hiring. Many of these systems now use AI tools. Last year, a lawsuit claimed that the recruitment platform Workday discriminates against job candidates aged 40 and older with its AI. Workday responded, stating, “The court has already dismissed all claims of intentional discrimination and there is no evidence our tools harm protected groups.” They also added that their AI recruiting tools do not make hiring decisions. However, several studies suggest that some AI language models have built-in biases, which can particularly affect older women.

A Tougher Job Market

This growing age bias is happening at a time when the overall job market is struggling. 2025 was the worst year for job creation in a non-recession period since 2003. “It’s an employer’s market,” one observer noted. “I am seeing lower offers now than I have seen in a long, long time.” People are accepting pay cuts and doing whatever they can just to survive. For some, like Karen, the stress of this difficult job search leads them to consider giving up altogether. It can take a long time to accept that you might no longer be seen as a “viable” candidate.

What’s Next?

As AI becomes more common in hiring, the fight against age discrimination will likely intensify. Companies and policymakers will need to address the biases within AI systems. Job seekers, especially older women, will continue to seek ways to highlight their experience without being penalized. The long-term impact on the workforce and the careers of experienced professionals remains a critical issue to watch.

Source: Ageism forcing some women to consider revamping their resumes in a changing job market (YouTube)