sample cover letter for higher education

Sample Cover Letters for Higher Education Communications

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Cover Letter Template

Cover letter examples.

Customizing your  cover letter  is a highly important part of an effective job application. By customizing your cover letter, you'll provide employers with all the reasons to hire you. 

The end result is far more persuasive than a cookie-cutter cover letter where all you do is swap out the company name and hiring managers. When you take the time to create a customized letter, it shows—and it can lead to good results. 

If you're looking for jobs in higher education communications, take a look at some advice on what to include in your letter and tips for writing it. Plus, you can review an example of a cover letter targeted for a  job in the higher education industry , in the field of communications. 

What to Include in Your Cover Letter 

In every cover letter, regardless of industry, there are certain elements that must be included, such as:

• A salutation:  Start off your letter with an appropriate greeting. Do your best to find out the name of the hiring manager, and address the letter to this person. 
• Why you're writing:  Traditionally, the opening paragraph of the letter will share why you're writing and where you saw the job listing. If someone referred you, mention it here! 
• Your  qualifications :  This is the heart of a cover letter. You want to explain your work history and qualifications. But don't simply duplicate your resume. The goal is to call out elements that will be of particular interest for this specific role. 
• End the letter appropriately:  Include an appropriate sign-off and signature. 

You'll need to format your cover letter slightly differently if it's an email, but most elements remain precisely the same. 

Tips for Writing a Cover Letter 

Do some research:  Before you jump into writing your cover letter, you'll want to do some research. Knowing the higher education institute's values and goals will help you know which points to emphasize. Even small things, like the size of the college or university, make a difference. The communication needs of a small-town college are different than those of a world-renowned research institution. 

Match your skills to the job description:  You should also take a very close look at the job description in the job ad, and match it to your credentials. Pay attention to the responsibilities and skills that are called for. Then, think through your own work history, looking for examples of times when you've used these skills or done similar tasks. For example, if the job description is looking for a strong writer, you can mention that in your last role, you wrote five press releases a month, and were able to garner coverage based on 70% of the press releases that were distributed. 

Call out accomplishments:  In your cover letter, highlight any major achievements you've made in previous roles. This is more powerful than simply listing the day-to-day tasks you've performed in the past. 

This is an example of a cover letter for a higher education position . Download the higher education cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Cover Letter Example - Higher Education / Communications (Text Version)

Alexandria Applicant 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345 555-555-5555 alexandria.applicant@email.com

February 15, 2021

Jon Lee Director, Human Resources University of North Florida 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321

Dear Mr. Lee,

As an experienced communications professional, I'm very interested in the position of Associate Vice President of University Campaign Communications at the University of North Florida.

I have a proven track record in a majority of the competencies you're seeking, especially in strategically communicating institutional priorities. I believe I would be the ideal candidate for this role, as my experience and my skills align with the role outlined in the job description.

Here are a few highlights of my candidacy:

• Twelve years. experience developing and implementing internal and external communications for ABCD Energy/Electric and ABCD Corporation.
• Handling a wide range of creative services, collaborating with and supervising creative services staff and vendors to produce marketing and other print communications, as well as online communications and video projects.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills honed over the past 13 years in public relations and corporate communications; from press releases to newsletters to video scripts to websites and intranet publications.
• Providing communications counsel and expertise to executives and managers for issues management, benefits communications, and employee relations.

As a recent transplant to Miami, I still own a home in Tampa and would love to put my skills to work back in Tampa.

Please let me know if I can answer any questions or provide any work samples.

Signature (hard copy letter)

Alexandria Applicant

Cover Letter for a College Communications Position

Thomas Applicant 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345 555-555-5555 thomas.applicant@email.com

September 15, 2021

Anthony Lau Director, Human Resources Acme College 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321

Dear Mr. Lau, 

I am writing to indicate my interest in the position of Assistant Director of Campaign Communications. I'm a passionate supporter of our current campaign, and a fully-engaged member of the College community.

For many years, I've had a long and happy affiliation with this College, as an employee, parent (Marie 'XX), student, and Alumni Board member. My current position as Administrative Coordinator in the English Department has allowed close collaboration with my Chair, student majors, and 40-plus faculty, as well as many different offices and departments. It's been a joy to work in the English Department, though, and I'm eager to use my talents in greater contribution to the College.

The position of Director of Campaign Communications provides a wonderful opportunity for the College to engage one of its most enthusiastic community members in promotion of its important message. It is a position where my interpersonal and organizational skills, and experience with so many college constituencies, could be put to very productive and successful use.

Speaking to position qualifications, concentrations in literature and writing in both my undergraduate and graduate programs here have allowed me to become a skilled writer. I look forward to incorporating the technologies I've used in the past, and I am very excited to work with new systems. Organization is vital when balancing multiple projects and demands, and the ability to organize well has made my experience in the English Department much more rewarding.

Perhaps the greatest asset I offer is the ability to work with many personalities and groups of people, and I realize just how valuable that is when working with College constituencies, on committees, and in my work with our Alumni Board.

I can think of no better way to honor the riches of my education and work history than sharing the important message of this campaign. I appreciate your considering my application. Please review the attached resume. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thomas Applicant

Cover Letter Example - Director of Communications

Timothy Applicant 123 Main Street Anytown, CA 12345 555-555-5555 timothy.applicant@email.com

Julia Rodriguez Director, Human Resources American Organization 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321

Dear Mrs. Rodriguez,

As an experienced communications professional, I'm very interested in the American Organization's Director of Communications position.

I have a proven track record in almost all of the competencies you're seeking. Here are a few highlights:

• Handled a wide range of creative services, collaborating with creative services peers, subordinates and vendors to produce marketing and other print communications, as well online communications and video projects.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills honed over the past 13 years in public relations and corporate communications; from press releases to newsletters to video scripts to websites and yes, guest columns.
• Developing and implementing communications strategies for reaching employees and other stakeholders.

In my current role at Company A, I've worked closely with nonprofits while administering our corporate marine conservation donation program. This is the most rewarding part of my job, helping connect worthy organizations with funding.

I will call in one week to follow-up and find out if I can answer any questions or provide any work samples.

Timothy Applicant

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15 Higher Education Cover Letter Tips to Get a College Job

Writing a higher education cover letter using these expert tips will help you secure an interview and a top job offer in a competitive job market. Whether you are applying to become the next Dean of Students, Campus Coordinator, Director of Alumni Relations, College Adjunct Instructor, or University Professor, ensure you are the individual getting an interview and that dream job.  

