Letter of Application addressing qualifications????

Letter of Application addressing qualifications????

babybrains 15 Jul 2015 23:43

Okay, so what is a search committee looking for in a letter "addressing qualifications"? And how long should the letter be?

The letter is being requested for a TT job at a R1 in the midwest, the ad doesn't indicate a teaching load but given its an R1 I can't imagine teaching is the focus. Help!! Thank you.

anon (guest) 16 Jul 2015 14:15

I applied for TT jobs at R1s, was offered 3 interviews, and I am starting a job this fall. The advice I received was to make a quick snapshot of your CV and research statement. The first paragraph is where you received your PhD and where you did your post-doc(s) if applicable. The second paragraph should briefly describe your research focus and then highlight the strongest points of your research. Finally, the third paragraph should be directed toward the institution and how you would make a good fit and how your skills would add to the department. This is where you emphasize the courses you would want to teach. Don't put only one course you really want to teach, but don't include something you never want to teach.

Also, find mentors/friends who have been successful and have the type of job you would like to have and ask if they would mind sharing their cover letter.

Good luck!

Re: Letter of Application addressing qualifications????

babybrains 16 Jul 2015 14:24

Thanks anon. I hadn't thought they were referring to the cover letter but that makes sense.

also_anon (guest) 16 Jul 2015 15:26

Totally agree with the suggestion provided, and I also had a successful TT job search. That was what my cover letter looked like for every job, whether they specified "letter of intent" or not.

teachingprof (guest) 08 Sep 2015 20:52

letter "addressing qualifications" = cover letter

see other thread discussing it's importance…

answer: very.

the committee's first pass is usually your CV and your cover letter…
if good, then reviewing your other materials.

we're not going to dig into the meat of your statements, so you need to re-summarize those key points in the cover letter.
BOLD key terms… it helps! :)