When you apply for a job in your fifties or sixties or beyond, it carries unique challenges. Certainly, you have a wealth of experience. However, hiring managers may not view all those years in the workforce as an advantage. They may believe that highly experienced candidates will expect more money or responsibility, might struggle to work with a younger manager, or may lack modern skills.
Age Discrimination
While the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 means that discrimination against older employees and job applicants is illegal, we hear from many job seekers who feel that their age is the issue. They say things like: “I’ve learned that age matters in employment. It seems that my age is my biggest enemy. I believe my age is the reason for my current fall.”
Addressing Your Age in Cover Letters
It’s true – although there is legal protection, being considered an older job seeker can impede your chances of finding a job. However, there are ways you can address your age in your resume and tackle age issues when writing cover letters. Review these tips for writing cover letters for older job seekers to help market your candidacy effectively to employers.
Cover Letter Writing Tips for Older Job Seekers
Your cover letter is a promotional pitch for you. In a few short paragraphs, you should convince the hiring manager that you are a great fit for the job. These tips will help you seal the deal.
Target Your Cover Letter
The most important way you can demonstrate your value to an employer is by customizing your cover letter. Take the job advertisement and write down the criteria the employer is looking for. Then jot down the skills and experience you possess, either in paragraph form or as a bullet-point list. This way, the hiring manager can see why you are qualified for the job.
Don’t Summarize Your Resume
This advice applies to candidates of all ages. A good cover letter should not read like a resume or a summary of your resume. For older candidates, it’s important to avoid a chronological recounting of your work history and instead focus on the experience relevant to the job at hand.
Don’t Mention Years of Experience
Do not mention how many years of experience you have in your cover letter. For example, it’s not helpful to say that you have 20 or 30 years of experience. They may consider you an older candidate.
Highlight Relevant Experience and Strengths
While highlighting your years of experience doesn’t help, talking about relevant experience will catch the hiring manager’s attention. Your cover letter is an opportunity to mention the proven experience you have which may not be possessed by a less experienced candidate. Specify how that experience relates to the position you’re applying for – the more specific you are, the more relevant you are as a candidate.
Mention Professional Relationships
As always in a cover letter, mentioning relationships is powerful. Review cover letter samples with references to guide your own writing.
Focus on Flexibility
Mention your flexibility, adaptability, and willingness to learn in your cover letter. This will make you appear youthful and eager, even if you are not young in age. Similarly, highlight any knowledge you have of modern technology, as this is often a significant concern for hiring managers.
Be Cautious About Salary Requirements
If the job advertisement requests your salary requirements, indicate that you are flexible. This way, employers will not consider you overqualified or overpriced.
Enhance
Your Cover Letter
The visual presentation is important. Make sure to format your cover letter correctly. This means choosing the right font (and font size). Use a standard font, not a handwritten one. Include a space between each paragraph, and choose an appropriate greeting and closing signature as well.
Be Prepared to Send Your Cover Letter via Email
Make sure to follow etiquette guidelines when sending cover letters via email.
Review an Example of a Cover Letter
You can view an example of a cover letter for a senior job seeker and download a cover letter template (compatible with Word and Google docs).
Download Cover Letter Template
Cover Letter Example for a Senior Job Seeker: Annabelle Elder
123 Shady Rest Lane
Tampa, Florida 33605
(123) 456-7890
aelder@email.com
www.linked.com/in/annabelelder
February 25, 2021
Ms. Katherine Collins
Director
Helping Hands Nonprofit Organization
1234 Sunset Way
Tampa, Florida 33605
Dear Ms. Collins:
I was very pleased to learn, through Indeed.com, about the Executive Assistant position open at Helping Hands Nonprofit Organization.
The job announcement piqued my interest, as many of the qualifications you mentioned are those I have developed as an Executive Assistant to four executives at ABC Enterprises, a global development group. Examples of skills and experience that align with your requirements include:
– Demonstrated efficiency and accuracy in scheduling appointments, planning travel, and composing correspondence for executives.
– Strong familiarity in coordinating all details of venues, catering, travel, and entertainment for large-scale events including fundraising, stakeholder meetings, and conferences.
– Effectiveness in scheduling and supervising office teams of about 5 administrative assistants and reception staff.
– A proactive approach to learning office management techniques and modern administration, as evidenced by my recent transition of ABC Enterprises’ office to a cloud-based communication system.
As part of ABC Enterprises’ outreach program, I had the honor of working with Jason Edwards, one of your board members, and found him to be a passionate advocate for the good that Helping Hands Nonprofit Organization does for underrepresented groups in Tampa. Therefore, I would welcome the opportunity to use my administrative talents to ensure the smooth running of your initiatives.
Thank you for your time and consideration; I look forward to hearing from you and hope to meet you soon to learn more about the wonderful work you are doing.
Sincerely,
Signature (hard copy letter)
Annabelle Elder
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/cover-letters-tips-for-older-job-seekers-2064045
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