Ageless Careers

I help Gen X and Baby Boomer job seekers to thrive in their careers through:
* 1:1 Coaching (Resumes, LinkedIn profile recommendations, Executive Bios)
* Ageless Careers Toolkit (courses designed to help you land a job faster)
* Ageless Careers Insider Weekly (weekly newsletter with actionable tips)

I've delivered webinars and in-person presentations on resume and LinkedIn best practices to corporations and universities including Asurion, the Carnegie Mellon University Alumni Association, and Point Park University.

I've been cited as a Top Resume Writing Voice on LinkedIn and a Career Expert in online and print resources including Fast Company, Forbes, LinkedIn News, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg Businessweek, FlexJobs, and Best Colleges.

I've also delivered customized career coaching as part of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women.

Partnership opportunities: I also partner with companies looking to hire Gen X and Baby Boomer talent. Feel free to reach out if you have opportunities that you would like to share with the Ageless Careers community.

Sponsorship opportunities: Are you looking to gain awareness with Gen X/Baby Boomer executives? Reach out to discuss opportunities to sponsor the Ageless Careers Insider Weekly newsletter and/or reach my 65K+ LinkedIn followers through sponsored posts.

Founder | Executive Resume Writer | LinkedIn Profile Upgrades | Executive Bios

Colleen Paulson Consulting

I have generated 32M+ LinkedIn impressions since January 2023, adding 60,000+ LinkedIn followers, and was named one of the Top 200 LinkedIn Creators in the US and Top 200 Female LinkedIn Creators in the World.

I use the same strategies to help clients grow their presence on LinkedIn, optimizing client LinkedIn profiles, ghostwriting posts, and introduce posting strategies to maximize reach.

LinkedIn Consultant for Businesses & Executives

I've helped 1000+ executives and job seekers advance in their careers through insightful resumes, executive bios, LinkedIn profiles, and cover letters with a 99.9% client satisfaction rate.

I've delivered webinars and in-person presentations on resume and LinkedIn best practices to groups including the Carnegie Mellon University Alumni Association and Point Park University.

I've been cited as a Top Resume Writing Voice on LinkedIn and a Career Expert in online and print resources including Forbes, LinkedIn News, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg Businessweek, FlexJobs, and Best Colleges.

I've also delivered customized career coaching as part of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women.

Career Consultant | Resumes, LinkedIn, Cover Letters, Interviewing Expertise

I have published work in a variety of newspapers, magazines, and online resources including The Motley Fool, Investopedia, Businessweek.com, Ivy Exec, Thrive Global, Ellevate, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Multichannel Merchant magazine, and Woman Engineer magazine.

I've been cited for my career advice and investment analysis in top websites including Yahoo Finance, LinkedIn News, MSN, CBS News, and The Australian.

I've also delivered ghostwriting expertise to small businesses across topics including finance, investing, and career/workforce development.

Freelance Writer | Business Ghostwriter

The ABplatform

The ABplatform is a suite of services that help companies and industry experts find each other and create high performing Advisory Boards.  We offer recruiting, onboarding, coaching, tools, and templates that you can use to build your Advisory Board, and build your business.

Advisory Board Member

Glassdoor

I wrote weekly posts for Glassdoor's Technology Bowl, sharing market trends and discussing current events with tech professionals.

Content Creator

Randstad USA

Randstad RiseSmart is the leading provider of outplacement and talent mobility services for organizations in more than 40 industries and 80 countries. 

As a Randstad RiseSmart Career Coach, I expertly coached clients on their job search strategy and provide mock interviews, interview preparation, video interviewing, offer evaluation, salary negotiation coaching, as well as information on networking best practices and LinkedIn. Coaching was provided through a customized 1:1 approach with full support throughout their job search journey.

Career Coach | Job Search Consultant

CEO Connection

I built relationships with Mid-Market CEOs, understanding their goals and connecting them with potential board roles. I also curated networking opportunities including Board Connection Receptions, and cultivated strategic alliances with Private Equity firms, start-ups, and other advisory contacts.

Board Connection Director

Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business

I evaluated 1000+ applicants on 6 continents for a Top 20 MBA program, reviewing resumes, work experience, test scores, undergraduate grades, and essays to identify top candidates and forecast student success. I interviewed global candidates remotely and in-person utilizing behavioral interviewing techniques.

I was also part of the team establishing admissions standards for MSPM (Master of Science in Product Management) degree offering.

External Reader / Interviewer

The Motley Fool

I contributed 175+ articles with a focus on the consumer products industry, predicting trends and conducting in-depth financial analysis of top companies.