When reviewing job postings, you will discover the advert could request a cover letter, application letter, letter of intent, or letter of introduction. These are just different ways to refer to the letter they expect to see accompanying the resume or CV . Implement these tried and true higher education cover letter writing tips to showcase your best value.

A well-written cover letter can be just as impressive as an adequately  designed resume ; a cover letter, a.k.a. the application letter, should always accompany a resume or CV. This is the opportunity to fine-tune your storytelling abilities and speak to the institution specifically by tailoring your accomplishments and personal traits to a particular job.

Describe your abilities, competencies, skills, knowledge, and expertise, and illustrate them with concrete, institution-specific examples. This is the prime time to tell a hiring committee why you are the perfect candidate whose values, expertise, and skills match the department’s mission and needs. Implementing this post’s strategies will help you make a career transition into a university or college confidently . 

Top Higher Education Cover Letter Writing Tips

Research the institution – college or university faculty.

The more you know about the institution you are applying for, the easier it will be to tailor your higher education cover letter to the college or university’s specific needs, goals, and mission. Whether targeting an Executive Director position or applying for an Adjunct Professor posting, directly relating your skills and expertise to the institution’s needs will go a long way when your application is assessed.

Even if some of your research does not come through in your cover letter, this is excellent preparation for the interview you are setting yourself up for with a professionally written cover letter. You will be better equipped to answer questions such as “Why this job?” and “How are you qualified?” if you thoroughly understand what the position requires.

Check the College or University’s Website

Dive into the college or university’s website to find vital institutional characteristics, strategic goals, needs, and educational missions. This is also where you will discover the institution’s “language.” Try to mimic the wording in your cover letter to the website and job description. This may set you apart from other applicants. You have put in that extra effort to understand better what the position entails and how it positions itself in the educational world.  

Tailor Your Cover Letter for the Position

Because you may be sending out your resume and cover letter to multiple institutions, do not inform the faculties by submitting a generic template cover letter. If you have diligently learned the position, you should tailor your cover letter to the job. The easiest way is to include the college or university name in your letter.

Additionally, ensure you address the college’s particular needs with your accomplishments; this will show the hiring committee that you are familiar with their goals and have the experience to back up your self-marketing.

Suppose you take the extra time to tailor your cover letter to the position you are applying for, be it the Dean of Students or Director of Communications. In that case, you increase your chances of being selected for an interview.

Be Specific by Targeting the Cover Letter

When highlighting your capabilities and achievements, it is vital to illustrate how your competencies will meet the objectives of the position you aim to fill. Whether you list your powers in bullet or paragraph form, do it concisely so the hiring committee can see and read how you are the right candidate for the position.  

List Accomplishments to Match Higher Education Position

When applying for higher education positions such as Chief Technology Officer, Campus Coordinator, or Executive Director, you want to ensure the accomplishments and experiences you add to your cover letter are relevant to the specific position and institution you are targeting.

A good rule of thumb is to highlight the job description and any other documents with the general position expectations with keywords that pertain to your expertise and achievements. This will enable you to specify what you bring to your letter.

As you progress in your career, an idea would be to create a document listing all your accomplishments. After cleaning it up, you would word them for a cover letter in paragraph form and insert them into your cover letters for new employment opportunities.

This way, you always have the sense of a tailored cover letter, although you may have copied and pasted the middle section, and you don’t have to spend hours creating a brand new note each time you want to apply somewhere.

Quantify Career Results

Whenever possible, take a cue from your resume and quantify your accomplishments. If you have “increased student enrolment by 15%” in your tenure, then say so. Take that achievement, develop it into something the hiring committee can see you taking on in their company, and specify that in your cover letter.

These may seem like tedious details, but sometimes the numbers stand out in a sea of words, so take advantage of the opportunity to market yourself in a way that the competition may not.  

Include Keywords

The job posting should provide you with a wealth of information about the employer and the type of person they want to hire. You want your cover letter to engage the reader, so speak to the responsibilities and job description without repeating it word for word. Also, make sure you use keywords that apply to your career and your competencies.

Utilizing keywords will also help your higher education cover letter and resume or curriculum vitae pass the Applicant Tracking Systems. Look below for some examples of keywords to include based on the position you are applying for:

Dean of Students : analytical thinking, leadership, and managerial competencies; organized, self-motivated, humanitarian, technologically competent, approachable.

Adjunct Professor: syllabus creation, student performance monitoring, collaboration and coordination, organizational skills, teamwork, computer competencies.

Director of Admissions: application assessment, institution promotion, management abilities, administrative competencies, attention to detail, enrollment assistance.

Chief Technology Officer: computer proficiency, technical expertise, leadership, analytical, communication and interpersonal skills, and teamwork.

You should format your higher education cover letter to be read easily if sent over email. A PDF is the best as it can be opened and viewed precisely how you created it. Remembering this is a good rule if you intend to attach it to the email or application website.

It may be best practice to copy and paste your cover letter into the email body to ensure the hiring manager reads it. They may not open the cover letter as an attachment and instead go straight to the resume.

The overall layout should follow the suggestions below:  

A cover letter allows you to be more personal and speak as if you were having a conversation; however, do not make it too lengthy. Ensure you keep your resume to one page in length. This page encompasses three to four paragraphs describing your intention, qualifications, accomplishments, and a closing.  

Address to Hiring Manager

While researching information about the position and the institution, note who may be reading your application whenever possible. Some hiring managers may not care that the letter is explicitly addressed to them.

Why take the chance and leave their name out when it could be critical to the person reading your cover letter? If the name is not listed in the job description, contact the Department of Human Resources to determine to whom it should be addressed.  

First Paragraph / Opening Sentence

The first paragraph of your cover letter should state the position you are applying for, the institution you are applying to, and why you are the right candidate for the job. Add your applicable educational background if the job description requires a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

The example below uses strong language and markets the professional for the Dean of Students position. This is the opportunity to briefly display what you can offer the college or university regarding its mission.

“As an experienced leader in the academic sector for over 30 years, I welcome the opportunity to apply for the Dean of Students position with ABC University. As an alumnus of ABC University, I would love the chance to return and become a member of the faculty. I am well prepared to significantly contribute to the goals and objectives of the institution as I have honed my operational, planning, and program development skills to serve your community better.”  

Middle Paragraphs – Include Achievements

The 2nd and 3rd paragraphs should describe your relevant qualifications and highlight your accomplishments. Make sure they pertain to the desired position. This is where examples of how your skills, experience, or research directly correlate with what the employer is looking for.

