Academic cover letter example & writing guide
- What should your academic cover letter include?
- What can you write in the introduction of your cover letter?
- What should be mentioned in the cover letter body for an academic vacancy?
- How to write a cover letter closing
As an academic, you face stiff competition anytime you apply for a new position in your field. Learn how to improve your chances of landing your dream job by discovering expert academic cover letter writing tips and tricks.
Like the position itself, crafting a compelling academic cover letter requires professionalism, industry expertise, and structure. Other candidates you come up against will also have strong credentials and experience, which means your accomplishments need to shine in your cover letter. In your academic cover letter, you need to display your areas of knowledge, your academic accomplishments, and your drive for excellence in your field of study.
Just as you would put together instruction plans for a classroom, your cover letter needs to have a clear strategy. Your focus should be on creating a cover letter that shows a department head what your unique value is.
With this cover letter and writing guide, we will break down the various sections of writing an academic cover letter. Here’s what we will cover:
What should your academic cover letter include?
What can you write in the introduction of the cover letter
What information can you give in the body of the cover letter
How to write a cover letter closing
What should your academic cover letter include?
When presenting your cover letter to a school or a department at a university, you want to put your best skills to work for you. Using the right structure for your cover letter is also important. The first thing you need to add is a header that includes your contact information as well as the contact information of your contact at the educational establishment. You will follow this up with an appropriate greeting.
The remaining sections of your cover letter are the introduction, the body, and the closing. We’ll talk about each of those sections in detail in the following paragraphs.
What can you write in the introduction of your cover letter?
The introduction of your cover letter should be direct and concise. Keep this paragraph to just a couple of sentences. Your goal with the introduction is to clearly state what position you are applying for and what your credentials are.
You should also highlight some of your areas of expertise and your core skills. Remember, this paragraph is the department’s introduction to you, and you want to write it in a way that keeps them reading the letter. You want to show the person reading the letter that you have the potential to become a successful member of their faculty who contributes to the education of their students.
Dear Dr. Elizabeth Harrington
Please consider my curriculum vitae for the lecturer opening at Harvard University. My PhD in Criminal Justice, university-level teaching and tutoring experience, and dynamic communication skills are certain to make me a valued member of your faculty.
What should be mentioned in the cover letter body for an academic vacancy?
In the body of your cover letter, you can go into more detail about your background and qualifications. This section should be specific to the position you are applying for and showcase your experience related to it.
An effective approach is to break it into three different sections:
Why you. Your cover letter should show why your experience, educational background, and skills make you the right fit for this academic role. You should write it in a way that shows how you can contribute to the results the establishment currently sees. Include information about your past studies, research topics, teaching credentials, and what makes you love the field you are in.
Why here. Why did you decide to apply to this educational establishment? What are you hoping to achieve in this role? Answering these questions helps show your drive and why this is the right role for you. It also shows that you have a passion for the school or university you are hoping to work with and the students who are attending school there.
Why now. Finally, show in your cover letter why now is the right time for the educational establishment to rely on your expertise. What changes are you hoping to enact when you come on board? What problems do you hope to solve? Use your cover letter to show why the department shouldn’t pass up on hiring you right now.
There are some additional measures you can take when writing your cover letter for a job you feel overqualified for. You can learn about them in our guide for overqualified candidates.
Expert Tip
Consider breaking your core achievements into bullet points! This makes it easy for you to customize the points for the role you are applying for. Plus, it’s easier for the person reviewing your cover letter to easily and quickly read them.
Highlights of my background and qualifications include:
Teaching Probation & Parole in the Court System and Criminal Courts as an Assistant Professor with ITT Technical Institute.
Tutoring and instructing students in academic writing skills while completing my master’s degree at Temple University.
Designing course curricula, developing lesson plans, and creating unique assignments to engage students and achieve positive educational outcomes.
Working in collaboration with senior faculty and peers to influence program direction, recommend future courses, and facilitate overall enhancements.
Conducting original research, analyzing findings, and writing manuscripts, including Prison Growth and the American Corrections System (Temple University, 2014).
My deep interest in criminal justice and criminology drive me to remain abreast of new developments in this critical field of study. By applying proven teaching methodologies and effectively presenting information to diverse student populations, I am able to convey complex, often ambiguous topics with high levels of success. Furthermore, I am eager to leverage my expertise to craft new courses that incorporate emerging research findings and represent multiple perspectives.
How to write a cover letter closing
In an academic cover letter, you should mention your areas of study and tie your achievements and skills to the position you are applying for in the closing of your cover letter. Highlight your your excitement for the opportunity and express your gratitude. The closing’s job is to firmly put you on the call-back list for an interview.
Touch on your goals. Inspire the department by showing what you want to achieve first in the role. “I am eager to leverage my expertise to craft new courses and apply proven teaching methodologies.”
Write a clear call to action. Be flexible but firm when asking for an interview. “I look forward to speaking with you further via phone or email.”
If you’re a teacher looking for the perfect cover letter, we have a teacher cover letter guide for you!
Should you need further information, I am available by phone or email. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Dr. Evan Burt
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