Academic Cover Letter Sample & Writing Tips

Text Format

Dr. Jane Smith
American State University
Palo Alto, California, 94301
professor.smith@email.com

October 30, 2015

Dear Professor Jane Smith,

I am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professor of Anthropology: Evolutionary Social Science, as advertised on the American State University website. I am a graduate from Hayward University, and am currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Osford where I am due to complete my PhD requirements by May 2016. I am working on a dissertation under the direction of Dr John Jacobs. I believe that my previous teaching experience, partnered with my research in human behavior and signaling theory make me a strong candidate for the position.

As my Curriculum Vitae demonstrates, I have taught a variety of ethnographic writing courses. My doctoral dissertation examines human cognitive ability and the socioecological underpinnings of behavioral variation, using qualitative survey-based research methods. I also run an ethnographic writing course at the University of Osford, mentoring undergraduate students in ethnographic data collection, analysis and writing. I seek to engage students by examining ways they can actively participate in class discussions, often using app technology and new collaborative platforms. I look forward to individual conferences with students, ascertaining their research direction and assisting in the composition of their theories and experiments.

Prior to my academic career I worked as a photographer and filmmaker for various organizations for 5+ years. In 2012 & 2013, I taught a Visual Anthropology International Exchange program in Bangladesh using sound recording, photography and film. I believe these skills provide me with a broad perspective of ethnography, enhancing my research methodology and passion for student engagement.

I have enclosed my resume, statements of teaching philosophy, research interests and reference letters. I would enjoy discussing this position with you in the weeks to come. If you require any additional information, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Sally Davis

Writing tips for an academic cover letter

Learning how to put together a cover letter for the specific job(s) you want will help you land more interviews.

Have you comfortably written countless papers over the years but are at a loss for words when it comes to outlining academic skills and experience in a cover letter?

You’re not alone. Show institutions you’re the perfect person for a research or faculty position by showcasing your academic skills and accomplishments in a well-written cover letter.

Follow these three tips to write an academic cover letter that gets you shortlisted:

1. Highlight academic skills

A strong academic cover letter should highlight a variety of hard and soft skills, along with your teaching experience or involvement in research activities. To make yourself a more compelling candidate, be sure to also mention any professional affiliations and academic achievements early on in your cover letter — either in the introduction or body paragraphs — such as fellowships or grants.

To show employers you have the right skills to excel, highlight job-specific skills when detailing your work experience in the body paragraphs. For example, if you’re applying to a teaching position, communication skills and collaboration are key soft skills for mentoring students and establishing strong professional relationships to facilitate learning.

Here’s an example of how to emphasize these skills in your cover letter:

I seek to engage students by examining ways they can actively participate in class discussions, often using app technology and new collaborative platforms.

Here’s a list of key academic skills to highlight in your cover letter:

Research skills
Involvement with publications or books
Awards and fellowships
Teaching methods
Preparing course materials
Course management system software
Google Drive and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
Online library databases
Scientific software (IBM SPSS Statistics, StataCorp Stata, and SAS)
Computer-based education software (Desire2Learn, Blackboard Learn, and Turnitin)

In addition to your technical skills, here are some academic soft skills institutions look for:

Organizational skills
People skills
Interpersonal skills
Leadership skills
Time management skills
Attention to detail
Adaptability
Problem-solving skills
Decision-making

2. Open with a strong introduction

Whether you’re applying for a temporary job or a full-time, tenure-track position, the job market for a university faculty position is highly competitive. Instead of presenting your qualifications as-is, knowing how to craft a strong cover letter opening ensures your job application best resonates with hiring committees stuck reviewing many qualified applications each day.

Here’s how to write a strong academic cover letter introduction:

Convey enthusiasm for the job so employers know you have the skills and passion to handle the workload and stress of being a researcher or educator. For example, “I look forward to individual conferences with students, ascertaining their research direction and assisting in the composition of their theories and experiments.”
Lead with an impressive accomplishment to highlight key academic skills
Quantify your achievements to make your contributions sound more impactful. For example, “I ran an ethnographic writing course at the University of Oxford, mentoring 150+ students in ethnographic data collection, analysis, and writing.”
Analyze the opening to uncover what skills the hiring committee is specifically seeking, and emphasize these skills in your cover letter

3. Research the academic institution (or company) where you want to apply

Because you’ll be vying against many other candidates with similar qualifications, you need to tailor your cover letter to the job so the hiring committee recognizes you’re a perfect match for what they’re seeking.

In addition to analyzing the job description, research the institution to gain more insight on how to align your talents with their needs. Most importantly, pay attention to any recent headlines that might be worth mentioning in your cover letter.

For example, if you’re applying to a research role with the social science department, talk about your expertise in this research area and how you would have contributed to a recent study they published.

Or, if the job description emphasizes teaching ability, mimic the language used in a teacher cover letter more closely to describe your experience as an educator.