2. Cover Letter Writing for ACADEMIC AUDIENCES
The Academic Job Search Series
September 14, 2017

3. Agenda What is it? Your introduction Content Peer Review
Tailoring your Cover Letter
Q & A

4. What is a Cover Letter?
A supplement to the CV that includes more detailed information about yourself
Expresses your interest in the position
Shows off your qualifications and highlights key points in your CV, Teaching Statement, and Research Statement

5. What is a Cover Letter? Academic length: 1-2 (MAX) pages
Do not be repetitive
Focus on the institution, and use the word “you” more than “I”
Use institutional letterhead if possible
Style and format should match CV

6. The Beginning Header: Salutation: Introduction: Addressor information
Date
Addressee information
Salutation:
Be as specific as possible (Dear Dr. …; Dear Professor…; Dear Chair of the Search Committee)
Introduction:
Very important to have a good introduction

7. Your Introduction
Write 1-2 sentences that tells me about your degree, field of expertise, and skills/qualities.

8. Your introduction
Weak: I have completed my dissertation work and will graduate in December I am highly competent in the field of Biology and have 3 years of teaching experience.

9. Your introduction
Weak: I have completed my dissertation work and will graduate in December I am highly competent in the field of Biology and have 3 years of teaching experience.
Stronger: Having completed my dissertation work in the field of Biology at the University of Virginia, I plan to graduate in December My extensive knowledge of coastal ecology and marine biology coupled with my proven ability to secure funding (NOAA National Fellowship) position me competitively to attract extramural research funding.

10. Let’s try again…
Create an introductory sentence or two about yourself. Include you expertise and abilities.

11. Cover Letter Content
Paragraph 1
Paragraphs 2-?…
Closing
Signature

12. Paragraph 1 Dear Dr. Smith:
This letter serves as my interest in the Assistant Professor position of Religious Studies at the University of Miami posted in the Chronicle of Higher Education. As a recent graduate of the University of Virginia and current Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, my expert knowledge in ancient religions and my acclaimed teaching skills make me an ideal candidate for this position.
-get the readers’ attention
Include position title
Where you found out about the position
Your introduction

13. Paragraph 1 Dear Dr. Smith:
This letter serves as my interest in the Assistant Professor position of Religious Studies at the University of Miami posted in the Chronicle of Higher Education. As a recent graduate of the University of Virginia and current Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, my expert knowledge in ancient religions and my acclaimed teaching skills make me an ideal candidate for this position.
-get the readers’ attention
Include position title
Where you found out about the position
Your introduction

14. Paragraph 1 Dear Dr. Smith:
This letter serves as my interest in the Assistant Professor position of Religious Studies at the University of Miami posted in the Chronicle of Higher Education. As a recent graduate of the University of Virginia and current Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, my expert knowledge in ancient religions and my acclaimed teaching skills make me an ideal candidate for this position.
-get the search committee’s attention
Include position title
Where you found out about the position
Your introduction

15. Paragraphs 2-…
If you are applying to Research Universities and other Four-Year Colleges:
Lead with your research first
Potential to produce and publish research
Talk about how your work would benefit a particular university
If primarily UG university, how can you involve UG in scholarly productivity
Talk about your teaching as it relates to job ad (tailor your teaching to university’s teaching-teaching statement might not change much)
If you are applying to Community Colleges:
Discuss your teaching experience and philosophy first
Research
Teaching
Ability to be a good department member, self-starter and productive from the start

16. Research Paragraph(s)
Short description of your current research. If you’re a grad student, this should include dissertation title and maximum one-sentence main topic/point of each chapter.
Broader Impacts – what does your current research add to the field?
Current Publications and Grants
Next research question
Method/Sources
Publications and/or Grants

17. Teaching Paragraph Teaching philosophy
Classes you are prepared to teach (with evidence)
This will vary in length and detail depending on supporting documents

18. Ability to be a good department member
Relate current service to potential role or opportunity in the role you’re applying to
If you haven’t done this elsewhere, you could also use this to relate to other faculty in the department

19. Use concrete words to describe your experiences
Weak: I attempted to instruct students in the proper methods of language acquisition.

20. Weak: I attempted to instruct students in the proper methods of language acquisition.
Specific: I initiated X method of instruction in which students were able to develop language acquisition techniques at a faster pace.

21. Identify Weak or Vague Sentences
In groups of 2 or 3, highlight weak or vague sentences in each other’s cover letters.
Discuss why you think these are weak and how they might be improved

22. Closing Paragraph
Mention your attendance and availability to meet at upcoming conferences.
If you have a special connection to the institution, type of institution, or region, mention this.

23. Tailoring your Cover Letter
Job Notice
Type of Institution
Public, private
Rural, urban
Affiliation (religious, &c.)
Department Mission
Type of Students
Other

24. The Job Advertisement
Highlight relevant points in the announcement that you could use to tailor a cover letter.
Highlight matching points in your cover letter, and identify points that are missing.

25. The Job Advertisement
Highlight relevant points that you could use to tailor a cover letter.
Highlight matching points in your cover letter, and identify points that are missing.
As a group, discuss what you thought was critical to address from the job advertisement.

26. Tailoring the Cover Letter
Read the job description fully.
Highlight the key responsibilities, requirements, and skills
Tailor your introduction to the cover letter.
Tailor your research to the institution type/department
Tailor your teaching to the institution type/department
Bring up any additional commonalities or ties to the institution.

27. Additional Advice Does the email replace the cover letter?
Draw connections between teaching, research, and service. Each paragraph should tie these together and not simply state what you have done in each area.
Humble brag-be explicit and be your own advocate.

28. Next Steps
Have your cover letter reviewed by a fellow grad student or postdocs.
Have your cover letter reviewed by your advisor or someone in your field/department (faculty level)
Have your cover letter reviewed by our office (final stage-with job ad).