For instance:

Over the last two years at State College, I have increased donations by more than 80%, bringing over $1 million to the college”.

Each middle paragraph should describe why you are uniquely qualified for the position using keywords from the job posting. There are two options to fulfill this opportunity: bullet point and narrative.

Bullet points are great if you want to catch the reader’s eye quickly and concisely; describe your accomplishments in about four bullet points. Using a narrative is another approach if you wish the hiring committee to remember a story. Either option is acceptable; it depends on how you describe your experiences.

Example Accomplishments and Paragraph

• Established innovative and successful academic programs to attract and retain students, reinforced educational offerings, and enhanced intellectual professional development.  
• Spearheaded an academic growth program, enhanced curriculum development, and organized grant and funding initiatives.

  “My experience in the English Department has enabled me to become a skilled writer by concentrating in literature for both my undergraduate and graduate programs. I am excited to incorporate the technologies I have utilized in my teaching and am eager to work with new systems. Organization and leadership are vital to balance multiple projects and demands successfully, and this expertise has made my career much more rewarding.”

When writing your achievements in paragraph form, think of them using the CAR analogy: CHALLENGE-ACTION-RESULT.  

Final Paragraph / Closing / Thank You

In the final paragraph, you thank the reader for their consideration and request the opportunity to meet in person. This is also the place for that final push, the last opportunity to tell the reader that you are the right candidate.

“As a passionate, innovative, and dedicated teaching professional, I am confident that my skills in academic oversight and directional leadership will directly translate to Taylor University’s mission. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to connecting with you soon to offer more insight into my qualifications.”  

Call to Action/Ask for the Interview

A more direct way to ask for the interview is to be proactive in your approach to closing the cover letter. For example:

“ I will call in one week to follow up and find out if I can clarify any questions you may have, ” or “I will contact you within the next few days to set up a time to speak more specifically about how my skills will directly benefit your academic community .”

If you decide to go with this closing, connect with the institution.  

Match Your Resume

Consistency is critical when submitting several documents with your application. Your paperwork must reflect a polished and professional personality. Ensure your cover letter matches the formatting you used for your resume.

They all have the same look if you are sending thank you letters or recruiting/networking letters. Copy and paste your heading, thus ensuring that the same font, size, and borders are present on everything. Double-check to make sure all documents look the same before you submit them.

Proofreading may seem obvious, but it is a step that should not be missed. If your cover letter has grammatical or spelling errors, it could automatically disqualify you from the position. It may also not pass the Applicant Tracking Systems.

Your capacity to communicate on your higher education cover letter will reflect your ability. Whether you lead a department, teach a graduate class, or recruit and retain students. Read over your cover letter, print it off, reread it, set it aside, and read it a third time. Always proofread and, when possible, have a friend do it for you.

The cover letter is the opportunity to market yourself and your skills in a much less structured way than a resume. Make sure that your cover letter is engaging. Ensure it reflects your skills specific to the position and shows your passion for the job you wish to secure.

An excellent letter will highlight the best parts of your resume without copying it word for word. The goal is to explain why you are the ideal person for the job. Why your experiences are relevant, and how you will use your well-tuned skills in this new role. Take these higher education cover-level tips to heart, and you will land that new job as the next Director of Academic Programs!

If you need help writing your job search documents, connect with me (Candace) via phone at 1 877 738 8052 or send an email .

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Harvard College Resumes & Cover Letter Guide

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A resume is a concise, informative summary of your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills, and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions.

Academic Cover Letters

What is this handout about.

The long list of application materials required for many academic teaching jobs can be daunting. This handout will help you tackle one of the most important components: the cover letter or letter of interest. Here you will learn about writing and revising cover letters for academic teaching jobs in the United States of America.

What is an academic cover letter?

An academic cover letter describes your experiences and interest as a candidate for a specific position. It introduces you to the hiring committee and demonstrates how your academic background fits with the description of the position.

What do cover letters for academic teaching jobs typically contain?

At their most basic level, academic cover letters accomplish three things: one, they express your interest in the job; two, they provide a brief synopsis of your research and teaching; and three, they summarize your past experiences and achievements to illustrate your competence for the job. For early-career scholars, cover letters are typically no more than two pages (up to four pages for senior scholars). Occasionally, a third page may make sense for an early-career scholar if the application does not require a separate teaching statement and/or research statement. Digital versions of cover letters often contain hyperlinks to your CV or portfolio page. For some fields, cover letters may also include examples of your work, including music, popular articles, and other multimedia related to your research, service, or teaching available online. Typically, letters appear on departmental or university letterhead and include your signature. Above all, a strong cover letter presents your accomplishments and your familiarity with the institution and with the position.

How should I prepare to write my academic cover letter?

Like all writing, composing a cover letter is a process. The process may be as short as a few hours or as long as several weeks, but at the end the letter should present you as a strong candidate for the job. The following section has tips and questions for thinking through each stage of this writing process. You don’t need to answer all of these questions to write the letter; they are meant to help you brainstorm ideas.

Before you begin writing your cover letter, consider researching the institution, the department, and the student population. Incorporating all three aspects in your letter will help convey your interest in the position.

Get to know the institution. When crafting your cover letter, be aware of the type of institution to which you are applying. Knowing how the institution presents itself can help you tailor your letter and make it more specific.

• Where is the institution located?
• Is it on a quarter-system or semester-system?
• What type of institution is it? Is it an R1? Is it an R2? Is it a liberal arts college? Is it an HBCU? Is it a community college? A private high school?
• What is the institution’s culture? Is it teaching-focused or research-focused? Does it privilege experiential learning? Does it value faculty involvement outside the classroom? Is it affiliated with a specific religious tradition?
• Does it have any specific institutional commitments?
• How does the institution advocate for involvement in its local community?
• What are the professional development opportunities for new and junior faculty?

Learn about the department. Knowing the specific culture and needs of the department can help you reach your audience: the department members who will be reading your documents and vetting you as a candidate.

• Who is on the search committee? Who is the search committee chair?
• What is the official name of the department?
• Which different subfields make up the department?
• Is it a dual appointment or a position in a dual department?
• How does the department participate in specific types of student outreach?
• Does the department have graduate students? Does it offer a terminal Master’s degree, Ph.D., or both? How large are the cohorts? How are they funded?
• Does the department encourage or engage in interdisciplinary work?
• Does the majority of the department favor certain theoretical or methodological approaches?
• Does the department have partnerships with local institutions? If so, which ones?
• Is the department attempting to fill a specific vacancy, or is it an entirely new position?
• What are the typical course offerings in the department? Which courses might you be expected to teach? What courses might you be able to provide that are not currently available?

