Full Department Name
Name of Institution
Department Address
Dear Dr./Mr./Ms. Search Committee Chair’s last name and/or Search Committee Members:
Paragraph 1 [3-5 Sentences]: Identify the position you are applying for. Introduce yourself to the committee and your research interests. Connect your interests to the department and describe what makes you interested in becoming part of this departmental community.
Paragraph 2 [3-5 Sentences]: Briefly explain your research to date. Consider mentioning your research questions, methods, key findings, as well as where and when you published and/or presented this work.
Paragraph 3 [4-5 Sentences]: Elaborate on your current research project. Consider mentioning your most prestigious funding awards for this project. Explain your key findings in more detail.
Paragraph 4 [3-5 Sentences]: Introduce your future research plans and goals. Point out the intellectual merit and/or broader impacts of this future work.
Paragraph 5 [3-5 Sentences]: Briefly discuss your teaching experience and strategies. Provide examples of teaching strategies or an anecdote highlighting your teaching effectiveness. You may also want to introduce your philosophy on diversity in an academic setting.
Paragraph 6 [2-3 Sentences]: Make a connection between your work and the department to which you are applying. Include how you will participate in the intellectual life of the department both inside and outside the classroom. Provide concrete examples of how you will be a hard-working and collaborative colleague.
Paragraph 7 [1-2 Sentences]: A thank you for the search committee’s time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
Your Name
Credentials and Position
Institution/Affiliation Name
Date: Month Day, Year Search Committee Chair’s First and Last Name, Graduate Degree Dear Dr./Mr./Ms. Search Committee Chair’s last name and/or Search Committee Members: Paragraph 1 [3-5 Sentences]: Identify the position you are applying for. Introduce yourself to the committee and your research interests. Connect your interests to the department and describe what makes you interested in becoming part of this departmental community. Paragraph 2 [3-5 Sentences]: Briefly discuss your teaching experience and pedagogical commitments. Provide examples of teaching strategies or an anecdote highlighting your teaching effectiveness. You may also want to introduce your philosophy on diversity in an academic setting. Paragraph 3 [3-4 Sentences]: Provide a discussion of how you involved yourself with students or the broader university community outside of the traditional classroom setting. Discuss how those interactions influenced your teaching. Paragraph 4 [2-3 Sentences]: Briefly explain your current research interests to date and how it relates to your teaching. State your research questions, methods, and key findings or arguments. Point out the intellectual merit and/or broader impacts of this future work. Paragraph 5 [3-5 Sentences]: Highlight when and where your research was published and/or presented this work or any forthcoming publications. Mention any prestigious funding or awards. Introduce your future research plans and goals. Paragraph 6 [2-3 Sentences]: Make a connection between your work and the department to which you are applying. Include how you will participate in the intellectual life of the department both inside and outside the classroom. Provide concrete examples of how you will be a hard-working and collaborative colleague. Paragraph 7 [1-2 Sentences]: A thank you for the search committee’s time and consideration. Sincerely, Your Name |
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.
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.
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
Make a Gift
Skip navigation
Look through these sample cover letters to get an idea of what to include in your letter. Do not copy them directly!
The most important quality you can convey in your cover letter is enthusiasm, and this must be done in your own style.
Read our tips for writing a great cover letter . We suggest that you write the first draft of your letter without using a sample to guide you. Once you’ve created your first letter, those that follow will be much easier.
Layla D’Antonio New York, NY | [email protected] | (212) 555-0000
February 5, 2023
Dear Ms. Chan,
I am writing to express my interest in CNN’s editorial internship as part of the Columbia Experience Overseas Hong Kong. With a keen interest in media production and journalism, I am eager to explore these fields in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. As a rising sophomore at Columbia University studying psychology with a concentration in sustainable development, I am excited to apply my cultural awareness and critical thinking skills, as well as my creativity and teamwork skills to this position.
For the past year, I have worked with the Columbia Video Network to record classes for the developing online sector of Columbia University School of Engineering. My colleagues and I produced content that students around the world can access for their online programs. Additionally, I played a vital role managing our social media presence via Facebook and Twitter, increasing the network’s online exposure by sharing photos from our production room, writing posts about advancements in technology, and sharing engineering-related content. Through this experience, I familiarized myself with media outlets and increased engagement with prospective students.
Currently, as Division I student-athlete, I continuously develop my perseverance, mental stamina and time management skills. I have learned to master the art of balancing a demanding schedule while navigating a fast-paced environment. My experience as an athlete has also helped me to become an effective leader and communicator, acting as a liaison between my teammates and coaching staff. All are skills I expect to use at CNN.
I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to one of the world’s leading news organizations while exploring my curiosity in the use of technology as a tool to transmit knowledge through visual media. I look forward to the opportunity to learn how CNN integrates these tools within the news landscape, and to grow as a journalist and creative thinker. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, Layla D’Antonio
Sara Danson New York, NY • +1 (202) 555-0188 • [email protected]
April 26, 2023
Dear Hiring Team,
Growing up with a political historian as my father, I learned a crucial lesson: to care about people, you have to care about politics. In this vein, I have long admired the Center for Democratic Progress, using your reports and articles to help define my own policy positions. As I prepare to graduate from Columbia University with a degree in American studies and creative writing in May, I want to work for an organization that lets me act on my care for people every day. With seven years of editorial experience, I think I could do great work as Democratic Progress’ Assistant Editor.
I first honed my editing skills as a journalist. Working for Elementary, I wrote and copy edited dozens of articles using AP Style – everything from long-form investigations of standardized testing to columns about Common Core. I posted and formatted articles and photos on Elementary’s WordPress site, and managed production of the magazine’s quarterly print issues. For this work, I wrote headlines, blurbs, and photo captions as needed, and used Adobe Photoshop and InDesign regularly. I have done similar work as a writer for the Daily Noise, a workshop participant at Columbia, and the sole editor of The Soul in Our Soles, a full-length book. Through these experiences, I have edited hundreds of pages, adjusted to new style guides and expectations, and learned how to give my feedback clearly and diplomatically. So, too, have I honed my attention to detail and accuracy, learned how to work independently and under time pressure, and kept track of small-moving parts across several projects at once.
In other jobs, I have channeled my political views into meaningful work. As an intern for the League Against Hate Speech and Detroit for All, a nonprofit which helps immigrants and refugees in Southeast Michigan, I worked with teams to advocate progressive policy positions by planning trips, conferences, and community-wide events. As part of this work, I communicated with a wide range of individuals – wealthy businessmen, Bhutanese refugees, and Israeli activists alike – and sharpened my written and verbal communications skills. I also gave my colleagues operational support, copying and filing papers, scheduling meetings, and inputting data into Salesforce, among other tasks. These experiences taught me when to ask for help, how to solve problems, and how to organize my work and others’ well. At the same time, I learned firsthand how satisfying it is to work hard for a cause you believe in.