Contributor / Analyst

FedEx

I served as an instrumental part of the team driving global air/ground transportation revenue and volume growth through strategic pricing programs for Fortune 500 customers with shipping revenues exceeding $100 million.  Key accomplishments include:​

* Established price points and created cost-based analysis model for new FedEx Express (Last Mile) product offering

* Developed strategic pricing programs for current and potential customers, evaluating shipping metrics of customers and determining margins for pricing programs using excel-based models

* Elevated corporate revenues and profits, collaborating with sales directors to develop customer prospects and pricing strategies for 20+ Fortune 500 customers

* Owned major intranet-based pricing system, enhancing level and quality of pricing data in corporate databases, and expanding system capabilities to include new business units

* Recipient of FedEx Global Marketing Rising Star award and two Bravo Zulu awards for outstanding contributions

* Proficient in various pricing methodologies, including market and cost-based pricing methods

Senior Marketing Analyst, Strategic Pricing & Business Analysis

Procter & Gamble

I directed all aspects of production for 2 manufacturing lines making over 1.5 million cases of consumer products per year, leading a team of 30. Accomplishments include:

* Improved overall profit margin by 10% through increasing line production speed while concurrently reducing maintenance and personnel expenses, with an emphasis on lean manufacturing principles

* Generated cost savings of $1 million through improving existing processes and consolidating product manufacturing to one North American site. 

* Reduced level of quality defects by 50% while increasing equipment speed by 30%

* Increased brand production capacity by 10% through directing installation and start-up of production equipment

Manager/Technical Engineer

Want to up your game on LinkedIn?
Need an new resume or executive bio?
How about an expert presentation on ageism in the workplace?

I can help with all of that!

I deliver a wide range of services including:
* Executive resumes, executive bios, and LinkedIn profile upgrades
* LinkedIn strategies for small businesses and executives
* Business writing about ageism, workforce trends, and job search strategies
* Presentations/webinars on a variety of topics including ageism and LinkedIn/resume best practices

A little about me: I'm a 5x career changer who has skill-stacked my way from engineering into career consulting.

I started my career with Procter & Gamble as an Engineer/Production Manager, learning not only about consumer products, but also gaining key insights into leadership and career development. 

In my early 20s, I helped P&G move its manufacturing operations from Greenville, NC to Belleville, Ontario. I lived in Canada for 3 years and managed multi-million dollar projects and operations, managing a team of 30 in my Production Manager role. After earning my MBA, I worked in strategic marketing for FedEx, setting prices and forecasting profits for Fortune 500 customers and establishing price points for a new transportation product offering.

After my time in Corporate America, I pivoted and launched my own writing/consulting business. I served as a Contributor/Analyst for The Motley Fool for 4 years and have been cited as an industry expert by major news organizations and job search sites including Fast Company, Forbes, CBS News, Yahoo Finance, MSN, LinkedIn News, and FlexJobs. 

I have remained on-trend for career development best practices through my additional consulting work including:

* External Reader / Interviewer for Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business for 7 application seasons, evaluating 1000+ applicants on 6 continents

* Board Connection Director for CEO Connection, connecting Mid-Market CEOs with board seats and participating in our "How to Get on a Board" Workshop

* Career coaching/outplacement services with Randstad RiseSmart

* Advisory board member for TheABplatform

* Glassdoor Expert/Content Creator Program Manager

My proudest professional accomplishment is my involvement in saving our local pool. As Board President of the Brook Park Swim Club, I worked with our community to turn a projected $70K deficit into a surplus within 12 months, protecting this community asset for our children. 

Reach out (colleen@agelesscareers.com) and let me know how I can help you to reach your goals.

Colleen Paulson

"I'm 62 & have at least 5 good years of work left."

I've heard from 1000s of job seekers in their 50s, 60s, and beyond within the past few years. Folks often lead with their age when they reach out, as if they should apologize for wanting to work.

Listen, you don't have to apologize to anyone if you want (or need) to keep working into your 60s and beyond.

Most of us don't have a guaranteed pension and won't be retiring in our 50s. My data shows that 90% of us plan to work into our 60s and 25% of us plan to never retire.

However, if you're 50+ and navigating the job market, you’re not imagining it: ageism is real. 66% of workers have seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace according to a 2025 AARP survey.

With that said, I'm seeing folks in their 50s and 60s land great jobs (even in this challenging market). I recently had a client in his late 60s land his "dream job" as an IT analyst, countering the ageism that can be so prevalent in tech - so yes, you can position yourself as the leading candidate, regardless of age.