Consider the students. The search committee will often consider how you approach instructing and mentoring the student body. Sometimes committees will even reserve a position for a student or solicit student feedback on a candidate:

• What populations constitute the majority of the undergraduate population?
• Have there been any shifts in the student population recently?
• Do students largely come from in-state or out-of-state?
• Is there an international student population? If so, from which countries?
• Is the university recruiting students from traditionally underrepresented populations?
• Are students particularly active on campus? If so, how?

Many answers to these questions can be found both in the job description and on the institution’s website. If possible, consider contacting someone you know at the institution to ask about the culture directly. You can also use the institution’s course catalog, recruitment materials, alumni magazine, and other materials to get answers to these questions. The key is to understand the sort of institution to which you are applying, its immediate needs, and its future trajectory.

Remember, there is a resource that can help you with all three aspects—people. Reach out to your advisor, committee members, faculty mentors, and other contacts for insight into the prospective department’s culture and faculty. They might even help you revise your letter based on their expertise. Think of your job search as an opportunity to cultivate these relationships.

After you have done some initial research, think about how your experiences have prepared you for the job and identify the ones that seem the most relevant. Consider your previous research, internships, graduate teaching, and summer experiences. Here are some topics and questions to get you started thinking about what you might include.

Research Experiences. Consider how your research has prepared you for an academic career. Since the letter is a relatively short document, select examples of your research that really highlight who you are as a scholar, the direction you see your work going, and how your scholarship will contribute to the institution’s research community.

• What are your current research interests?
• What topics would you like to examine in the future?
• How have you pursued those research interests?
• Have you traveled for your research?
• Have you published any of your research? Have you presented it at a conference, symposium, or elsewhere?
• Have you worked or collaborated with scholars at different institutions on projects? If so, what did these collaborations produce?
• Have you made your research accessible to your local community?
• Have you received funding or merit-based fellowships for your research?
• What other research contributions have you made? This may include opinion articles, book chapters, or participating as a journal reviewer.
• How do your research interests relate to those of other faculty in the department or fill a gap?

Teaching Experience. Think about any teaching experience you may have. Perhaps you led recitations as a teaching assistant, taught your own course, or guest lectured. Pick a few experiences to discuss in your letter that demonstrate something about your teaching style or your interest in teaching.

• What courses are you interested in teaching for the department? What courses have you taught that discussed similar topics or themes?
• What new courses can you imagine offering the department that align with their aim and mission?
• Have you used specific strategies that were helpful in your instruction?
• What sort of resources do you typically use in the classroom?
• Do you have anecdotes that demonstrate your teaching style?
• What is your teaching philosophy?
• When have you successfully navigated a difficult concept or topic in the classroom, and what did you learn?
• What other opportunities could you provide to students?

Internships/Summer/Other Experiences. Brainstorm a list of any conferences, colloquiums, and workshops you have attended, as well as any ways you have served your department, university, or local community. This section will highlight how you participate in your university and scholarly community. Here are some examples of things you might discuss:

• Professional development opportunities you may have pursued over the summer or during your studies
• International travel for research or presentations
• Any research you’ve done in a non-academic setting
• Presentations at conferences
• Participation in symposia, reading groups, working groups, etc.
• Internships in which you may have implemented your research or practical skills related to your discipline
• Participation in community engagement projects
• Participation in or leadership of any scholarly and/or university organizations

In answering these questions, create a list of the experiences that you think best reflect you as a scholar and teacher. In choosing which experiences to highlight, consider your audience and what they would find valuable or relevant. Taking the time to really think about your reader will help you present yourself as an applicant well-qualified for the position.

Writing a draft

Remember that the job letter is an opportunity to introduce yourself and your accomplishments and to communicate why you would be a good fit for the position. Typically, search committees will want to know whether you are a capable job candidate, familiar with the institution, and a great future addition to the department’s faculty. As such, be aware of how the letter’s structure and content reflect your preparedness for the position.

The structure of your cover letter should reflect the typical standards for letter writing in the country in which the position is located (the list below reflects the standards for US letter writing). This usually includes a salutation, body, and closing, as well as proper contact information. If you are affiliated with a department, institution, or organization, the letter should be on letterhead.

• Use a simple, readable font in a standard size, such as 10-12pt. Some examples of fonts that may be conventional in your field include Arial, Garamond, Times New Roman, and Verdana, among other similar fonts.
• Do not indent paragraphs.
• Separate all paragraphs by a line and justify them to the left.
• Make sure that any included hyperlinks work.
• Include your signature in the closing.

Before you send in your letter, make sure you proofread and look for formatting mistakes. You’ll read more about proofreading and revising later in this handout!

The second most important aspect of your letter is its content. Since the letter is the first chance to provide an in-depth introduction, it should expand on who you are as a scholar and possible faculty member. Below are some elements to consider including when composing your letter.

Identify the position you are applying to and introduce yourself. Traditionally, the first sentence of a job letter includes the full name of the position and where you discovered the job posting. This is also the place to introduce yourself and describe why you are applying for this position. Since the goal of a job letter is to persuade the search committee to include you on the list of candidates for further review, you may want to include an initial claim as to why you are a strong candidate for the position. Some questions you might consider:

• What is your current status (ABD, assistant professor, post-doc, etc.)?
• If you are ABD, have you defended your dissertation? If not, when will you defend?
• Why are you interested in this position?
• Why are you a strong candidate for this position?

Describe your research experience and interests. For research-centered positions, such as positions at R1 or other types of research-centered universities, include information about your research experience and current work early in the letter. For many applicants, current work will be the dissertation project. If this is the case, some suggest calling your “dissertation research” your “current project” or “work,” as this may help you present yourself as an emerging scholar rather than a graduate student. Some questions about your research that you might consider:

• What research experiences have you had?
• What does your current project investigate?
• What are some of the important methods you applied?
• Have you collaborated with others in your research?
• Have you acquired specific skills that will be useful for the future?
• Have you received special funding? If so, what kind?
• Has your research received any accolades or rewards?
• What does your current project contribute to the field?
• Where have you presented your research?
• Have you published your research? If so, where? Or are you working on publishing your work?
• How does your current project fit the job description?

