Academic Cover Letters & the Art of Self-Presentation Ryan Wheeler, M.A. Manager, Postdoctoral...

Academic Cover Letters & the Art

of Self-Presentation

Ryan Wheeler, M.A.Manager, Postdoctoral Services Office

The Scripps Research Institute

© 2008 Ryan Wheeler, TSRI

http://www.scripps.edu/services/postdocs

http://www.scripps.edu/services/postdocs

Agenda

Cover letter basics Components of the

academic cover letter

General tips

“…Here are my qualifications for you to overlook.”

*from an actual cover letter

basics

Cover letters must be perfect!

Objectives Introduce yourself as a

competitive candidate:• Showcase your background &

interests to demonstrate fit• Highlight connections

Entice the reader to carefully examine your application

Get an interview!

basics

?Industry letters & Academic letters:

What’s the difference?

basics

Business/Industry Cover Letters

Self-promotion expected

May include bulleted lists

Stresses skills

Often required

Important role in application package

Academic Cover Letters

More conservative language

No bullets or organizational formatting

Stresses research/teaching ‘fit’

Always required

Critical role in application package

basics

Both are “sales documents” presenting what you have to offer a potential employer!

?Before You Begin, Do Your

Homework!

• How big is the department and to what extent do you need to translate the significance of your work?

• Is it a new position or are they replacing someone?

• Is it a joint or multidisciplinary appointment?

• How can your background fit with the department’s goals?

basics

Agenda



General tips

Cover Letter Components

Provide a self-introduction and specify desired position

Summarize important research accomplishments

Briefly describe research plans Briefly describe teaching or

clinical experience (if necessary) Disclose any special

circumstances and close

cover letter components

Introduce Yourself• State referrals and

connections• Show that you’ve done your

homeworkPlease accept these materials as application for Assistant Professor of Immunology at Big University. I am an immunologist currently finishing postdoctoral study in the laboratory of John Smart at XY University.


Professor Jane Brilliant informed me of this opportunity during our recent collaboration on molecular mechanisms regulating T cell development. After reviewing your faculty members’ research interests, I am confident that my background in T cell development and enthusiasm for multidisciplinary collaborative research would be assets for the Department of Immunologyat Big University.

I am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professor of Biology as advertised in the Chronicle of Higher Education. I am currently a postdoctoral scholar in the Chemical Biology Department at Big University and will be completing my research appointment in the spring of 20XX. During my years at Big University as a graduate student and postdoc, I have had the opportunity to work in both the laboratory and the classroom and it was in the classroom that I found my true calling. I am committed to pursuing a career that focuses on teaching and mentoring and am eager to join the faculty of Teaching College because I am committed to the goals and values of Teaching College: to instill in students a love of learning and a respect and appreciation for others that they will bring to our society at large…

*example adapted courtesy UCSD Career Services Center


My primary research goals are directed toward understanding the basis for molecular regeneration at the atomic level using physics-based computational methods. As a postdoctoral fellow at Big University and as a graduate student at Prestigious University with Dr. Gordon Freeman, I have balanced method development for computational structure-based drug design with the application of these powerful tools to relevant antiviral and anticancer targets. My future research plans are aimed at [1-2 sentences describing near-term goals]. My ultimate aim is to [1-2 sentences

describing long-term goals].


*example adapted courtesy UCSF Office of Career & Professional Development

Emphasize Teaching Experience (small colleges)

• Highlight a few consistent strengths from course evaluations

• Mention any teaching awards• Mention highly relevant past

Teaching Assistant experiences• Use examples to illustrate why

you’d be a great teacher


Good:“I am deeply committed to teaching and fostering undergraduate involvement.”



Good:“I am deeply committed to teaching and fostering undergraduate involvement.”

Better:“…I have already had the pleasure of mentoring several undergraduate students in this research and have seen that it is ideal for young scientists. Arabidopsis is an easy organism to work with…and simple assays in guard cell signaling can yield significant and exciting results. Students are particularly drawn to the human interest of the research…”



“…Note: Please don't misconstrue my 14 jobs as 'job-hopping.' I have never quit a job.”

*from an actual cover letter


Closing the Letter• Request accommodations (i.e.,

wheelchair access)

• Planning to be in the area? Mention travel dates and availability

• Explain potential ‘red flags’ (i.e., gaps in experience or multiple postdoc positions)

• List enclosures and mention materials arriving under separate cover


Agenda



General tips

Cover Letter Tips

• Tailor it to the position

• Convey interest

• Proofread!

• Keep copies: create & save different versions

• Read job descriptions carefully

cover letter tips

Formatting Tips• Use 11-pt or 12-pt, legible

fonts

• Keep standard margins

• Keep length to 1-2 pages

• Use institutional letterhead

• Address letter to search committee chair• Dear Dr. Jones: (best)• Dear Committee Members: (okay)

cover letter tips

April 6, 2008

Marty McFly, Ph.D.Department of MusicHill Valley UniversityHill Valley, CA 92108

Dr. Emmett BrownChair, Faculty Search CommitteeDepartment of Space-Time AnomaliesCalifornia Institute of Technology1200 East California BoulevardPasadena, CA 91125

Dear Dr. Brown:

cover letter tips

Top left

?How do I address fears of imminent flight?

cover letter tips

• Do some research and convincingly discuss your fit with the dept./institution

• Provide evidence of ties to the area

• Undergrad work, family proximity, etc.

• Convey a genuine interest in advising, teaching, and college student development

Imminent Flight Fears

cover letter tips


cover letter tips

Finally, I look forward to settling down with my wife and young son in Hill Valley; relocating back to the area has been a dream of ours ever since we attended Hill Valley University as undergraduates. During our time there, I came to appreciate the high quality of the education and students at Teaching College and I look forward to teaching at a liberal arts college with focused and motivated students…

Resources• Scripps Research Postdoctoral Services Office Website: http://

scripps.edu/services/postdocs

• The Academic Job Search Handbook (Heiberger & Vick)

• Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty (BWF, HHMI)http://www.hhmi.org/resources/labmanagement/

• UCSF Office of Career & Professional Development: http://www.ucsf.edu/career/lifesci.samples.job.shtml

• UC Berkeley Career Center: http://career.berkeley.edu/PhDs/PhDcover.stm

• Chronicle of Higher Education:http://chronicle.com/jobs/

• ScienceCareershttp://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/

http://scripps.edu/services/postdocs

http://scripps.edu/services/postdocs

http://www.hhmi.org/resources/labmanagement/



http://www.ucsf.edu/career/lifesci.samples.job.shtml

http://www.ucsf.edu/career/lifesci.samples.job.shtml

http://career.berkeley.edu/PhDs/PhDcover.stm

http://career.berkeley.edu/PhDs/PhDcover.stm

http://chronicle.com/jobs/



http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/



Academic Cover Letters & the Art of Self-Presentation Ryan Wheeler, M.A. Manager, Postdoctoral...

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