Professional Writing for Employment of Older Women

Abstract

Older women doing professional writing for employment face unique obstacles when composing their job materials. Even though they write in common job application genres such as resumes and cover letters, they face unique challenges based on their identities and are aware that they need to counter employer perceptions that value youth. As a result, some de-emphasize their age. They seek feedback within their networks to highlight their ethos, build confidence in themselves, and make themselves visible and valuable to employers. Their professional writing is central to their employment opportunities and sense of self-worth. Their job application process takes place across digital devices, and they use different devices for different purposes.