Present your plans for future research. This section presents your research agenda and usually includes a description of your plans for future projects and research publications. Detailing your future research demonstrates to the search committee that you’ve thought about a research trajectory and can work independently. If you are applying to a teaching-intensive position, you may want to minimize this section and/or consider including a sentence or two on how this research connects to undergraduate and/or graduate research opportunities. Some questions to get you started:

• What is your next research project/s?
• How does this connect to your current and past work?
• What major theories/methods will you use?
• How will this project contribute to the field?
• Where do you see your specialty area or subfield going in the next ten years and how does your research contribute to or reflect this?
• Will you be collaborating with anyone? If so, with whom?
• How will this future project encourage academic discourse?
• Do you already have funding? If so, from whom? If not, what plans do you have for obtaining funding?
• How does your future research expand upon the department’s strengths while simultaneously diversifying the university’s research portfolio? (For example, does your future research involve emerging research fields, state-of-the-art technologies, or novel applications?)

Describe your teaching experience and highlight teaching strategies. This section allows you to describe your teaching philosophy and how you apply this philosophy in your classroom. Start by briefly addressing your teaching goals and values. Here, you can provide specific examples of your teaching methods by describing activities and projects you assign students. Try to link your teaching and research together. For example, if you research the rise of feminism in the 19th century, consider how you bring either the methodology or the content of your research into the classroom. For a teaching-centered institution, such as a small liberal arts college or community college, you may want to emphasize your teaching more than your research. If you do not have any teaching experience, you could describe a training, mentoring, or coaching situation that was similar to teaching and how you would apply what you learned in a classroom.

• What is your teaching philosophy? How is your philosophy a good fit for the department in which you are applying to work?
• What sort of teaching strategies do you use in the classroom?
• What is your teaching style? Do you lecture? Do you emphasize discussion? Do you use specific forms of interactive learning?
• What courses have you taught?
• What departmental courses are you prepared to teach?
• Will you be able to fill in any gaps in the departmental course offerings?
• What important teaching and/or mentoring experiences have you had?
• How would you describe yourself in the classroom?
• What type of feedback have you gotten from students?
• Have you received any awards or recognition for your teaching?

Talk about your service work. Service is often an important component of an academic job description. This can include things like serving on committees or funding panels, providing reviews, and doing community outreach. The cover letter gives you an opportunity to explain how you have involved yourself in university life outside the classroom. For instance, you could include descriptions of volunteer work, participation in initiatives, or your role in professional organizations. This section should demonstrate ways in which you have served your department, university, and/or scholarly community. Here are some additional examples you could discuss:

• Participating in graduate student or junior faculty governance
• Sitting on committees, departmental or university-wide
• Partnerships with other university offices or departments
• Participating in community-partnerships
• Participating in public scholarship initiatives
• Founding or participating in any university initiatives or programs
• Creating extra-curricular resources or presentations

Present yourself as a future faculty member. This section demonstrates who you will be as a colleague. It gives you the opportunity to explain how you will collaborate with faculty members with similar interests; take part in departmental and/or institution wide initiatives or centers; and participate in departmental service. This shows your familiarity with the role of faculty outside the classroom and your ability to add to the departmental and/or institutional strengths or fill in any gaps.

• What excites you about this job?
• What faculty would you like to collaborate with and why? (This answer may be slightly tricky. See the section on name dropping below.)
• Are there any partnerships in the university or outside of it that you wish to participate in?
• Are there any centers associated with the university or in the community that you want to be involved in?
• Are there faculty initiatives that you are passionate about?
• Do you have experience collaborating across various departments or within your own department?
• In what areas will you be able to contribute?
• Why would you make an excellent addition to the faculty at this institution?

Compose a strong closing. This short section should acknowledge that you have sent in all other application documents and include a brief thank you for the reader’s time and/or consideration. It should also state your willingness to forward additional materials and indicate what you would like to see as next steps (e.g., a statement that you look forward to speaking with the search committee). End with a professional closing such as “Sincerely” or “Kind Regards” followed by your full name.

If you are finding it difficult to write the different sections of your cover letter, consider composing the other academic job application documents (the research statement, teaching philosophy, and diversity statement) first and then summarizing them in your job letter.

Different kinds of letters may be required for different types of jobs. For example, some jobs may focus on research. In this case, emphasize your research experiences and current project/s. Other jobs may be more focused on teaching. In this case, highlight your teaching background and skills. Below are two models for how you could change your letter’s organization based on the job description and the institution. The models offer a guide for you to consider how changing the order of information and the amount of space dedicated to a particular topic changes the emphasis of the letter.

Research-Based Position Job Letter Example:

Teaching-based position job letter example:.

Remember your first draft does not have to be your last. Try to get feedback from different readers, especially if it is one of your first applications. It is not uncommon to go through several stages of revisions. Check out the Writing Center’s handout on editing and proofreading and video on proofreading to help with this last stage of writing.

Potential pitfalls

Using the word dissertation. Some search committee members may see the word “dissertation” as a red flag that an applicant is too focused on their role as a graduate student rather than as a prospective faculty member. It may be advantageous, then, to describe your dissertation as current research, a current research project, current work, or some other phrase that demonstrates you are aware that your dissertation is the beginning of a larger scholarly career.

Too much jargon. While you may be writing to a specific department, people on the search committee might be unfamiliar with the details of your subfield. In fact, many committees have at least one member from outside their department. Use terminology that can easily be understood by non-experts. If you want to use a specific term that is crucial to your research, then you should define it. Aim for clarity for your reader, which may mean simplification in lieu of complete precision.

Overselling yourself. While your job letter should sell you as a great candidate, saying so (e.g., “I’m the ideal candidate”) in your letter may come off to some search committee members as presumptuous. Remember that although you have an idea about the type of colleague a department is searching for, ultimately you do not know exactly what they want. Try to avoid phrases or sentences where you state you are the ideal or the only candidate right for the position.

Paying too much attention to the job description. Job descriptions are the result of a lot of debate and compromise. If you have skills or research interests outside the job description, consider including them in your letter. It may be that your extra research interests; your outside skills; and/or your extracurricular involvements make you an attractive candidate. For example, if you are a Latin Americanist who also happens to be well-versed in the Spanish Revolution, it could be worth mentioning the expanse of your research interests because a department might find you could fill in other gaps in the curriculum or add an additional or complementary perspective to the department.

Improper sendoff. The closing of your letter is just as important as the beginning. The end of the letter should reflect the professionalism of the document. There should be a thank-you and the word sincerely or a formal equivalent. Remember, it is the very last place in your letter where you present yourself as a capable future colleague.

