This might mean changing some of the key words in the letter, so that you are describing your experience in the employer’s language (using some of their keywords), not your own. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all cover letter, as each should be tailored to each job you apply to, but there will certainly be parts of the letter that will stay much the same, and be appropriate for multiple jobs. Step 2: The next step is to find an open position that interests you, or at least the type of job to which you want to apply. Your cover letter expands upon some of the information you include within these documents, and describes the role you have played in achieving your academic or non-academic goals (i.e., showing how your experiences have made you the best candidate for the position). For information on putting these documents together, click here. Step 1: The first step to writing a good cover letter is to first have a good resume. Timeline: Getting Started with your Cover Letter Recruiters won’t have the time to read a letter. ![]() Employers want to be able to quickly scan your resume for the key points, and you should be able to verbally communicate some of the ideas that a letter might contain (for example, why this company interests you). During career fairs, you would typically only hand out your resume to employers (and a 1-page resume is ideal). When Not to Use Cover Letters: There are some occasions during the job search process where cover letters shouldn’t be used. Make sure your cover letter fits onto 1 page (for non-academic position applications), has consistent margins and formatting, and a readable font that is between 10-12pts. Your cover letter will be read by someone as part of a formal job application, so make certain that it is free of spelling mistakes, grammar issues, and typos. You’ll probably have more luck with three tailored cover letters than with 30 stock letters sent out to 30 different employers. Use this information to explain why you want to work at that particular place, doing that particular job. This may require you to do some background research on the employer’s website, or talk to someone you know (or don’t yet know) who already works there. Tailor your letter to the employer and to the specific job. It can be fairly obvious to an employer when they receive a stock letter, and this will make a bad first impression. You might be tempted to send the same version of your cover letter to multiple employers, especially if you are applying for similar types of positions. For most jobs, and whenever you are submitting a formal application, cover letters are usually expected – and can be very helpful – even if a letter is not requested in the job ad itself. The exception to this might be when you apply for some jobs through an employer’s online job application system, where they may ask you to upload your letter as a document, cut and paste the contents of your letter into specific fields, or they may not ask for a letter at all. You will notice that most job ads ask for a cover letter of some sort. When you start the process of looking for job opportunities, you will probably read through lots of job advertisements. You can review some of the key differences of cover letters for faculty positions here. Also, it is important to know that there are some differences between cover letters written for faculty positions and those written for non-faculty positions. To find out more about the structure of the cover letter, you can see some examples here. While your resume briefly states your skills, knowledge, experience, and (most importantly) what you have achieved using your abilities, the cover letter gives you an opportunity to create a narrative that shows the path you have taken in your career or education, emphasizing the skills you’ve used along the way, and explaining why the position you are applying to is the next desirable step on this path. You will likely have several drafts before you come up with a final version that clearly articulates your skills and your understanding of the employer and the job requirements. ![]() Like all your job application materials, it may take time and focus to write your cover letters well. First impressions count, and so getting your cover letter right is a critical step in your job application process. The cover letter is often the first impression that a prospective employer will have of you, especially if they do not know you, or have not heard about you from their network of contacts. The purpose of a cover letter is to quickly summarize why you are applying to an organization or for a particular position, and what skills and knowledge you bring that make you the most suitable candidate for that position. ![]() ![]() Sometimes called a “letter of intent” or “letter of interest”, a cover letter is an introduction to the rest of your job application materials (e.g., resume/CV, research statement, teaching philosophy, writing samples, etc.).
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