How Boomers Can Get More Bang Out of Their Resume and Cover Letter

Age is just a number—but when it comes to job applications, your resume and cover letter need to show that you’re current, capable, and confident. If you’re a mature-age job seeker, modernising your application can help you compete with younger candidates and highlight the wealth of value you bring to an employer.

Here’s how to give your job search documents a professional refresh—and position yourself as a forward-thinking, job-ready contender.

Update Your Resume With Results, Not Just Responsibilities

Today’s resumes need to do more than list past duties. Hiring managers and recruitment software alike are scanning for results, achievements, and strengths. So rather than just stating what you were responsible for, highlight the impact of your work:

• Quantify your achievements: Use numbers to show results—e.g., “Increased team productivity by 30% through a new workflow system.”
• Show outcomes: Think: revenue increases, efficiency gains, reduced costs or onboarding time.
• Highlight transferable skills: Leadership, project management, mentoring, problem-solving, and communication are all valued across industries.

Even experience outside of formal employment—such as community leadership or parenting—can demonstrate in-demand soft skills like multitasking, empathy, and time management.

Make Your Resume Age-Neutral

Unfortunately, ageism still exists in the job market. To keep your application focused on your strengths rather than your age, follow these simple tweaks:

• Remove birth date, graduation years, and marital status.
• Limit job history to the past 10–15 years. Prior roles can be summarised in a line or two under “Earlier Career.”
• Use a modern layout and professional font (avoid Times New Roman or Courier).

Tip: Tailor your resume with each application so it aligns with the job ad and reflects what the employer is seeking.

Optimise for Recruiter Searches With Keywords

Many organisations use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes before a human ever sees them. To make sure your application is found and flagged as relevant:

• Use keywords from the job ad—especially skill-specific or technical terms (e.g. “Salesforce,” “compliance reporting”).
• Include relevant job titles and software tools commonly used in your industry.
• Mirror terminology from the employer’s website or job board listings where appropriate.

Remember: ATS doesn’t “read between the lines,” so spelling and phrasing matter.

Use a Professional Summary, Not an Objective

Swap out the old-fashioned “Career Objective” for a punchy Professional Summary at the top of your resume. In 3–4 lines, showcase your experience, expertise, and value. For example:

Senior HR Manager with 20+ years’ experience leading workforce transformation projects across health, education, and government. Proven record in boosting retention, improving staff engagement, and embedding cultural change.

This sets the tone and helps recruiters see what you offer, fast.

Resume Checklist for Mature-Age Job Seekers

• Use a modern, easy-to-read design with clear headings and bullet points.
• Stick to two pages (three max if relevant experience is extensive).
• Proofread thoroughly—ask someone else to review it too.
• Save as a PDF with your name in the filename (e.g., sam_taylor_resume.pdf).
• Don’t include references—say “Available on request” if needed.

Need help structuring it? Explore our free resume templates and step-by-step resume guide.

Cover Letters: Make Them Count

Your cover letter is your chance to connect. It’s not just a summary of your resume—it should reflect your personality, enthusiasm, and what you’ll bring to the business.

Here’s how to craft one that stands out:

• Personalise it: Address it to a person if possible and mention the company by name.
• Highlight alignment: Explain why the role excites you and how your experience matches what they’re looking for.
• Address selection criteria: If required, match your skills to the role’s criteria point-by-point.
• Show energy and flexibility: Especially important if you’ve had a long career in one company or sector—demonstrate how adaptable and proactive you are.

Want more help? Read our guide to writing a compelling cover letter or browse our sample letters for inspiration.

Showcase Experience, Not Age

Being a mature-age candidate is a strength—not a setback. You’ve got experience, problem-solving skills, emotional intelligence, and resilience. The goal is to package that experience in a way that’s modern, relevant, and tailored to each opportunity.

Update your documents, stay confident, and be proud of what you bring to the table.

Next step: Brush up on interview tips for mature-age workers.