Small oversights. Make sure to proofread your letter not just for grammar but also for content. For example, if you use material from another letter, make sure you do not include the names of another school, department, or unassociated faculty! Or, if the school is in Chicago, make sure you do not accidentally reference it as located in the Twin Cities.

Name dropping. You rarely know the internal politics of the department or institution to which you are applying. So be cautious about the names you insert in your cover letters. You do not want to unintentionally insert yourself into a departmental squabble or add fire to an interdepartmental conflict. Instead, focus on the actions you will undertake and the initiatives you are passionate about.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Ball, Cheryl E. 2013. “Understanding Cover Letters.” Inside Higher Ed , November 3, 2013. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2013/11/04/essay-cover-letter-academic-jobs .

Borchardt, John. 2014. “Writing a Winning Cover Letter.” Science Magazine , August 6, 2014. https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2014/08/writing-winning-cover-letter# .

Helmreich, William. 2013. “Your First Academic Job.” Inside Higher Ed , June 17, 2013. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2013/06/17/essay-how-land-first-academic-job .

Kelsky, Karen. 2013. “How To Write a Journal Article Submission Cover Letter.” The Professor Is In (blog), April 26, 2013. https://theprofessorisin.com/2013/04/26/how-to-write-a-journal-article-submission-cover-letter/ .

Tomaska, Lubomir, and Josef Nosek. 2008. “Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Cover Letter to Accompany a Job Application for an Academic Position.” PLoS Computational Biology 14(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006132 .

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Internship and Career Center

Cover letter template for academic faculty and teaching positions.

Below is a general template for use when crafting a cover letter for academic teaching positions. Before getting started, you will also want to review the academic cover letter samples .

Optional – include header (similar to your resume and other supporting documents)

[Mailing date] [Search committee mailing info, including department and address] [Dear Professor _____________________, or Dear Search Committee Chair and Members:] [Paragraph 1: simple introduction.]

     I am writing to apply for the position of [official title] announced in the XXX [e.g., Chronicle of Higher Education]. I am completing a Ph.D. in XX from the [department name] at the University of California, Davis. I will defend my dissertation, "[dissertation title]” and expect to graduate in [month]. OR: I am finishing the first year of my postdoc with XX [your PI's name or in the lab of XX], where I am working on X, Y, and Z [briefly describe, but leave the bulk of the research description for the below sections]. [Paragraph 2: principal research area(s) and dissertation - this paragraph along with paragraph 3 would follow the introduction when applying for a faculty or teaching position within a R1 university emphasizing the research over the teaching. For Liberal Arts Colleges and State Universities, research and teaching paragraphs should be somewhat balanced in length. For teaching-only Community Colleges, a research statement might be included towards the bottom of the cover letter, but only in the context of staying on top of the discipline in order to perform more effectively as a teacher. ]

     My principal research area is X [area here], with a focus on [focus area(s)]. [3-4 sentence summary of dissertation here]. I've used X method/technique/approach to explore W and Z. [Paragraph 3: other research areas, contributions, and future directions - this paragraph would be included for R1, Liberal Arts College or State University.]

     My immediate research priority is to expand this manuscript into a book. I will direct future research toward [1-2 sentences on next project]. [Add additional sentences on your broader research agenda, how you would apply this to your new institution]. [Paragraph 4: teaching experience and interests - this paragraph would follow the 1st paragraph when applying to a State University.]

     During my [number] years at X [campus], I have taught [identify what you have taught, particularly as it relates to the institution you are applying]. [Add 2 or so sentences on any pedagogical training, innovative approaches you have taken in the classroom, technology you've used, areas you are particularly interested in exploring, and/or specific new class or seminars you would like to teach at their institution]. [Paragraph 5: closing.]

     I have enclosed my CV, a writing sample, and a teaching philosophy state [or whatever they ask for…]. Three faculty recommendations will be mailed under separate cover [or by Interfolio , a dossier service]. I will attend the XX conference in [city] this year, and I can always be reached by phone or email. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, [your signature] [your email] – include if you don’t use a header [your phone number] – include if you don’t use a header

A couple of notes:

• The tone of the cover letter should be that of a potential colleague. It should showcase your knowledge, contribution to the discipline. The cover letter should be used to outline your academic accomplishments and to share a five year vision for where you are heading into the future.
• You want to present the perspective of an independent researcher and teacher, not simply a list the coursework and tasks you've completed as a graduate student or postdoc.
• Note that you do not have to separate your dissertation and other research interests (i.e. paragraphs 2 and 3).
• Understand the different missions of the institutions for which you are applying.

Adapted from a template provided by Robert P. Newcomb, Ph.D., Department of Spanish & Portuguese, UC Davis

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How to Write a Cover Letter for Academic Jobs

The purpose of your cover letter

The power of the cover letter in making an effective job application should never be underestimated. A good cover letter will grab the employer’s attention and make them want to read your CV. The purpose of your cover letter and CV together is to whet the employer’s appetite, to establish you as a serious contender for the post and to persuade the recruiter that you are worth an interview.

The cover letter exists to:

• Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the post, based on the research you have done about the role and the institution
• Explain your rationale for applying and how the role fits with your career plans
• Answer the question “Why should we hire you?” by demonstrating how you meet the key criteria for the post and what sets you apart from other candidates
• Provide evidence of your written communication and language skills, including the ability to be clear, succinct and articulate. This is especially important for teaching roles as the ability to communicate the nature and impact of your academic work to a non-academic audience is crucial.

This article focuses on cover letters for roles in Academia and addresses:

When to send a cover letter

• What format to use
• How to tailor it to a particular role
• Marketing yourself in the cover letter
• The dos and don’ts of cover letter writing
• An example ‘before’ and ‘after’ cover letter with detailed explanations of the improvements made
• A checklist for you to ensure your cover letter is as effective as possible.

You should always send a cover letter with your CV unless you are expressly asked not to. The only exception is if you are posting your CV on a database/with an agency where it will be seen by numerous employers, in which case a Profile on the CV itself is helpful.

Even if you have explained your motivation for applying on the application form, it is still worth sending a separate cover letter. This is because the cover letter gives you another opportunity to market yourself and can strengthen your chances.

The format of a cover letter

For jobs in academia, the length of the cover letter will depend on the seniority of the post. In any event, you should ensure the letter is no longer than two pages; one and a half pages is better still. In order to make an impact, and to prove that you can explain ideas fluently and clearly, the letter needs to be succinct. This is not the place to give in-depth detail about your research and academic interests; remember that the letter may be read by non-academics too, such as staff from Human Resources. You can always give further details of your academic and research activities on your CV or in an Appendix to your CV.