Given the opportunity, I would love to do that work for Democratic Progress as your Assistant Editor. I would be able to relocate to Washington, D.C. quickly upon hiring. Thank you so much for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely, Sara Danson
Devon Fisher 917-555-0000 | [email protected] | New York, NY
March 11, 2023
Vince Winchester Thornton Tomasetti 51 Madison Ave #19 New York, NY 10010
Dear Mr. Winchester,
I am writing to express my interest in the Energy Analyst internship at Thornton Tomasetti. After connecting with Recruitment manager Charlotte Greene at Columbia University’s Sustainability Career Fair, and learning about the company’s impact in the sustainable engineering space, I knew I needed to apply. I am a senior at Columbia majoring in Mechanical Engineering and believe that my critical thinking and interpersonal skills along with my commitment to engaging in complex engineering problems would be an asset to your team.
During my internship with ERS, I successfully employed my critical thinking skills and interpersonal skills to pinpoint cost-effective retrofit measures on a very limited budget and with little manpower. While working on heat load models, I realized that improving the insulation of a building could result in greater savings than the team’s HVAC focus. With approval from my boss, I was able to take initiative to create a new framework for implementing insulation and envelope repairs. Using this idea, the team discovered that one of the school sites could save over $30,000 a year on electricity through insulation upgrades.
Currently, I am leading a project for the Columbia Formula SAE team researching and analyzing sensors with a goal to wire a car to increase speed and validate load predictions. This project is particularly relevant to the current trends in the energy efficiency space, as sensors exist in buildings and retrofit projects need to be validated. My current coursework complements my experience in its focus on statistical programming for modeling environmental issues. For example, I am working on a project using machine learning to predict roofs in New York City that need insulation.
I am excited by the opportunity to be on a team that collaborates to help clients meet their engineering and sustainability goals, and where I can showcase my mechanical engineering skills. Thank you for considering me to join the Thornton Tomasetti team.
Sincerely, Devon Fisher
AMY M. ROBINS 212-555-1212 • [email protected]
August 22, 2022
Dear Ms. Kramer,
I am writing to apply to your grant writer position. When I saw this posting on your website, I was immediately drawn to AIDG’s focus on business incubation and eco-friendly technologies, and believe your model offers many opportunities to create lasting improvements to infrastructures in Guatemala and Haiti. To help your company gain further funding for its mission, I offer proven writing, research, and communication skills as well as successful grant writing experience.
I was inspired to transition from magazine writing to grant writing when I started editing documents for the Refugee and Immigrant Fund (RIF), a not-for-profit agency that aids new immigrants as they adjust to life in the United States. Working with RIF’s founder to create two grant applications, I found my editorial background equipped me well for the challenges of drafting and editing proposals to secure not-for-profit funding. Both applications were successful and resulted in grants needed to support two new programs.
Additionally, as the Assistant Research Editor at Budget Travel magazine, I pinpoint the most engaging details of a subject and write stories that appeal to a targeted audience. These skills have helped me create grant applications that draw attention from an audience of grant givers and personal donors.
Finally, every day at Budget Travel, I communicate effectively across language barriers. Maintaining my record of zero printed errors, I routinely call and email small foreign businesses, from family-owned restaurants in Panama to three-room B&Bs in Italy. My French language proficiency, further refined when I studied in Senegal, will help me work closely with your staff in Haiti. Moreover, I am currently enrolled in introductory Spanish lessons and plan to continue classes in Guatemala.
I would be honored to join AIDG and help promote sustainable technologies, XelaTeco, and other business incubation plans. I look forward to discussing how I can help your organization grow and expand through fundraising. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely, Amy Robins
Elizabeth Lee (212) 555-0649 || [email protected] || New York, NY
September 5, 2022
Bain & Company 415 Mission Street, Suite 4800 San Francisco, California 94105
Dear Ms. Victoria Andres,
I am writing to apply for the Associate Consultant position at Bain & Company’s San Francisco and New York offices. I am currently a senior at Columbia University pursuing a major in Philosophy with a minor in Economics. Throughout the past year, I have had the pleasure of talking to ACs in the San Francisco, Chicago, and Shanghai offices about their experiences at Bain. Most recently, I spoke with Cheryl Bloom, an AC at the SF Office and my ACI interview buddy last year. She emphasized the great learning environment and active mentorships available at Bain, which I find very exciting!
This past summer, I worked at Kaiser Associates , a Washington D.C.-based international strategy and management consulting firm serving Fortune 500 companies. I believe my consulting experiences, leadership successes, and academic achievement will make me a valuable asset to Bain.
As an Associate Consultant, I will contribute the following skills:
Analytical problem-solving. At Kaiser Associates, I analyzed prices of construction machine warranties for a Fortune 100 industrial equipment manufacturer in order to increase its warranty sales through price adjustments. Using regressions in Excel, I evaluated the impact of different types of coverages on warranty prices at competing manufacturers. As a result, I was able to provide quantitative data to help the project team develop final recommendations, which were well-received by our client at the end of the project.
Strong interpersonal and client-facing skills. At Asia Society last summer, I presented a sponsorship proposal to senior managers of All Nippon Airways (ANA) and the Peninsula Hotel regarding an upcoming Japanese cultural banquet. By thoroughly researching the two companies’ preferences to devise sponsorship tiers and benefits, I successfully convinced both to sponsor the event by offering 75% discounted air tickets and accommodation, saving Asia Society $6,000 in the budget.
Leadership and influence. As one of three recipients of the Symposium Fellowship (a Columbia-sponsored liberal arts teaching fellowship), I designed and taught a 10-day seminar on Dostoevsky and Rousseau in Beijing, China. With 15 high school and college students, whose areas of study ranged from engineering to fine arts, I facilitated in-depth discussions about philosophical texts as well as contemporary social issues and engaged every student in seminar-style learning regardless of their English language skills and points of view. Based on feedback from a course evaluation survey designed by myself, all 15 students were beyond satisfied with the seminar and began to take an interest in philosophy.
With my strong academic achievements and multicultural, multilingual background, I am confident that I would be a great addition to Bain and make tangible contributions to the team. I look forward to discussing my candidacy for this position at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely, Elizabeth Lee
Even if a company or organization does not have an internship program or has never had an intern, it may be possible to convince them to create an internship for you.
Here are some tips to get started on your “create your own internship” cover letter:
In your cover letter, acknowledge that while there is no internship program in their company or organization, you are proposing that they create an internship for you based on the skills you offer and the value you could add in return for real work experience and training.
Explain the type of work that you would like to do. Remember to be realistic about what type of work an intern typically does in this field. It may be helpful to research internship postings at similar organizations for reference.
Demonstrate your knowledge about and interest in the company. Be enthusiastic and convincing as to why you want to work for them.
Use social media or the company’s “About Us” web pages to identify an actual person in the department that interests you and direct your cover letter and resume to that person.
Follow up in a few days with another email or a phone call.
Privacy Policy Accessibility Notice of Non-Discrimination Terms of Use
When writing your college cover letter, focus on how your higher education or other experiences have prepared you for your target job. Express your interest in the employer, and cite relevant skills and qualities you’ve developed as a college student, such as research, creativity, or time management.
This guide will help you write a cover letter that gets you interviews for a job during or right after college.