Here's how to get started:
* Keep networking (let people know you are looking)
* Write an "ageless" resume (with quantified results)
* Build a LinkedIn presence (so recruiters find you)
* Stay confident (you can do this - I promise)

Focus on what you can control. And please, don't lose that confidence. Any company would be lucky to have you.

ps: If you are hiring, please review your practices. Are you interviewing candidates over the age of 60? How about candidates over the age of 50? If not, why?

#ageism

Advising 50-plus executives on career & LinkedIn strategy | 87K+ going ageless | Ex-P&G, FedEx | Featured by CNBC, Business Insider, Forbes, & Fast Company

Next Chapter Career Transitions

o	I have successfully worked with job seekers at all levels who are interested in expediting their search for a new role.

o	I create and provide first class marketing materials along with actionable plans and collateral that will assist you in landing an interview. 

o	I partner with professionals to help them through the often daunting task of changing jobs or careers. 

o	I have a passion for creating compelling resumes and LinkedIn profiles that get noticed by the right people.

Contact me at matthewjtooker@gmail.com to get started moving your job search forward.

President

Bridge Technical Talent

Accountable for hiring, training and scaling an inside/outside sales team in a matrix management environment. Responsible for developing a KPI model that drove profit and productivity.  Created a culture of accountability by reinforcing best practices through one on ones and hands on management.  Modeled and developed a recruiting and on-boarding process for continuous candidate identification, evaluation, and hiring.

SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:

o	TALENT DEVELOPMENT: Created a multi-faceted Sales Playbook to lead new hires through their first 6 months of ramp. Key topics included CRM utilization, KPI expectations, all aspects of funnel management and critical aspects of consultative selling methodologies.

o	PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION: Championed the development of a metric performance model.  Immediate results included a 130% increase in outbound call metrics within first 90-120 days.    

o	SALES GROWTH: Spearheaded the creation of a sales focused culture with an emphasis on coaching and feedback. Created role playing groups focused on challenging each Account Executive to raise the bar on their own performance.  As a result, job orders increased 39% from Q1 2018 to Q2 2018

Director Of Sales

Towerstream

Lead inside sales operations across 12 national markets for this $30M telecommunications company, managing strategic planning, performance optimization, pricing, recruitment, talent development, mergers and acquisitions as well as 123-person staff. Revenue grew from $5M to $30M during tenure.  

SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:

o	PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION: Increased installed revenue per account executive from $475 to $1,440 over 6 years →  evaluated historical performance data, interviewed staff members, identified challenges, restructured KPIs, optimized incentive compensation, retrained team and galvanized support

o	ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Grew annual channel sales from $35K to $165K over 4 years by leveraging post-acquisition synergies to meet growth milestones → Researched acquired company components, collaborated with key stakeholders, facilitated cross-functional meetings and launched new vertical.

o	PROCESS IMPROVEMENT: Initiated formalized sales training → Interviewed direct reports, evaluated skill-sets, outlined individual action plans, established KPIs and facilitated weekly coaching sessions resulting in reduction of boarding time from 24 to 16 weeks; boosted ARPU from $239 to $681 over 4 months. 

o	TALENT DEVELOPMENT: Retrained 50-person sales team; grew average revenue per account executive by 203% over 6 years; authored sales training playbook, raising new hire productivity by 12%

o	SALES GROWTH: Optimized geographic location of inside sales team; boosted market revenue by 32% over 6 years; planned and launched new sales channel program, increasing annual revenue by 368% over 3 years; spearheaded planning and opening of remote sales center; achieved 112% of quota in first 6 months.  

o     RECRUITMENT AND STAFFING: Recruited and staffed sales and operations roles in a 100 seat inside sales center.  Oversaw sales, marketing, installations and customer care functions.

Vice President Sales and Marketing

HSBC

Oversaw inside and outside sales operations for $12M branch, leading strategic planning, sales training, performance optimization, marketing, recruitment, talent development and P&L with direct oversight of 34-person staff.

SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:

o	SALES GROWTH: Launched new inside sales team growing annual sales revenue from $0 to $290M annually over 6 years; increased funded volume per FTE from $579K to $1.1M over 12 months

o	CROSS FUNCTIONAL LEADERSHIP: Grew P&L from $235K loss to a profit of $8.3M over 4 years → Analyzed production data, interviewed key stakeholders, performed industry and competitor analysis, discovered customer needs, developed niche product portfolio and authored strategic road map

o	CHANGE MANAGEMENT: Initiated 16-month top down cost review achieving 10.3% higher profit margins than company average as well as implementing test and learn methodology achieving 119% of funded loan volume quota over 24 months.
 
o	PROCESS IMPROVEMENT: Championed efficiency initiative; improved funded units per FTE from 8.22 to 13.07 over 12 months; developed early payment dashboard and detection; cut problem loans to .57%, top 5% in company.

o	SALES OPERATIONS: Re-engineered sales structure; consolidated account management teams, saved $240K over 18 months; optimized product portfolio; boosted average funded loan size from $98K to $149K over 2 years.