Keep paragraphs short and your typeface clear (a font size of 11 or 12 is recommended) as the employer’s attention span will be brief.

It is traditional to write the cover letter in paragraph format, and this is the format we have used for our example letter, although some candidates choose to use bullet points and/or bold to highlight key points.

The order of paragraphs is not critical, but the following is recommended:

• Address and salutation: Address the letter to a named person i.e. the Head of Department.
• First paragraph: An introduction, explaining which post you are applying for, how you heard about it, and some brief background on who you are e.g. in terms of your research interests and academic background.
• Middle section: Evidence of your academic career in terms of your research interests and achievements as well as teaching and administrative experience. Also mention your future research plans. The balance between research, teaching and administration will depend on the nature of the institution and department’s work.
• Final section: Explain what attracts you to this role in this institution and department and how the role fits in to your career plans.
• Concluding paragraph: A conclusion summarising what makes you suitable for the job and a statement expressing interest in an interview.

Tailoring your letter

The best way to tailor your letter effectively is to:

Do your research

Your cover letter needs to show what a great match you are for the job. The job and person specification will only give you so much. In order to understand the job context, how your own research interests will fit into the department’s academic offering, what the recruiters are really looking for and how the department and job might develop in future you need to make your own enquiries.

This could include:

Online research

For example: into the University and Department’s academic programmes, it’s research and student profile, the research interests of key staff and so on. There is much information available publicly (for example, the institution’s and department’s external websites, the department’s latest research ranking, academic forums and even Good University Guides). For external  appointments, you may be limited to what is available publicly so do use your networks to access these.

Discussion with the Head of Department

Most recruiters are only too happy to answer questions about the job from potential applicants beforehand. This can also help you get your ‘name in the frame’ early. Just ensure that your  questions are well researched and be warned that the conversation might turn into an informal interview. You should reflect on why the department should hire you, and refine your ‘elevator pitch’ before arranging the call.

Conversations with other academics in the department and institution

You can also speak to people who previously worked there, who have worked with key staff in the department at some point in their career, as well as support staff. This will give you a better idea of the culture of the institution and the work of the department. For internal roles, you can use your internal networks to find these people. For external roles, you might ask the Head of  Department to put you in touch with other staff – or use your networks to see who knows someone in the right department and institution.

The depth of your research will show in your application and can really distinguish serious applicants from the rest of the pack. It’s also great preparation for the interview stage.

Be selective

The best way to tailor your letter is to pick out only the top three or four criteria for the post and focus your evidence on these. If the employer is convinced you have the right credentials,  experience and skills for the areas that matter most, the chances are that they will invite you to interview. Your CV and your interview can cover the rest.

Remember to include your skills outside research

Whilst the focus of your cover letter may be about communicating the relevance and depth of your academic experience, don’t forget to give evidence of those softer skills which may also be relevant to the job. These are likely to be outlined in the person specification and may include supervising PhD students, writing funding bids, managing other staff and project planning.

Marketing yourself effectively

Before you write your letter, you need to be clear on what your Unique Selling Points are for the role in relation to the key job criteria.

Think about what will differentiate you from the competition. Consider who else might apply, internally and externally, and what they might offer. Consider what makes you stand out from them. This might include:

• Greater depth of expertise in this field or a higher research profile than other likely applicants
• A particular blend of experiences which give you a unique perspective (e.g. international experience, having worked in both academia and industry, or having held posts in more than one academic discipline)
• Specific achievements in your current and previous roles
• A passion for and commitment to this area of research or working for this institution (e.g. perhaps you completed your PhD there)
• Well developed research or funding networks which could prove helpful in the job
• Or anything else you think might make the stand out in a way which is relevant to the role.

Tips for success

• Put your most convincing evidence first. You need to make an impact in the first few sentences. Talk about your current or most relevant job first
• Focus on achievements in your current and previous roles rather than merely your responsibilities (publications, new courses developed, funding awards won and so on). Quantify these wherever possible
• Illustrate your achievements with brief but specific examples, explaining why these are relevant to this role. You can refer the employer to the CV for more detail
• Concentrate on the areas which differentiate you from the competition rather than the basic job criteria
• Demonstrate how well you have researched the role and the job context when explaining your career motivation
• Explain your rationale if you are seeking a career change or sideways move
• Be succinct. Ask someone to go through it with you and edit out any wordy sentences and redundant words. Some academic institutions offer a confidential careers advice service to staff members through their University Careers Service
• End on a note of enthusiasm and anticipation.
• Try to summarise your CV or give too much detail – you need to be selective about the points that you highlight
• Make unsubstantiated statements about relevant skills and experience without giving examples
• Send the same or a similar letter to more than one employer. Never ‘cut and paste’ as employers will suspect a lack of research and career focus
• Make generalised statements about why you want to work for the institution (e.g. referring to ‘a top 50 global institution’ or ‘a department with a high reputation’)
• Use jargon specific to your employer or profession which the employer might not understand
• Focus on what the employer can do for you – it’s more about what you can do for the employer.

Example cover letter – with comments

Example cover letter – improved version

Cover letter checklist

Before you send off your letter, use our final checklist to ensure your letter is as strong as possible.

• Done your homework so that you are clear about what the employer wants?
• Given clear evidence of how you meet the most important criteria of the job?
• Kept it to two pages or less?
• Put your most important evidence in the first half of the letter?
• Explained your academic interests clearly in a way that non-academics could understand?
• Asked a friend to proof read it and ensure the language is succinct and clear?
• Addressed it to the right person?
• Given a convincing explanation of why you want the job?
• Ended with a summary of why you would be perfect for this role?

What did you think of our article? - please rate

Share this article

Lisa Carr is a careers consultant and coach who works with a range of public and private organisations including the University of Warwick and Warwick Business School, where she coaches Executive MBAs. She began her career as an HR manager in the energy industry and spent a number of years lecturing for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. After qualifying as a Careers Guidance practitioner she has worked with a wide range of clients from undergraduates through to senior academics and company directors.

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Sample Cover Letter

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 89 Ames Street 61-210 Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 555-1212 awalker@mit.edu

Department of Chemistry Wonderful Religious University Great City, OH 54321 September 29, 20XX

Dear Professor Greatguy and Members of the Faculty Search Committee,

I am writing to apply for your department’s open position for an assistant professor of organic chemistry. I have enclosed my curriculum vitae, two academic transcripts, a statement of my teaching philosophy, and three brief research proposals. I have arranged for letters of support to be sent directly from three references: Professor X (MIT), Professor Y (MIT) and Professor Z (California Institute of Technology).