Lia Pearce Teaching Graduate | [email protected] | (765) 432-1098 | 456 My Avenue, Wilmington, DE 54321
April 23, 2024
Nathan Rose Principal Lombardy Elementary School (876) 543-2109 [email protected]
Dear Mr. Rose,
During my practicum placement in my final year at Wilmington University, I received the highest possible grade for teaching and learning in my last observation. My assessor praised my careful task differentiation and engaging delivery. I hope to provide similarly effective lessons as a third-grade teacher at Lombardy Elementary School.
As a diligent new graduate with a passion for tailoring teaching to reflect students’ cultures and interests, Lombardy Elementary School’s reputation for celebrating diversity excites me. I have the creativity and sound pedagogical knowledge to help your students meet their educational potential. My most significant achievements include:
I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how I can become a valuable and enthusiastic member of your school’s community. Please feel free to contact me to set up an interview.
Candice Suarez Business Administration Graduate | [email protected] | (887) 766-5544 | 432 My Road, Anchorage, AK 10203
Megan Hendrix Senior Hiring Manager Moffatt & Nichol (432) 109-8765 [email protected]
Dear Ms. Hendrix,
During my undergraduate study at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, I was named the top-performing student for my resource management project. My professors mentioned my outstanding strategic thinking and strong organizational skills as justification for this achievement. I am excited to demonstrate my abilities as an office administrator at Moffatt and Nichol.
As an ambitious new graduate, the chance to start my career at a fast-growing company like Moffatt and Nicholl is compelling. My strong academic background in business administration and two years of experience as a part-time hotel receptionist have furnished me with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel. My recent achievements include:
I look forward to discussing how my abilities and qualities can help me provide outstanding administrative support to your organization. Please get in touch to schedule an interview.
Candice Suarez
Fredrick Dowling Music Therapist | [email protected] | (239) 111-0000 | 432 Somewhere Ave., Naples, FL 34110
January 1, 2024
Ms. Ana-Alicia Lopez Clinical Director The House of Music Therapy (123) 456-7890 [email protected]
Dear Ms. Lopez,
During my music therapy clinicals at Tallahassee Memorial, my internship director commended me for demonstrating exceptional passion and empathy. I can meet your need for a dedicated music therapist at the House of Music Therapy.
I’ve enjoyed playing the piano and acoustic guitar since childhood. Florida State University’s Master of Medical Music Therapy program and my recent work in Tallahassee helped me fine-tune my musicianship, communication skills, and ability to apply music theory and behavioral management principles in a variety of settings. All this has empowered me to:
My enclosed resume can give you further insight into my education and experience. Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss how I can contribute to your team. I look forward to communicating with you soon.
Fredrick Dowling
Good college cover letters set and maintain a clear focus. Even more than a resume , your cover letter should center on your top qualifications for the job opening at hand – whether or not those qualifications come from your degree program. In the following sections, we introduce the five main parts of a cover letter and explain how you can focus on each one effectively.
At the top of the page, include:
Note: Feel free to add a professional title to your contact header, as in the example below. In many cases, you can copy over the title from your resume profile summary . By including a title, you’ll set a clear focus and show hiring managers you fall in the category of applicants they’re looking for.
Address your recipient by name as in the first example below – this is the quickest way to show you’re sending a job-specific letter and not a boilerplate. If you can’t find the person’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager” so your greeting is still tailored somewhat to each job opening.
For traditional job applications, end your salutation line with a colon. But consider a comma instead if you know your recipient or the employer has a casual work culture (sometimes revealed by the job posting). In rare cases, you may also trade out the standard “Dear” for a more casual “Greetings,” “Hello,” “Hi,” or even “Good morning.” Use your discretion and take cues from the job posting or company website when possible.
Dear Moffatt & Nichol Hiring Manager:
Catch the reader’s attention by citing an achievement from your work history or a key credential the employer seeks in applicants. It’s fine to adapt a bullet highlight from your resume – in fact, a little repetition across documents can make your application more cohesive. But choose carefully. The highlight that opens your letter is often your very first impression on employers. Select one that’s impressive and relevant to the job so hiring managers can quickly envision you adding value to their company.
As an alternative to the work highlight approach, you can set yourself apart by networking. Begin your letter by citing any personal or professional connections you have with the hiring manager. If someone at the organization alerted you to the job, use a line like “I was excited to hear from your colleague [Name] about [Company’s]’s new [title] position.” Or, if you’ve already met your recipient, mention that with a line like “It was great speaking with you at the job fair last week.”
Here’s where you can bring your cover letter into sharpest focus. Show the hiring manager you’re not just after this type of role, but this specific role at this particular organization. Read the job posting again closely, then write two or three sentences in response to it. What details about the job opening or employer caught your attention? Do you identify with the company’s stated mission or values? If so, how? Consider quoting text from the job posting that resonates with you.
Following this explanation, cite a few more of your skills or achievements , possibly as bullet points.
Finally, request an interview for the position. Consider briefly restating your core skills to carry the letter’s focus through the last paragraph. If you’re still in college, you can also use this section to provide any requested details on your course schedule and availability. To end your cover letter, use a simple closing like “Sincerely” or “Best regards” and then your name.
1. show you can excel in the position.
Start your letter strong with an example of how you gained or applied skills relevant to the job. This example could come from your degree program – maybe you completed a successful academic project or earned a high grade point average (GPA) in your major. But it could also come from your work, internship, or volunteer experience.
Show your interest in the hiring organization by describing your similar college, work, or other experiences. For instance, if you’re applying to a teaching job, maybe you share the school’s focus on adapting to students’ unique talents, as reflected by your dissertation topic. Or, if you’re applying for a job in hospitality, you could point to a recent internship that gave you related industry experience and service skills.
As an ambitious new graduate, the chance to start my career at a fast-growing company like Moffatt and Nicholl is compelling. My strong academic background in business administration and two years of experience as a part-time hotel receptionist have furnished me with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel.
Add a short list of bullet points to demonstrate your skill and success in key work areas for your target job. As with the highlight that opens your cover letter, feel free to cite experiences in or outside your degree program. But also consider using this section to call out any relevant soft skills you’ve developed as a college student, such as diligence or collaboration.
My recent achievements include:
What happens if i don’t write a cover letter -.
You’ll hinder your ability to send applications or get interviews. Job postings today usually require or allow you to submit a cover letter along with your resume. While not every hiring manager reads or prioritizes them, a well-crafted letter can only help you stand out from other applicants. It will also help you clarify what points to emphasize during the interview.
Any explanation you give for why the specific job opening or employer interests you. These details distinguish the cover letter from your resume and other application materials and can help you get past applicant tracking systems (ATS) . They also set up a good interview discussion about how you fit the role and the organization’s work culture.
Like your resume. Carry over that document’s basic format settings , such as font style, line spacing, and page margins.
Get the attention of hiring managers with a cover letter tailored to every job application.
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)
Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.
Build a resume to enhance your career.
Download our cover letter template.
When you submit your article to a journal, you often need to include a cover letter. This is a great opportunity to highlight to the journal editor what makes your research new and important. The cover letter should explain why your work is perfect for their journal and why it will be of interest to the journal’s readers.
