Ask the Experts: Older? Use Your Age as a Strength in Your Cover Letter

Question:

When I was in my early thirties, I decided that my career was going no where so I looked into different career options. Although I didn’t have a technical background, I decided to become a software engineer. I am about to graduate from a prestigious technical university with a BS in Software Engineering. How do I convey this information in a quality cover letter without giving my age?

First Answer:

Let’s face it, if you show any identifying activities from your past on a letter or your resume that has dates (e.g., date of college graduation or a job progression), most people will be able to figure out approximately how old you are. But why hide your accomplishments? Although “ageism” is all too common in our youth-obsessed society, decision-makers are “graying” along with their employees. Many will identify with you and be impressed with what you have done.

I always counsel my private life and career clients to emphasize the positive in situations that could be a mixed blessing. You went back to school and re-tooled your skills because you felt it would enhance your life and career options. These new skills, coupled with your past experience, will make you a terrific candidate. If you are still anxious about letting everyone figure out your age, you can use a functional format for your resume which de-emphasizes dates. I still think your bet is just to be honest and show the degrees you have earned, along with the dates…and your awesome skills.

— Alison Blackman Dunham, life & career expert, columnist, personal public relations consultant, half of THE ADVICE SISTERS®, and the author of the ASK ALISON career advice column

Second Answer:

Congratulations on your graduation!

As for being concerned about not revealing your age, why not use your maturity, seasoned experience, focus, and transferrable skills to your advantage. Briefly discuss the translatable skills you bring with you and how with your several years of experience, you can provide the focus, dedication, and sensitivity to deadlines required in such a project-oriented career.

In your cover letter, talk about having spent several years in your previous industry and learning/mastering as much as you could in that realm, you realized the opportunities in software engineering were much more diverse and allowed development of more of your talents.

In the past, I’ve talked about a number of reasons that diverse candidates are very desirable (See Articles Index). In a 2000 editorial written for Workforce Magazine (What, Too Old?), I particularly focus on why the older worker is the one who deserves just as much consideration. Take the advice contained in those diversity pieces to see the common thread — focus on the strengths and benefits you can offer.

As a note of further encouragement, a recent article in Employee Benefit News (April 15, 2004) says there’s “Gold in Gray: Home Depot woos older workers.”

— Yvonne LaRose, career and professional development coach, Career and Executive Recruiting Advice

Originally posted by alwin