The Resume Characteristics Determining Job Interviews for Middle-Aged Women Seeking Entry-Level Employment

Obtaining an entry-level job can be critically important for women with little education, particularly those who have taken time out of the labor force. This article uses archival data from a field experiment, called a resume audit study, to examine the characteristics of entry-level resumes that are important to potential employers. In accordance with earlier theory, post–high school education and training, such as from a community college or a computer training program, are primary factors in determin-ing whether a woman receives an interview. For example, vocational training more than doubles the chance of an interview. Other factors are not as important for entry-level jobs, unlike what resume manuals aimed at college graduates suggest