When writing for publication, a well-written cover letter can help your paper reach the next stage of the manuscript submission process – being sent out for peer review . So it’s worth spending time thinking about how to write a cover letter to the journal editor, to make sure it’s going to be effective.
To help you, we’ve put together a guide to explain how to write a cover letter for journal article submission. You will receive cover letter instructions of what you should include and what you shouldn’t, and a word template cover letter.
Taylor & Francis Editing services has a high quality premium editing package to make you feel confident to submit.
Customized cover letter
Feedback on original writing
Complete language check
Extensive revisions.
Before you start to write, please check the instructions for authors (IFAs) of your chosen journal, as not all journals will require one. You should also check the IFAs for any journal specific information on what to include. This may include a list of relevant articles written by you or your co-authors that have been or are currently being considered for publication in other journals.
Editor’s name (you can usually find this on the journal page on Taylor & Francis Online ).
Your manuscript’s title.
Name of the journal you are submitting to.
Statement that your paper has not been previously published and is not currently under consideration by another journal.
Brief description of the research you are reporting in your paper, why it is important, and why you think the readers of the journal would be interested in it.
Contact information for you and any co-authors .
Confirmation that you have no competing interests to disclose.
Don’t copy your abstract into your cover letter, instead explain in your own words the significance of the work, the problem that is being addressed, and why the manuscript belongs in the journal.
Don’t use too much jargon or too many acronyms, keep language straightforward and easy to read.
Avoid too much detail – keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page, as an introduction and brief overview.
Avoid any spelling and grammar errors and ensure your letter is thoroughly proofed before submitting.
Click to enlarge your PDF on key information to include in your cover letter .
If you need further help to write a cover letter for a journal, you can download and use our sample template as a guide.
You might find that the submission system for your chosen journal requires your cover letter to be submitted into a text box rather than as a separate document, but it is still a good idea to write a draft first to make sure you have included everything.
Always make sure to check the journal’s instructions for authors for any specific additional information to include.
Use our submission checklist to make sure you’ve included everything you need to.
If you need more guidance, take a look at our other information and resources to help you make your submission .
Consider the Taylor & Francis Rapid Technical Review service to help you meet your deadline, through peer-review-like comments on your manuscript.
Journal submission support
Guide to improve your submission experience
Article submission checklist
Expert tips and guidance on getting published and maximizing the impact of your research. Register now for weekly insights direct to your inbox.
The cover letter is a formal way to communicate with journal editors and editorial staff during the manuscript submission process. Most often, a cover letter is needed when authors initially submit their manuscript to a journal and when responding to reviewers during an invitation to revise and resubmit the manuscript. For more information on the peer review process and possible manuscript decisions, see Section 12.7 of the Publication Manual .
Because cover letters are separate documents from the manuscript file, all correspondence during the publication process must include the complete manuscript title, the authors’ names, and the manuscript number (assigned by the journal when the manuscript is first received). Although any author may correspond with the journal editor or editorial staff, most correspondence is handled by the corresponding author , who serves as the main point of contact and responds to questions about the published article. All authors should decide prior to submission who will serve as the corresponding author.
Cover letters are covered in the seventh edition APA Style Publication Manual in Section 12.11
Authors usually must include a cover letter when they first submit their manuscript to a journal for publication . The cover letter is typically uploaded as a separate file into the online submission portal for the journal (for more information on using an online submission portal, see Section 12.10 of the Publication Manual ).
The cover letter should be addressed to the journal editor; any interim correspondence is addressed to the editor or associate editor with whom you have been in communication.
In your submission cover letter, include the following information:
Check the journal’s website for the current editor’s name and for any other journal-specific information to include in your cover letter.
Also include a cover letter with manuscripts being resubmitted to a journal after receiving an invitation to revise and resubmit. Ensure the cover letter contains the complete manuscript title, the authors’ names, and the manuscript number (assigned by the journal when the manuscript was first received). In the cover letter for the resubmission, thank the editors and reviewers for their feedback and outline the changes you made (or did not make) to the manuscript to address the feedback.
The cover letter for a revised and resubmitted manuscript summarizes the changes to the manuscript. Along with the cover letter and revised manuscript, authors should also provide a response to reviewers , which is a detailed document explaining how they responded to each comment.
These sample cover letters demonstrate how authors can communicate with the journal editor at the initial manuscript submission and following an invitation to revise and resubmit a manuscript for publication.
By Victoria Reyes
You have / 5 articles left. Sign up for a free account or log in.
Istockphoto.com/bsd555
Sociologist Andrew Whitehead started a Twitter thread some months ago detailing his take on various stages of the academic job market. For the cover letter, he gave excellent advice . He suggested among other things, keeping it at a suggested length (one and a half to two pages) and avoiding jargon. He also stressed the importance of strong lead sentences, using the cover letter to highlight and point to other parts of your application, and controlling the narrative you want to tell .
Others have also written about writing a cover letter. Cheryl E. Ball, for example, provides excellent advice and a paragraph-by-paragraph breakdown . Indeed, a simple Google search on “how to write an academic cover letter” brings back 49,600 results if the clause is in quotations, and 526 million results without quotations.
I want to build on the foundational advice of those before me and provide additional insight into the purpose of a cover letter, tips for writing a successful one and what to avoid in it. At the very least, I find having multiple perspectives, styles of writing and exposure to different ways of thinking about the same topic to be useful.
This essay draws on an invited prep talk on how to write a cover letter that I gave at the 2019 American Sociological Association’s annual meeting and on my own experience as a job applicant and as a faculty member on search committees. It’s meant to be helpful for those new on the job market, as the following advice may seem obvious to those who have been in academe for a while.
The first thing that Ph.D. students need to remember about the academic cover letter is its purpose: to introduce who you are as a scholar, what you would bring to the department as a potential colleague and how you fit the requirements listed in the advertisement. The cover letter may be the first thing search committee members see, alongside the CV, so you want to make sure that it captures their attention in a good way.
Here are some tips that I hope you’ll find helpful.
Don’t assume knowledge on the part of the reader. Don’t presuppose that faculty members are reading your application holistically, or that if you mentioned something in a research statement, you won’t have to repeat it in the cover letter. As Whitehead suggests, you should walk your reader through the narrative you want to tell of who you are as a scholar. For example, what is it you study? Are you a scholar of globalization? Social movements? Race? What is the overarching question your research addresses? Even if the content of your publications covers particular topics, and it seems obvious to you who you are as a scholar, you need to specify in your cover letter what it is you study. Take the lead in shaping the narrative of you who are. If you don’t, others will.
Another aspect of not assuming knowledge on the part of the reader means that you need to be explicit, stating what you think is obvious -- because what is obvious to you is not always obvious to the reader. For example, although your dissertation may use qualitative methods, you may be able to teach undergraduate statistics. But you decide not to say in your cover letter that you are able to teach that class because you assume that anyone who has a Ph.D. in sociology could do so. However, that assumption would be incorrect, and the search committee will not know that you can, and want, to teach undergrad statistics unless you say that explicitly in your cover letter and teaching statement.
Tailor your letter. As others, like Karen Kelsky, have written , do your research on the institution and department behind the ad. Take care to understand and communicate how you fit with a given department and how you and your work connect to departmental activities and communities across the college or university. That means elaborating on your approach to teaching for a liberal arts college, for example, and demonstrating what your publications and research can specifically bring to a research university.