Regional Vice President |  Northeast 

GE Capital

o	Hired, trained and managed a nationwide industry leading sales team.  
o	Worked cross functionally to create and implement  GE's mini bulk and bulk purchase mortgage program

Vice President Sales

National Sales Manager

Director of Sales

Director Of Operations

Branch Manager

Resume and LinkedIn Rewrites 🔹Interview Prep 🔹Crafting Effective Career Marketing Materials That Create Positive Outcomes 🔹Insights From A Hiring Manager’s Perspective 🔹Actionable Advice To Get You Hired

As a Senior Executive with significant experience at Fortune 500 companies and startups, I have a unique perspective on the hiring process. 

If you hire me you will:

Work with me directly.  I do not outsource my work.

Have a 60-90 minute Career Debrief call with me where we will do a deep dive into your experience, value proposition and why you should be the chosen candidate. 

Receive a top tier resume with appropriate keywords, Executive Summary and a contemporary design.   

Receive a custom written resume in both PDF and MS Word format.

Receive a LinkedIn profile that will elevate your brand as a candidate and make you stand out from the pack.

Receive a fully optimized profile that takes advantage of your "About" section and accentuates the skills most wanted for your chosen role. 

Additionally, I can guide you through the interview process by offering you insights from a hiring manager. What we want to see and hear....and what we don't! 

What I Do

✅LinkedIn Profiles/Branding

✅Resume Rewrites

✅Interview Prep/Mock Interviews

I partner with professionals to help them through the often daunting task of creating authentic and effective career marketing materials. 

I have a passion for creating compelling resumes and LinkedIn profiles that get noticed by the right people.  And when that happens, I can help you land that role by coaching you through mock interviews. 

My experience as a Senior Executive will help you:

🚀Hit the job market with career marketing materials that get you noticed.

🚀Get the attention of hiring managers

🚀Reduce your job search time 

I will help you accelerate your job search results. I know what hiring manager are looking for, I was one!

What Others Are Saying

“Matt is a true professional and great at what he does! He has a way of taking your experience and showcasing how those transferable skills are part of what makes you ready for the next stage in your career”

“After previously working for Matt when I saw he was doing resumes and helping with image on LinkedIn I knew he was the right person for the job. He has been on the other side of the hiring desk for many years and knows what hiring managers are looking for from a prospective candidate”


👉If you are interested in moving your career forward reach me at matthewjtooker@gmail.com

Matt Tooker

Here are 4 “language traps” that can work against 45+ job seekers 

↳ Calling yourself “seasoned” You mean “experienced.” They read “older.” ➡️ Instead: Use “strategic,” “accomplished,” or “recognized for driving results.”

↳ Using dated corporate jargon (“results-oriented,” “team player,” “responsible for”) These scream resume template circa 1998. ➡️ Instead: Lead with fresh verbs: led, built, drove, delivered, transformed.

↳ Saying “Proficient in Microsoft Office” That’s expected baseline knowledge, not a differentiator. ➡️ Instead: Get specific: Excel data modeling, workflow automation, digital collaboration tools.

↳ Using overly formal language (“utilized,” “leveraged synergies”) Stiff and outdated. ➡️ Instead: Clear, modern phrasing: used, partnered, collaborated across teams.

Modern language doesn’t just update your resume, it updates perception.

———
 Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.

Resumes and LinkedIn profiles written by a former hiring manager.

Work 1:1 with an ex-Fortune 500 Senior Executive

Resume Rewrites & LinkedIn Branding🔹Interview Prep🔹Crushing Ageism One Client At A Time 🔹 Ex-Fortune 500 Senior Manager🔹Work With A Former Hiring Manager🔹 Jump Start Your Job Search

As a former hiring manager I reviewed thousands of resumes and I always looked for the same things. Some made it easy for me to say yes. Others made me work too hard.

Here are four reasons why your resume prompted me to set up a screening call while others did not.

↳ You made your value obvious in the top third. I understood who you are, what you do, and why you matter without having to scan line by line. Clarity wins.

↳ Your achievements were tied to outcomes. You did not just list responsibilities. You showed impact. Numbers. Improvements. Results. Real evidence of performance.

↳ Your format was simple to read. Not fancy. Not overloaded. Clean spacing. Clear headings. Linear flow. I could open it on any device and get the story fast.

↳ You aligned your experience to the role. You did not try to be everything to everyone. You tailored your message to the job I was filling. That told me you cared enough to put in the work.

