The best way to learn how to write a cover letter is by reading examples and practicing. You’ll get an idea of what works and what doesn’t, which will help you feel more confident when you write your cover letter. However, it’s also helpful to know the basics of what goes into most cover letters, so that you can make sure yours fits all the required elements.
Takeaways |
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Including your age on your resume or cover letter is generally not recommended, as it could potentially lead to age discrimination by employers. |
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits employers from discriminating against employees or job applicants who are 40 years of age or older based on their age. |
Leaving out your graduation date is a common strategy for avoiding revealing your age on your resume. |
Your age is not relevant to your qualifications, so it’s not necessary to include it on your resume or cover letter, regardless of whether you’re a recent graduate or not. |
If an employer asks for your age during the hiring process, you can ask why it is necessary for a legitimate business purpose. If you believe that you have been discriminated against based on your age, you may want to consult with an employment attorney. |
Should A Cover Letter Include Your Age?
The age of an applicant is not an important factor in hiring, interviewing, and making decisions. It is often illegal to ask an applicant his or her age at all. There are many reasons why putting your age on a cover letter may have no impact on your chances of getting the job:
Age has no bearing on experience or skill set, so it should have little effect on who gets hired for the position. The only time that might apply is if a company were looking for someone with specific experience in the field (a medical doctor who specializes in geriatrics), but even then there are exceptions.
Age does not affect performance; therefore it should be irrelevant when considering candidates for employment. Some of history’s greatest leaders have been young people who rose through the ranks because they had what it takes regardless of their age or experience level at that time
When it comes to cover letters, length matters. While some employers may prefer a shorter cover letter, it’s possible to write a longer one that showcases your skills and experience effectively. Check out our article on writing a two-page cover letter to learn more about the best practices for cover letter length.
Does It Matter If My Cover Letter Doesn’t Match My Resume?
In a perfect world, your cover letter and resume would be the same in every way. They would have the same tone, structure, and style. They would use similar language. They wouldn’t make you look like an old person who doesn’t know what’s going on anymore (even if that is true).
But sometimes things don’t work out so well. Sometimes your cover letter doesn’t match up with your resume because you’re applying for something that requires more experience than what’s listed on your resume.
Or maybe it’s just not accurate maybe you were working as a dog walker while writing that book proposal last year and didn’t have time to update everything in time for the job application this month? Whatever the reason is, there are several ways that mismatched documents can still help get you an interview
Do I Put A Title On A Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a short document that introduces you to the hiring manager and includes information about why you’re applying for this job in particular. A cover letter should be addressed to an individual, specifically the hiring manager. It should also be written in the third person (even if it’s sent by email) as if someone else wrote it on your behalf.
Here are some tips:
Keep your cover letter brief and focused on your skills and experience that relate directly to the position you are applying for.
Write in a professional tone, using proper grammar and spelling throughout—this shows respect for those who have time to read through these documents before deciding whether or not they want to meet with applicants further down the line!
How Do I Start A Cover Letter With No Experience?
You’ve got to have an edge when you’re applying for a job without any experience. The best way to start your cover letter is with a summary of your qualifications that highlights why you’d be great at the position.
For example, if you were applying for a management position in retail sales, you could write something like: “I have over 10 years of experience in retail management positions, including leading employees and improving performance through coaching, mentoring, and training.”
If this sounds too arrogant or too generic (because it’s true), then don’t worry about it! You want to show that there’s something specific in your background that makes YOU perfect for this job, not just anyone who has worked in retail management before.
A good cover letter is not just a summary of your resume, but an opportunity to explain why you are the best match for the job. Check out our guide on explaining why you are a good match for the job to learn how to effectively highlight your skills and experience in the cover letter.
Do I Have To Sign My Cover Letter?
Yes, always. It’s a sign of respect to the person who is going to be hiring you, and it shows that you took the time to write your cover letter.
It shows that you are serious about the job and believe in yourself enough to apply for it.
It also shows your confidence in your skills and professionalism, which will impress any employer!
What Is The Best Font To Use For A Cover Letter?
A good font size to use on your cover letter is 12 pt. Anything smaller than that and the text will be hard to read, so this is a good rule of thumb to follow when writing in any format, but especially when it comes to cover letters.
In terms of style, you should opt for something simple and easy on the eyes like Arial or Times New Roman. These fonts are clean without being too boring.
If your resume uses a different font than the cover letter then make sure it matches up with the rest of your application materials (resume and social media profiles).
A professional-looking font makes you look more polished which can increase someone’s confidence in hiring you over other applicants who may not have taken such care with their document formatting.
Consistency also plays into this as well; if everyone else at your company uses one specific typeface then chances are that your resume should too! If everyone at Apple sends out emails using Helvetica but Tim Cook sends his out in Comic Sans MS then how would anyone know whether or not he was serious? The answer is simple-they wouldn’t!