Tailoring your letter also means tailoring it to the job ad, remembering to be as explicit as you can about how you fit the listed requirements. If the job ad states that the position is for someone who studies religion, for example, say you study religion. Additionally, show how your broader research agenda ties to religion in some way. My department is currently hiring in organizations and institutions, and successful applicants clearly state they are scholars that study these areas. More important, the most successful applicants demonstrate that they are primarily interested in expanding theoretical knowledge about organizations and institutions more generally, rather than being theoretically interested in a different topic that happens to take place within an organization.
Something I didn’t realize until I was on the faculty side of hiring is that the areas of specialization asked for in the ad, other than those few open hires that call for anyone in any specialization to apply, are often tied to holes in the curriculum. So, for instance, at my institution, an applicant who demonstrates a teaching record related to organizations and institutions is the strongest, while a desire to teach -- with no prior record -- is slightly less ideal but still a potentially strong applicant. Someone who does not explicitly state their experience or their desire to teach in organizations and institutions is not as strong a candidate. The search committee only knows what you write down in your materials, so be sure to mention the obvious!
Write as a potential colleague rather than as a graduate student. When you write about your research, focus on your arguments and contributions rather than simply describing the details of your specific study. That demonstrates you’ve shifted to being a producer of knowledge who knows how your research fits into the broader field. Another way to write as a potential colleague, rather than as a graduate student, is to discuss how you see yourself fitting into, and contributing to, the department, college and university. That means doing your homework and seeing what centers and institutions are on the campus, as well as any workshops, symposia or other events that occur in your department and how you could contribute or add to those ventures. This involves a transition to seeing yourself as someone who is a useful resource that brings something to the academic table.
Write fact-based statements that highlight your accomplishments, including publications, awards, fellowships and teaching. It is not bragging or self-promotion to say that you’ve received an award or fellowship. It’s a statement of fact. For example, saying that you’ve won a teaching or mentoring award is evidence of excellence in teaching or mentoring. That is different than adjective-filled comments that talk about your “passion for teaching,” for example. Fact-based statements that highlight your accomplishments show , rather than tell, the reader of your commitment. Of course, you could still say you are passionate about teaching. Just follow it up with a sentence that provides concrete evidence or data that supports your claim -- such as a teaching award.
Be clear and concise. Write short, declarative sentences. Do not write long, complicated sentences, as your point may get lost in the details.
Here are a few things to avoid when writing a cover letter.
Excessive detail. Don’t try to describe each and every paper you’ve written in the cover letter. Instead, highlight one or two given papers and discuss their arguments and significance. Also, don’t give a detailed description of how your paper fits into the existing literature. That is appropriate for an article but not a cover letter, because it takes up too much space that could be better used to highlight your own accomplishments rather than others’ arguments. To be sure, you can gesture to how it fits into the existing literature, but limit it to just a short sentence or two. You should not write a whole paragraph on the intricacies of the subfield.
Jargon. Similar to what Verena Hutter and Kelsky write, be sure to avoid jargon and clichés . Remember that members of the search committee are likely not in your subfield. Translating your research for a general audience means getting rid of the jargon, or at the very least, defining the jargon you use. While each subfield’s jargon differs, think about whether a certain concept or word is familiar to an educated lay audience. If not, then it is important to try to explain your work without using the jargon.
For example, if you are dedicated to feminist praxis, talk about your commitment to both feminism and putting theory in action in lay terms, and/or define what you mean by “feminist praxis” -- particularly if you are applying to a department other than gender studies or related subfields. That said, avoiding jargon means knowing your audience, as it depends on the discipline and subfield. For example, writing that you are committed to feminist praxis may not be jargon in a gender studies department. In contrast, writing that you are committed to having students discover their “sociological imagination” may be jargon for gender studies but is a taken-for-granted concept across subfields within sociology.
Hyperbole. As previously mentioned, stick to fact-based statements that highlight your accomplishments. Remember you are probably competing with hundreds of applicants, many of whom have competitive records and accomplishments. So saying something such as “I am uniquely qualified to fill the position” is very likely to be untrue.
The three things to avoid that I mention above are common mistakes that signal someone who is still positioning themselves as a grad student, not a colleague, and thus, someone who may not be ready for a faculty job. That is a tricky but extremely important transition to make. It requires walking a delicate line between drawing on and acknowledging the work that senior scholars have done in the field and being confident enough to know you have something to contribute.
Becoming an academic editor gave me my life back, writes Paulina S.
More from career advice.
Jobs in career advising for grad students call on the natural skills of such Ph.D.s and are both fulfilling and in de
Regardless of our fears and challenges, Heather Braun writes, we all can take actions, however small, that will over
4 /5 Articles remaining this month.
What is a cover letter? What to include in a cover letter How to organize a cover letter Questions to guide your writing How to format a cover letter Sample cover letters
To be considered for almost any position, you will need to write a letter of application. Such a letter introduces you, explains your purpose for writing, highlights a few of your experiences or skills, and requests an opportunity to meet personally with the potential employer.
Precisely because this letter is your introduction to an employer and because first impressions count, you should take great care to write an impressive and effective letter. Remember that the letter not only tells of your accomplishments but also reveals how effectively you can communicate.
The appropriate content, format, and tone for application letters vary according to the position and the personality of the applicant. Thus, you will want to ask several people (if possible) who have had experience in obtaining jobs or in hiring in your field to critique a draft of your letter and to offer suggestions for revision.
Despite the differences in what constitutes a good application letter, the suggestions on these pages apply generally.
Below is one possible way to arrange the content of your cover letter.
State why you are writing.
Establish a point of contact (advertisement in a specific place for a specific position; a particular person’s suggestion that you write): give some brief idea of who you are (a Senior engineering student at UW; a recent Ph.D. in History).
Highlight a few of the most salient points from your enclosed resume.
Arouse your reader’s curiosity by mentioning points that are likely to be important for the position you are seeking.
Show how your education and experience suit the requirements of the position, and, by elaborating on a few points from your resume, explain what you could contribute to the organization.
(Your letter should complement, not restate, your resume.)
Stress action. Politely request an interview at the employer’s convenience.
Indicate what supplementary material is being sent under separate cover and offer to provide additional information (a portfolio, a writing sample, a sample publication, a dossier, an audition tape), and explain how it can be obtained.
Thank the reader for his/her consideration and indicate that you are looking forward to hearing from him/her.
*From Ronald L. Kraunich, William J. Bauis. High Impact Resumes & Letters. Virginia Beach, VA: Impact Publications, 1982.
Looking at examples of strong cover letters is a great way to understand how this advice can become implemented. We’ve compiled and annotated a range of different kinds of cover letters from different kinds of student applicants. We encourage you to look through these letters and see some of what we’ve highlighted as working particularly well in these real world examples.