I am seeking a faculty position at an institution that will support me sharing my passion for chemistry with students through teaching. I have significant teaching experience, with outstanding reviews from my students in both general and organic chemistry. I have assisted with both introductory and organic chemistry, and am excited about leading these courses, as well as teaching biochemistry and special topics such as Gene Therapy and the internationalization of science. I plan to teach not only students at WRU, but expand efforts to reach out into the community and raise awareness of the importance of science in everyday life.

As an assistant professor, I will focus my research gene therapy, specifically on the development of new types of nanospheres made of biodegradeable polymers. I have been developing some of these in my postdoctoral work, but will move my own research in a new direction, specifically looking at binding into the major and minor grooves for specificity of application. The three research proposals I have included each include preliminary results that validate my approach, and I plan to use those results to write fullfledged proposals to major funding agencies. The scope of this work dovetails nicely with both the type of students and resources available at WRU, falling naturally into small projects easily managed by an undergraduate over the course of a summer or semester. I am excited about building a research group to more deeply understand these systems, and develop better therapeutic methods.

My wide breadth of experience in biological, organic, natural products and synthetic chemistry, as well as chemical engineering, will allow me to not only work on interdisciplinary research problems, but also help expand the horizons of possibilities for students.

I have given careful considering to the type of academic institution that matches my talents and motivations, and am specifically looking for a primarily undergraduate institution, where I can run a small research group that will let me develop meaningful professional relationships with students. I was thrilled to see WRU’s strong focus on international collaboration, and plan to work with your Science Semester Abroad program, to enable my students to more deeply understand the collaborative and international nature of today’s scientific research.

Finally, I have visited Great City several times, and am well aware of the vast array of cultural and other amenities. I look forward to exploring the city further, and building a personal and professional life there.

Thank you for considering my application; I look forward to hearing from you.

With best regards, Alice Walker

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Free Higher Education Cover Letter Sample

People often forget how important it is to write a good higher education cover letter . It is equally important as your resume. These two go hand in hand, and the sample higher education cover letter should be tailored distinctly for the position you applying to. When you are writing the letter, think about writing a story. This story should allow the hiring manager to get a glimpse of your personality and professional experiences. Your resume cannot reflect your resume, but your higher education cover letter sample can. With that in mind, what are some of the practices you can use to write a cover letter that will get you an interview, and a position? Take a look at the sample, and use some of the tips to make it as unique as possible.

• # Higher Education Cover Letter Template
• # Higher Education Cover Letter Sample
• # Tips for Writing Higher Education Cover Letter
• # How to Edit Higher Education Cover Letter Template

Free Higher Education Cover Letter Template

This is a free cover letter template for higher education. Free Download and customize it according to the sample text below.

Supported formats

Higher education cover letter sample (text).

Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email Contact Person Company Name Address City, State, Zip Code

I am writing as an experienced Academic Advisor with more than three years of experience and proven skills working with students. I've worked with students from diverse academic, cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. My track record has prepared me perfectly for the job you have posted on [website], and I believe we would be a perfect fit because my skills and education match the skills you are looking for.

I strongly believe that what I bring to the table is unique among candidates, and that is my personality and my voluntary experience. I've had a valuable experience of working with children and young people in the community, mostly related to the church's program for helping. I can very easy relate to people of all backgrounds, and can work within the team to further improve the quality of your institution.

I would also like to highlight some of my achievements in the field. I believe that my work speaks for myself more, and better than I can. With that in mind, I would like to enlist that:

• I was a keynote speaker at a conference about [subject] in 2017.
• I managed to publish an article on [subject] in Journal of Psychology.
• To make the lessons more motivating for my students, I applied creativity to research-based strategiesLast, but not least, I've enclosed my resume where you can see more of my achievements in the field.

Thank you for your consideration, and I hope we can talk further in a face-to-face interview.

Sincerely, Your name

Tips for Writing Higher Education Cover Letter

• Read the announcement several times before applying.
• Immerse yourself in the website of the higher education institution you are applying to.
• Show information that can be easily verified, like "I was invited to be a keynote speaker at [international conference] in 2017.
• Do not use vague sentences like "I have great communications skills".
• Do not mention every single side project you have been part off. The cover letter is not your Wikipedia page.
• Never write anything like "nobody has studied this topic before". We live in a world with more than 7 billion people, somebody must have done something about it .

Use a sample

There are many higher education cover letter examples you can find. And the truth is, you should use them as much as you can. However, remember to use the example as an inspiration only. Always tailor the cover letter to reflect your character, experience, and the position for which you are applying.

When you are writing a cover letter for higher education, try to think of aspects that are unthought-of by your competition. Think of it as a competition. The hiring manager will probably get hundreds or thousands of letters. How will yours stand out of the crowd?

Opening sentence

You should always start your cover letter with a clear identity. Try to answer the question "what is your research field, and what is your main contribution to it?" And then continue by elaborating what makes you the most suitable individual for the position.

Evidence, and more evidence

There is a fine line between assertiveness, modesty, and arrogance. And some people can often cross it. If you say that you are "internationally recognized" as an expert in your field, you are being arrogant. But if you say something like "In my last position, I created a protocol that improved reliability by %", then you are being assertive and showing evidence of how valuable you can be.

Highlight your achievements

Make sure to include a paragraph to highlight your achievements like top publications, invited talks, grants won, and edited collections. Put only the best in the letter, and leave the nice-to-have stuff for the resume.

It is challenging for people applying for academic position to be modest and clear. Many fall into the trap of using vocabulary that can be understood only by an expert in the field in their higher education cover letters. Make sure to be clear, and write about your research in a way that is comprehensible and easy to understand by a broader readership. Journalists have a rule of writing for people aged 7 to 77. Do not go that far, but make it understandable.

How to Edit Higher Education Cover Letter Template

To prepare a professional higher education cover letter, you can try Wondershare PDFelement - PDF Editor , the best PDF editor to edit your PDF cover letter template. This tool is specialized in creating, editing and converting PDF files. It also can turn the scanned PDF documents into editable and searchable texts.

Step 1. Open the Higher Education Cover Letter Template

Step 2. Click on "Edit" and Enter Your Text as You Like

Step 3. Complete and Save Your Higher Education Cover Letter

Posted by Elise Williams to Updated: 2024-04-18 13:58:49

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