If you want more eyes on your resume and more yes responses from hiring managers this is where it starts. Let me know if you want help tightening yours up.

———
 Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.

Résumés and LinkedIn profiles written by a former hiring manager.

Work 1:1 with an ex-Fortune 500 Senior Executive

I’m back with another edition of Myth Buster Monday.
Today I am focused on resumes

MYTH You should list every job you’ve ever had.

REALITY Your resume isn’t your autobiography. It’s a marketing document. Showcase the experience that supports the role you want next, and cut the rest.  Have some relevant early career wins you want to share…there are ways to do that.

MYTH Your resume should only look back.

REALITY A great resume points forward. It doesn’t just summarize where you’ve been, it positions you for where you want to go next.  Recruiters want to see that you can do the job that’s ahead of you.

MYTH Your resume needs to be “visually different” to stand out.

REALITY Recruiters don’t hire design. They hire clarity. The resumes that rise to the top are the ones that are skimmable, and make your value obvious in 6 seconds.

This last myth is especially important to understand and debunk.  Recruiters look at a lot of resumes in a short period of time, they need to be able to find the information they want and need quickly.  Cute, quirky designs are often a roadblock to doing exactly this.

Help them to help you.

———
 Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.

Résumés and LinkedIn profiles written by a former hiring manager.

Work 1:1 with an ex-Fortune 500 Senior Executive

Thoughts and musings on our recent trip to Dublin.

One overriding takeaway: Dublin is not a city — it’s a community.

The people there are some of the kindest, most welcoming individuals we’ve ever met, anywhere. They greet you with open arms, they want to share their history, and they genuinely invite your friends and family to visit. They’re overtly courteous, thoughtful, and gracious.

I’m convinced — and a cabbie actually said this — that if I tripped and fell on the sidewalk, a whole group of people would rush over to help me up. That was the vibe. And it was wonderful. It set the tone for our entire visit.

It also reminded me of my own community here on LinkedIn.

I’m incredibly fortunate to have people in my network who are thoughtful, welcoming, and willing to offer a hand or an encouraging word. Even though I had OOO in my headline this past week, I still found myself checking in from time to time, commenting on posts when I had a spare minute. 

Even while “away,” I still wanted to stay connected.

So on this Sunday, I’m feeling grateful for you all. My community.

Thanks for showing up.

No alternative text description for this image

Wishing all who celebrate a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Thankful for this community. You show up and you support. 

Grateful for every one of you in my network. I appreciate you.

I will be checking out for a few days while Aimee and I enjoy the sights in Dublin.  Back soon!

Leaving you with one of the most peaceful sunrises I have seen in while.

Time for another edition of Myth Buster Monday

MYTH Buying a bestselling resume template from a marketplace like Etsy guarantees you’ll stand out.

REALITY Maybe. Some of those “top sellers” work against you. Many include photos that can open you to bias and discrimination. Additionally many applicant tracking systems have a challenge processing the photo. Others rely on two-column layouts that look pretty but make your experience harder to scan quickly. Recruiters don’t slow down for design choices that hide your value.

Remember, a resume isn’t about trendiness. It’s about clarity, content, and making your story effortless to understand.

———
 Helping mid-career and 45+ professionals get the shot they deserve.

Résumés and LinkedIn profiles written by a former hiring manager.

Work 1:1 with an ex-Fortune 500 Senior Executive

Sharing with my network.  These Verizon folks got hit hard.

Hi everyone,
Verizon is concluding my role as part of its historic restructuring / workforce reduction initiative, now widely reported in the news. After 30 years leading technical and unionized operations teams, delivering client support to other Wholesale Telecom customers, and building resilient, high-performance workforces, I’m immediately available for my next leadership opportunity.
Focused on Operations and Workforce-Leadership roles in a remote, hybrid, on onsite compacity where I can drive team performance, service delivery, operational discipline, and people-first management in any industry that values execution-driven leadership.

#OpenToWork #Operations #TeamLeadership

About me & what I’m looking for:
💼 I’m looking for Operations Manager, Telecommunications Manager, and Customer Service Management roles. Currently managing a home based team.
🌎 I’m open to roles in Orlando, Massachusetts, and Atlanta. 
⭐ I’ve previously worked at Verizon.

Looking for Telecommunications Manager, Customer Service Management, Team Leader and Supervisor roles

taplio

The Battle

Colleen Paulson

Matt Tooker

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreColleen Paulson's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMatt Tooker's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Colleen Paulson

Matt Tooker

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Colleen Paulson's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMatt Tooker's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreColleen Paulson's LinkedIn Performance