In addition to these sample cover letters, you can find a range of other, often discipline-specific cover letter examples through these UW-Madison resources:
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Reading Poetry
A Short Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis
Using Literary Quotations
Play Reviews
Writing a Rhetorical Précis to Analyze Nonfiction Texts
Incorporating Interview Data
Planning and Writing a Grant Proposal: The Basics
Additional Resources for Grants and Proposal Writing
Writing Personal Statements for Ph.D. Programs
Resume Writing Tips
CV Writing Tips
Cover Letters
Business Letters
Resources for Proposal Writers
Resources for Dissertators
Planning and Writing Research Papers
Quoting and Paraphrasing
Writing Annotated Bibliographies
Creating Poster Presentations
Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper
Advice for Students Writing Thank-You Notes to Donors
Reading for a Review
Critical Reviews
Writing a Review of Literature
Scientific Report Format
Sample Lab Assignment
Writing an Effective Blog Post
Writing for Social Media: A Guide for Academics
Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.
November 2, 1998
Dr. Naomi Sellers Chair, English Search Committee Box 58 Baxter College Arcadia, WV 24803
Dear Dr. Sellers:
I am writing to apply for the position as assistant professor of English with an emphasis in rhetoric and composition that you advertised in the October MLA Job Information List. I am a graduate student at Prestigious University working on a dissertation under the direction of Professor Prominent Figure. Currently revising the third of five chapters, I expect to complete all work for the Ph.D. by May of 1999. I believe that my teaching and tutoring experience combined with my course work and research background in rhetoric and composition theory make me a strong candidate for the position outlined in your notice.
As my curriculum vitae shows, I have had excellent opportunities to teach a variety of writing courses during my graduate studies, including developmental writing, first-year writing for both native speakers and second language students, advanced writing, and business writing. I have also worked as a teaching mentor for new graduate students, a position that involved instruction in methods of composition teaching, development of course materials, and evaluation of new graduate instructors. Among the most satisfying experiences for me as a teacher has been instructing students on an individual basis as a tutor in our university Writing Lab. Even as a classroom instructor, I find that I always look forward to the individual conferences that I hold with my students several times during the semester because I believe this kind of one-on-one interaction to be essential to their development as writers.
My work in the composition classroom has provided me with the inspiration as well as a kind of laboratory for my dissertation research. My project, The I Has It: Applications of Recent Models of Subjectivity in Composition Theory, examines the shift since the 1960s from expressive models of writing toward now-dominant postmodern conceptions of decentered subjectivity and self-construction through writing. I argue that these more recent theoretical models, while promising, cannot have the liberating effects that are claimed for them without a concomitant reconception of writing pedagogy and the dynamics of the writing classroom. I relate critical readings of theoretical texts to my own pedagogical experiments as a writing teacher, using narratives of classroom successes and failures as the bases for critical reflection on postmodern composition theory. After developing my dissertation into a book manuscript, I plan to continue my work in current composition theory through a critical examination of the rhetoric of technological advancement in the computer-mediated writing classroom.
My interest in the computer classroom has grown out of recent experience teaching composition in that environment. In these courses my students have used computers for writing and turning in notes and essays, communicating with one another and with me, conducting library catalogue research and web research, and creating websites. I have encouraged my students to think and write critically about their experiences with technology, both in my class and elsewhere, even as we have used technology to facilitate our work in the course. Syllabi and other materials for my writing courses can be viewed at my website: http://machine.prestigious.edu/~name. In all of my writing courses I encourage students to become critical readers, thinkers, and writers; my goal is always not only to promote their intellectual engagement with cultural texts of all kinds but also to help them become more discerning readers of and forceful writers about the world around them.
I have included my curriculum vitae and would be happy to send you additional materials such as a dossier of letters of reference, writing samples, teaching evaluations, and past and proposed course syllabi. I will be available to meet with you for an interview at either the MLA or the CCCC convention, or elsewhere at your convenience. I can be reached at my home phone number before December 19; between then and the start of the MLA convention, you can reach me at (123) 456-7890. I thank you for your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.
First Lastname
PeopleImages.com / Getty Images
Target your cover letter, cover letter format.
Submitting your application.
When you are applying for a faculty position at a college or university, your cover letter will differ significantly from the standard business cover letter.
Your cover letter may be reviewed by Human Resources department staff to determine if you meet the basic qualifications for the job. If it does, it will be forwarded to a search committee comprised mostly of faculty members and academic deans.
These individuals will be accustomed to reading more lengthy academic cover letters and resumes or curriculum vitae (CV) than would be customary in the business world. They will also often be more interested in the philosophical foundations for your work than the typical business recruiter.
Kelly Miller / The Balance
Your initial challenge will be to pass through the Human Resources screening. Review each of the required qualifications included in the job announcement and compose statements containing evidence that you possess as many of the skills, credentials, knowledge, and experiences listed as possible.
Address as many of the preferred qualifications as possible.
Give concrete examples to support your assertions about your strengths.
Your faculty reviewers will typically have an interest in your philosophy and approach to teaching and research within your discipline. They will also be evaluating how your background fits with the type of institution where they work.
Research the faculty in your target department to assess their orientation and expertise. Emphasize points of intersection between your philosophy and the prevalent departmental philosophy.
If you possess traditionally valued areas of expertise that are not already represented by the current faculty, make sure to point those strengths out in your cover letter. It's important to tailor your letter to the orientation of the college and adjust the mix of emphasis on teaching and research based on the expectations in that setting.
Colleges will typically want to hire new faculty who are passionate about their current research and not resting on past research credits.
Describe a current project with some detail and express enthusiasm for continuing such work.
Try to do the same with any evolving teaching interests.
Highlight any grants and funding you have received to undertake your research activities. Incorporate any awards or recognition which you have received for your teaching or research activities. Some text should also be devoted to other contributions to the college communities where you worked, such as committee work, advising, and collaborations with other departments.
Your cover letter should be written in the same basic format as a business cover letter. An academic cover letter is typically two pages compared to a single page for non-academic letters.
Here’s an example of the appropriate format for a cover letter and guidelines for formatting your letters.
You can use this sample as a model to write an academic cover letter. Download the template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or read the text version below.
Robin Applicant 123 Main Street, Anytown, CA 12345 555-555.5555 robin.applicant@email.com
April 5, 2021
Dr. Sylvia Lee Chair, English Department Search Committee Acme College 123 Business Rd. Charlotte, NC 28213
Dear Dr. Sylvia Lee,
I am writing to apply for the position of assistant professor of English with an emphasis in nineteenth-century American literature that you advertised in the MLA Job Information List. I am a Dean’s Fellow and Ph.D. candidate at XYZ University, currently revising the final chapter of my dissertation, and expecting to graduate in May I am confident that my teaching experience and my research interests make me an ideal candidate for your open position.
Over the past five years, I have taught a variety of English courses. I have taught a number of American literature survey courses, as well as writing courses, including technical writing and first-year writing. I have extensive experience working with ESL students, as well as students with a variety of learning disabilities, including dyslexia and dysgraphia, and disabilities like ADD and ADHD. I pride myself on creating a classroom environment that accommodates the needs of my students while still promoting a high level of critical thought and writing skills. Some of my most satisfying experiences as a teacher have come from helping struggling students to grasp difficult concepts, through a combination of individual conferences, class activities, and group discussion. I know I would thrive as a teacher in your college, due to your belief in small classroom size and individualized support for students.
