Academic Cover Letters

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Academic Cover Letters

• Rosanne Ecker, Ph.D.
• Center for Career Services
• recker_at_syr.edu
• 443.3616

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How Should I View The Cover Letter?

• As a personal dialogue with the hiring
  committee.
• As a writing sample
• As an opportunity to articulate the highlights of
  your CV
• As an opportunity to distinguish yourself from
  other applicants with similar CVs
• Dana M. Zimbelman, Chronicle Careers, May 16,
  2002

3
What is the goal of an academic cover letter?

• To demonstrate that you are a great match for the
  position
• To show that you would be a great fit for the
  college or university
• What the academic cover letter is not
• Im interested in the English position. My vita
  is attached. See ya.
• Dana M. Zimbelman, chronicle Careers, May 16,
  2002

4
Read the job ad carefully

• What is the college or university looking for?
• What do you know about their values?
• What do you know about their teaching and
  research needs?
• What specific requirements did they highlight in
  their job ad?

5
How can you utilize what is in the ad?

• Demonstrate your knowledge of the institution or
  department.
• Discuss what draws you to the college or
  university.
• Demonstrate that you share the college or
  universitys values.
• Make the connections for the reader.
• State what you can do for the department you are
  applying to.
• Take a little risk and show who you are and how
  you are a good fit.

6
How else can you use the job ad?

• Notice the emphasis on teaching, research and
  service.
• Use the language of the ad as your guide to your
  application.
• Respond to each job responsibility with your
  experience.

7
What, specifically, should I include in my
academic cover letter?

• Note where you saw the job listed
• Address it to a person, if possible
• Include your basic fields, summary of past
  research and plans for future research
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the institution or
  department

8
What else could I include?

• Some colleges may be interested in your service
  to the university or community
• Have you served on a university committee?
• Have you done public service work?
• Have you volunteered or reached out to the
  community?

9
If the job focuses on research

• Make detailed note of your current research
• Make it clear that you have a plan to guide your
  research in the future

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If the job focuses on teaching

• Describe the types of students you have taught
• Note your experience with diversity of all kinds
• Detail any on-line teaching experience you have
• Describe any student/club advising experience
• Note any mentoring or tutoring

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Additional Tips

• Convey your enthusiasm about working for this
  specific department in this particular college
  remember, your goal is to get an interview
• Note your upcoming attendance at conventions
• In the final paragraph make note of additional
  materials
• (Three letters of reference are being sent)
• Indicate enclosures, (CV, teaching philosophy
  statement, research plans).

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My thanks go to

• Dana M. Zimbelman, Chronicle Careers
• Rebecca Bryant, University of Illinois at Urbana
  Champaign
• Andrew Green, UC Berkeley
• Mary Corbin Sies, University of Maryland, College
  Park
• Kathy Shull, UC Davis
• Richard Kurz, Columbia University