Owning Your Narrative
The biggest mistake a career changer can make is hiding their past. Your internship cover letter should lean into your history. A person moving from Retail Management to Cybersecurity brings a level of "Human Risk Management" and "Conflict Resolution" that a traditional student simply doesn't have.
The "Translation" Framework
In your internship cover letter, use functional mapping to show how your old skills fit the new role:
- Old Skill: Managing a restaurant staff. → New Asset: Team leadership and high-pressure resource allocation.
- Old Skill: Teaching high school English. → New Asset: Stakeholder communication and complex information synthesis.
Proving You Are "Coachable"
A common bias against mature interns is that they might be "set in their ways." Your internship cover letter must emphasize your curiosity and your "student mindset." Highlight a recent certification you earned or a bootcamp you completed to show you are actively and successfully learning new systems.