Not only does my teaching experience suit the needs of your school and department, but my research interests also fit perfectly with your description of the ideal candidate. My dissertation project, “Ferns and Leaves: Nineteenth-Century Female Authorial Space,” examines the rise and development of American female authors in the 1840s and 1850s, with a particular focus on patterns of magazine publication. I argue that, rather than being submissive to the requirements of the editor or publisher, female authors, in fact, developed a more transparently reciprocal relationship between themselves and their readers than previously has been assumed. I apply recent print-culture and book-history theory to my readings of novels, magazine articles, letters, and diary entries by various female authors, with a particular focus on Sara Willis (known by her pseudonym Fanny Fern). I plan to develop my dissertation into a book manuscript and continue to research the role of female writers in antebellum magazine culture, with a particular focus on the rise and influence of female magazine editors on literary culture.
My research interests have both shaped and been shaped by my recent teaching experiences. Last spring, I developed and taught a course on the history of print culture in America. I combined readings on theory and literature that addressed issues of print with visits to local historical museums and archives. My students conducted in-depth studies on particular texts (magazines, newspapers, novels) for their final papers. I believe my interdisciplinary teaching style, particularly my emphasis on material culture, would fit in well with the interdisciplinary nature of your English department.
I am therefore confident that my teaching experience, my skill in working with ESL and LD students, and my research interests all make me an excellent candidate for the assistant professor of English position at ABC College. I have attached my curriculum vitae and the two requested sample publications. I would be happy to send you any additional materials such as letters of reference, teaching evaluations, and past and proposed course syllabi. I will be available to meet with you at either the MLA or C19 conference, or anywhere else at your convenience. Thank you so much for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you.
Robin Applicant (hard copy letter)
Robin Applicant
Betty Applicant 567 North Street, Boston, MA 02108 555-555.555 betty.applicant@email.com
Dr. Robert Smith Chair, Department of Biology Acme University 123 Business Rd. Business City, NY 54321
Dear Dr. Smith,
I am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professor of Biology with a focus on molecular biology at XYZ University, as advertised in the March issue of Science. I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of XYZ in the Department of Molecular Biology, working under the advisement of Professor Linda Smith. I am confident that my research interests and teaching experience make me an ideal candidate for your open position.
My current research project, which is an expansion on my dissertation, “[insert title here],” involves [insert research project here]. I have published my dissertation findings in Science Journal and am in the processing of doing the same with my findings from my current research. The laboratory resources at XYZ University would enable me to expand my research to include [insert further research plans here] and seek further publication.
Beyond my successes as a researcher (including five published papers and my current paper in process), I have had extensive experience teaching a variety of biology courses. As a graduate student at Science University, I served as a teaching assistant and guest lecturer for both biology and chemistry introductory courses and won the university award for outstanding teacher’s assistant. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of ABC, I have had the opportunity to teach Introduction to Biology as well as a graduate-level course, Historicizing Molecular Biology. In every class, I strive to include a blend of readings, media, lab work, and discussion to actively engage students with the material. I would love the opportunity to bring my award-winning lesson planning and teaching skills to your biology department.
I am confident that my research interests and experience combined with my teaching skills make me an excellent candidate for the Assistant Professor of Biology position at XYZ University. I have attached my curriculum vitae, three recommendations, and the two requested sample publications. I would be happy to send you any additional materials such as teaching evaluations or past and proposed course syllabi. I will be available to meet with you at the ASBMB conference or anywhere else at your convenience. Thank you so much for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you.
Betty Applicant (hard copy letter)
Betty Applicant
It’s important to submit all your application materials in the format requested by the college or university. You may be asked to email, mail, or apply online via the institution’s applicant tracking system.
You may be required to provide references with your application, so be prepared to submit a list of references. The institution may also request transcripts, teaching evaluations, and writing samples.
Send only what is requested. There's no need to include information that the institution hasn't ask for.
However, you can offer to provide additional materials like writing samples, syllabi, and letters of recommendation in the last paragraph of your letter.
Follow the instructions in the job posting for submitting your application. It should specify what format the college wants to receive.
Here are some examples of what you may be asked to include with your cover letter and resume or CV:
Dear English Department Faculty:
Please accept the submission of my portfolio, which includes a sample of the papers I have written this year. I am hopeful this will adequately illustrate my proficiency in having met the expectations and outcomes necessary for placement directly into English 102 for the Spring XXXX semester.
I am a non-traditional student. Prior to returning to school, I worked as a paralegal for eight years. I have also worked as a junior copy editor for a bilingual ad agency. I have extensive real-world experience in written and oral communication, as it was an essential part of my job description.
In each of my compositions you will note my communication skills to be more than adequate in presenting complex ideas in a straight-forward and thoughtful manner. My papers required extensive research and demonstrate my skillset and diligence. I recognize that I would benefit from attending an APA 7th edition formatting seminar or counseling session given by the Writing Lab in order to better hone my skills in, and feel more comfortable with, this format.
The first paper I would like to present is my very first University of Nevada, Reno scholarly paper, which I produced in my Characteristics of Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities class Spring XXXX. It is entitled, “Altering Devaluing Perceptions/Optics with Respect to Disabled Individuals and the Disabled Community.” I believe I met many of the learning objectives for English 101 in that paper alone, as it was done in APA format and required me to “recognize, articulate and respond to different rhetorical contexts, practice strategies for purposeful, concrete development of topics (i.e. by using writing to record, explore, organize and communicate), and interpreting, analyzing, discussing and evaluating a variety of readings.” This paper also required me to “use multiple drafts and peer review to improve my own texts.”
My second submission is a scholarly paper for the above-referenced class entitled, “Civil Rights for All: An Argument for Inclusion in the General Education Setting for Disabled Persons.” This paper further illustrates the English 101 requirements to “use generating, organizing, revising and editing strategies that are appropriate to specific writing situations, use reflection to examine personal experience, expertise, writing process and sources to compose.” In addition, it more than adequately illustrates my ability to “write understandable, efficient sentences” and “control general conventions of usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation in standard written English.”
My third submission is a reflection paper for my HDFS 202.1001 Introduction to Families class. The requirements of this paper were to write based on a question regarding the previous week’s lectures. The question assigned was, “After reading Chapters 2 and 3 in our textbook, how do you think the history of a group of people affect postmodern family life generations later, particularly when it comes to race/ethnicity and immigration? Why are these histories important? Does the history of your family affect your family today?” This paper is entitled “Post Modern Family Life.” Although this submission was an informal paper, it clearly meets a core objective to “effectively compose written…texts for a variety of…purposes.”
Finally, my fourth submission is my most recent scholarly paper, which purposely was designed by the professor to be an informal version of an APA paper. It is entitled, "Family Interview – V.O.," and is a research paper in which I interviewed a person of my acquaintance about her family of origin and family of procreation. It required intensive research and several interview sessions with the subject of the paper. It also required careful analysis of the information I was collecting and how it could be applied to the theories we had been studying all semester.
The aforementioned paper also met the core objectives for English 101 as it fulfilled the objectives requiring students to “be critical consumers of information, able to engage in systematic research processes, frame questions, read critically and apply observational and experimental approaches to obtain information.”
