GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Writing Cover Letters—Applying for Faculty Positions

Some general tips and thoughts on cover letters:

LENGTH

Individuals vary on this point; some say that you should include every relevant piece of information; others, like me, believe

that brevity is best.

Advice from two dept. chairs at a mid-size state university (I won’t claim to agree with every detail, but here it is, verbatim):

The English chair wrote:

“Most letters are a page and those that go to two probably just get skimmed on second page b/c a search committee often

has 50-60 folders to go through with 3-5 rec letters and transcripts. Here are the basics: paragraph one—apply for a

specific position and show your matching qualifications, two—highlight appropriate items from your cv, three—tell them

why you want them!!! (some people do this in 1st paragraph—very impt—separates you from others sending out letters to

everyone—yes?!!) Most impt—let your voice, your enthusiasm come through!”

The Philosophy chair wrote:

“Personally, I’d advise you to stick to one page. Anything else you want to tell them should become a separate document

(e.g., summary of the dissertation, or statement of teaching methods and goals, with those documents clearly headed with

your name and the topic of that document). The function of a cover letter is to convince them that you are the perfect match

to the job as advertised. People reading files just HATE applications that make you guess or hunt through the transcript to

figure things out. (e.g., if it says that teaching three specific courses is desirable, and you can teach two, tell them which you

can and can’t right there in the cover letter. Don’t make them read your vitae to try to figure it out).

Psychologically, seeing that a cover page goes to a second page is just an invitation for the letter reader to skim. Seeing that

signature at the bottom tells you how much you’re reading and you get full attention to that one page.”

CUSTOMIZE EVERY LETTER

Avoid writing “To Whom it May Concern”—if no name is given, write something like “Dear Search Committee

Members”

Do some research on every dept. before you send letter, so that you can explain why you are a good fit for this

particular job

Don’t despair! This will get easier as you go—you will be able to cut and paste various sections from previous letters

Do not exactly copy anyone else’s letters—make them a reflection of you

(be especially sure to avoid copying a template out of a book—other job candidates are reading this same book!)

PRACTICALITIES

Everything about the form of the letter needs to be professional

use letterhead

reproduce person’s name exactly as it appears in the ad

TYPE address on outside of envelope

proofread EVERY letter

Develop a system for keeping track of deadlines & letters/dossiers to

send—chronological list according to due date; check off & record date when you send

Include in the letter information about where you will be when, and how you may be

reached: many convention interviews are arranged at the last minute

ASK OTHERS FOR HELP

Have a friend read & proofread your drafts

Look at available examples from others

If profs are willing, ask them to read through one letter that pertains to their field

Use some of the good books & Web resources that are available:

Boufis, Christina and Victoria C. Olsen, eds. On the Market: Surviving the Academic Job Search. New York: Riverhead

Books, 1997.

Heiberger, Mary Morris and Julia Miller Vick. The Academic Job Search Handbook. 2nd ed. U of Pennsylvania P, 1996.

http://www.chronicle.com/jobs