How to Write a Cover Letter
Although (perhaps because) the cover letter is
such an important document, you may encounter several conflicting
opinions as you how it should look (What is a Cover Letter?). The following
guidelines are my own suggestions. Finally,
however, you must decide how to write the letter that’s best for you.
Pass it along to as many different faculty as you trust,
solicit their advice, be prepared for conflicting advice, be prepared
to write and rewrite the letter many times, and understand that you’ll
probably send out a letter that’s not entirely your own work.
There are three things to keep in mind as you write your
letter:
- Make every word count.
- Keep hitting your audience with what
makes you different without being overbearing or telling lies.
- Establish a voice.
Remember that the cover letter is the
single most important document of your job search.
It’s the document that will get you an interview and an
audience for your writing sample, and it’s the document to which the
committee will return after you have interviewed.
A hastily written letter is unlikely to get attention, and since it’s
time-consuming to apply for jobs, don’t bother unless you’re prepared
to spend some time on your cover letter. Start
working on this letter during the summer before you begin your job
search. It can easily take several months to
write, and you will need to pass it along to people many times before
it’s complete.
Below, we will show you
how
to write a resume cover letter.
Paragraph one:
introduction. Mention the job you’re applying for
and where you saw it advertised. Since your
curriculum vitae will give information about your degree
(where and when), dissertation director, fellowships,
prizes and so on, you don’t need to mention
them in your letter. Doing so takes up valuable
space in the letter and, more importantly, marks you as a graduate
student. Try to sound like a professional, someone
who has already put graduate school behind you.
The selection committee will look at your vitae and see
all these details in a more readable format. The
same goes for areas of specialization.
Paragraph two: dissertation.
Don’t bother with the director’s name; it’s in the
vitae. So is the list of publications that
came out of the dissertation. Don’t use the letter
to recapitulate anything that’s in the vitae, except the
title of the dissertation. This paragraph is
critical. Try to convey the main idea of your
project, the originality of your work, the writers you cover, and the
approach you take. One nice detail of a chapter
will give readers something to hold onto. You may
also address future research in this or a later paragraph.
Paragraph three: teaching experience
and philosophy. Mention your philosophy, perhaps a
brief example of how you put it to work, and special courses you would
like to teach.
Paragraph four: final paragraph.
Tell what you have enclosed, whether a dossier is on its way,
how the school should get one if it needs one, whether you will be
available at MLA (which you should). Don’t spend
too much time thanking them.
Related: Cover
Letter Do's and Don'ts
The letter should be no longer than a
page and a half, single spaced. Be sure to use
department letterhead, either from UGA or the department where you are
currently employed. |