I can also provide an example of the PowerPoint presentation from the disabilities class if required; however, it is not in .Docx format. This presentation provided me the opportunity to not only co-produce a multi-media presentation, but it also provided the opportunity to orally present the information to a classroom of peers. I would also like to note that I did receive A grades for all of my papers and presentation presented here.
I know I still have a great deal to learn, but I feel that I would benefit from starting at a place that is germane to my skill level. I truly appreciate your consideration of my portfolio.
Respectfully submitted,
Name Omitted
Home / Guides / Writing Guides / Parts of a Paper / How to Write an Essay Cover Page
What you include in your cover page depends slightly on which citation style you are using, but the rules are generally the same.
Include the title of the paper, running head, the author’s name, institutional affiliation, and an author’s note.
Here is an example of a cover page in APA:
Cover pages are not as frequently used in MLA format, as the inclusion of headers is preferred.
A header looks like this:
Cover pages can include the name of your school, your paper title, your name, your course name, your teacher or professor’s name, and the due date of the paper. If you are unsure of what to include, check with your instructor.
Here is an example of a cover page in MLA format:
For more help making cover or title pages, visit our title page generator here.
Writing a paper.
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate it!
We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!
Let us improve this post!
Tell us how we can improve this post?
Grammar and Plagiarism Checkers
Grammar Basics
Plagiarism Basics
Writing Basics
Upload a paper to check for plagiarism against billions of sources and get advanced writing suggestions for clarity and style.
Get Started
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
1. Write your name and street address. At the top of your cover letter, write your first and last name. On a separate line include your street address, followed by your city, state and zip code on another line. 2. Include the date. Below your contact information, write the date you plan on sending the cover letter.
Example cover letter for an essay Here is an example of what a quality essay cover letter might look like: Lili Eaglestone 123 Luna Lane Los Angeles, CA December 18, 2022 Dear Admissions Committee, My name is Lili Eaglestone, and I am applying to become a student at the University of Southern California for fall 2023. Writing my application essay was a delight, as I am very passionate about ...
An Essay Cover Letter is a brief introduction accompanying an essay, typically submitted to an academic institution or a publication. It summarizes the content and purpose of the essay, highlights the writer's qualifications, and expresses the intention behind submitting the essay. ... Essay Cover Letter for College Student Example.
1. School Name and Address. You college application letter should follow formal letter formatting guidelines, which include writing the full name of the college or university you are applying to in the upper left hand corner of the letter. Try to be as specific as possible with the address you choose to use. 2.
Content. Top ↑ College Student Cover Letter Example 5 Steps for the Perfect College Student Cover Letter #1. Put Contact Information in the Header #2. Address the Hiring Manager #3. Write an Eye-Catching Opening Statement #4. Use the Cover Letter Body for the Details #5.
12. End with a positive note. If you wish to explicitly demonstrate your positive values, do not hesitate to write a short piece of pleasantry toward the end of your cover letter. Again, it is needless to say that you have to maintain a formal yet non-pretentious tone in writing this part of your letter.
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 ...
Read our tips for writing a great cover letter. We suggest that you write the first draft of your letter without using a sample to guide you. Once you've created your first letter, those that follow will be much easier. Sample Cover Letters Undergraduate Internship. Layla D'Antonio New York, NY | [email protected] | (212) 555-0000
Here are nine steps to help you compose a cover letter when submitting your research paper to a professional journal: 1. Set up the formatting. Set up your word processor to format your cover letter correctly. Formatting standards for research paper cover letters usually include: Using single spacing between each line.
How To Write a College Cover Letter. Good college cover letters set and maintain a clear focus. Even more than a resume, your cover letter should center on your top qualifications for the job opening at hand - whether or not those qualifications come from your degree program.In the following sections, we introduce the five main parts of a cover letter and explain how you can focus on each ...
The cover letter should explain why your work is perfect for their journal and why it will be of interest to the journal's readers. When writing for publication, a well-written cover letter can help your paper reach the next stage of the manuscript submission process - being sent out for peer review .
Recipient's name] / [Scholarship Committee], Start with an opening paragraph that briefly introduces who you are, and your relevant experience, how you learned about the scholarship, and why you are interested in applying. If writing multiple cover letters, take care to customize this paragraph to target a specific scholarship.
Authors usually must include a cover letter when they first submit their manuscript to a journal for publication.The cover letter is typically uploaded as a separate file into the online submission portal for the journal (for more information on using an online submission portal, see Section 12.10 of the Publication Manual).. The cover letter should be addressed to the journal editor; any ...
Others have also written about writing a cover letter. Cheryl E. Ball, for example, provides excellent advice and a paragraph-by-paragraph breakdown. Indeed, a simple Google search on "how to write an academic cover letter" brings back 49,600 results if the clause is in quotations, and 526 million results without quotations.
Again, we'd recommend sticking with standard fonts and sizes—Times New Roman, 12-point is a standard workhorse. You can probably go with 1.5 or double spacing. Standard margins. Basically, show them you're ready to write in college by using the formatting you'll normally use in college.
Cover Letter Example 2. Undergraduate sophomore applying for an internship with a non-profit, political organization. Cover Letter Example 3. Graduate student applying for a Project Assistant position at UW-Madison. The original job posting for this position can be found here. Cover Letter Example 4.
1 Place the page number (always 1) in the upper-right corner of the page, flush right with the one-inch page margin. This is part of the running head that goes on every page in APA format, although for student papers this header only includes the page number. 2 Three or four lines down (double-spaced) from the top page margin, write the paper ...
How to write a college student cover letter. You can follow these steps to write your college student cover letter: 1. Do some research. Start by finding out what the employer is looking for. Read the job description carefully to identify the qualities the employer wants in a candidate.
Academic Cover Letter Sample. November 2, 1998. Dr. Naomi Sellers. Chair, English Search Committee. Box 58. Baxter College. Arcadia, WV 24803. Dear Dr. Sellers: I am writing to apply for the position as assistant professor of English with an emphasis in rhetoric and composition that you advertised in the October MLA Job Information List.
Robin Applicant 123 Main Street, Anytown, CA 12345 555-555.5555 [email protected]. April 5, 2021. Dr. Sylvia Lee Chair, English Department Search Committee Acme College 123 Business Rd. Charlotte, NC 28213. Dear Dr. Sylvia Lee, I am writing to apply for the position of assistant professor of English with an emphasis in nineteenth-century American literature that you advertised in the ...
The Core Writing team has provided an example from a cover letter written by a student seeking placement into 102. Use this example as a template to draft a cover letter.
Cover pages can include the name of your school, your paper title, your name, your course name, your teacher or professor's name, and the due date of the paper. If you are unsure of what to include, check with your instructor. Here is an example of a cover page in MLA format: For more help making cover or title pages, visit our title page ...
Middle paragraph (s) Closing paragraph. Letter ending and signature. Your cover letter should be one page long and use a simple, professional font, such as Arial or Helvetica, 10 to 12 points in size. Your letter should be left-aligned with single spacing and one-inch margins. Show Transcript.