academic cover letters & the art of self-presentation ryan wheeler, m.a. manager, postdoctoral...
TRANSCRIPT
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
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
Cover letter basics Components of the
academic cover letter
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.
cover letter components
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
cover letter components
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
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].
cover letter components
*example adapted courtesy UCSF Office of Career & Professional Development
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
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
cover letter components
Good:“I am deeply committed to teaching and fostering undergraduate involvement.”
*example adapted courtesy UCSD Career Services Center
cover letter components
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…”
*example adapted courtesy UCSD Career Services Center
cover letter components
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
“…Note: Please don't misconstrue my 14 jobs as 'job-hopping.' I have never quit a job.”
*from an actual cover letter
cover letter components
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
cover letter components
Agenda
Cover letter basics Components of the
academic cover letter
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
*example adapted courtesy UCSD Career Services Center
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/