The key to a successful cover letter is to showcase how you are a good fit for the job. By doing so, you can demonstrate to the employer that you have the skills and experience necessary to excel in the position. Check out our guide on why you are a good fit for the job to learn how to make your cover letter stand out.
Is An Objective Necessary On A Resume Or Cover Letter?
In some cases, an objective is not necessary. However, if you want to specifically state what type of job you are seeking and why a cover letter is a good place for this information. If you choose not to write an objective or career summary in your letter, be sure to include it on your resume instead (if it applies).
If writing an objective seems daunting or unnecessary, consider using the space where the objective would go as a career summary instead.
A career summary is essentially just a short paragraph that highlights your most relevant skills and experiences-objectives can often be worded similarly. Including an objective within this space could be helpful for both employers and yourself!
Should You Always Scan Your Resume And Cove
Should you always scan your resume and cover letter?
I wouldn’t recommend it. If you’re sending a traditional resume, it’s best to just print it out. A scanner is only really useful if you’re applying for jobs via email or online portals, but even then, I’d still prefer a printed copy of my application materials.
What Should Be The Subject Line Of Emailing
The subject line of your email should be short and to the point. It should also include some information about what’s in the body of your email, but not too much. This is because a lot of people will just scan their inboxes, so you want to make it easy for them to see what you’re sending them without having to click through multiple times.
Here are a few things that work well
Use the first-person (“I have…”), since emails from companies tend not to use this as often. It makes people feel like they’re getting an actual message from someone instead of just another generic automated message sent out by a robot or something else that sounds super impersonal.
Ask questions (“Would you like more information about our services?”) instead of making statements (“We offer free shipping!”).
Questions are more likely than statements to get responses from people who might not otherwise pay attention if they think their needs aren’t being met by whatever company has sent them these types of emails before (and believe me they’ve all received one at some point).
A cover letter is a necessary part of any job application, and can be the deciding factor in whether or not you get the job. Check out our article on why you need a cover letter for a job application to learn more about why cover letters are important, and how to write one effectively.
Do I Have To Send A Reference Letter With My
Do I have to send a reference letter with my application?
Yes. Reference letters are an important part of a job application, so it’s good to send one along with your resume. They’re also a chance for you to give positive reviews of your work and show off your personality, which can help get the job.
Should You Print A Resume Double-Sided?
Sometimes, your resume is printed double-sided. This should be something that you consider before submitting your resume to a potential employer. If you’re applying for a position that requires a single-sided resume, then it might be best not to have the printer run it through twice.
That said, if you’re applying for an internship and they don’t have a specific format in mind or ask for one, it might make sense to print it out both ways so that you can present yourself as versatile and adaptable when it comes time for interviews or during training at the company office.
A well-formatted cover letter can make a big difference in how it is received by the employer. Check out our guide on how a cover letter should look like to learn about the best practices for cover letter formatting, including font, spacing, and layout.
Conclusion
It’s always best to avoid putting your age on a cover letter. It can put hiring managers off and make them assume that you’ll soon be retiring, which is not ideal for the job market.
However, if you genuinely feel that your experience and knowledge outweigh any potential negatives of being older than others in an entry-level role then go ahead and do so.
Just make sure that there are no other ways of conveying this information without using age as an identifier!
Further reading
Here are some additional resources that you might find helpful:
Your Age Doesn’t Go in Your Cover Letter or Your Resume: A blog post from Ask a Manager that discusses why you shouldn’t include your age on your resume or cover letter.
Should You Put Your Age on Your Resume?: A blog post from Enhancv that explores the pros and cons of including your age on your resume.
Should You Include Your Date of Birth on Your Resume?: An article from Indeed that discusses whether or not you should include your date of birth on your resume.
FAQs
Can I include my age on my resume or cover letter?
It’s generally not recommended to include your age on your resume or cover letter, as it could potentially lead to age discrimination by employers.
Is it illegal for employers to ask for my age?
Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees or job applicants who are 40 years of age or older based on their age. However, employers may ask for your date of birth or age if it is necessary for a legitimate business purpose.
Can I leave out my graduation date on my resume to avoid revealing my age?
Yes, leaving out your graduation date is a common strategy for avoiding revealing your age on your resume.
Should I include my age if I’m a recent graduate?
No, your age is not relevant to your qualifications as a recent graduate, so it’s not necessary to include it on your resume or cover letter.
What should I do if an employer asks for my age during the hiring process?
If an employer asks for your age during the hiring process, you can ask why it is necessary for a legitimate business purpose. If you believe that you have been discriminated against based on your age, you may want to consult with an employment attorney.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.