Other requests may be made by a candidate who has made no impression on you, or only a negative one. In this case, consider the candidate’s potential and future goals, and be fair in your evaluation. Sending a negative letter or a generic positive letter for individuals you barely know is not helpful to the selection committee and can backfire for the candidate. It can also, in some instances, backfire for you if a colleague accepts a candidate based on your generic positive letter when you did not necessarily fully support that individual. For instance, letter writers sometimes stretch the truth to make a candidate sound better than they really are, thinking it is helpful. If you do not know the applicant well enough or feel that you cannot be supportive, you are not in a strong position to write the recommendation letter and should decline the request, being open about why you are declining to write the letter. Also, be selective about writing on behalf of colleagues who may be in one’s field but whose work is not well known to you. If you have to read the candidate’s curriculum vitae to find out who they are and what they have done, then you may not be qualified to write the letter [ 8 ].
When declining a request to provide a letter of support, it is important to explain your reasoning to the candidate and suggest how they might improve their prospects for the future [ 8 ]. If the candidate is having a similar problem with other mentors, try to help them identify a more appropriate referee or to explore whether they are making an appropriate application in the first place. Suggest constructive steps to improve relationships with mentors to identify individuals to provide letters in the future. Most importantly, do not let the candidate assume that all opportunities for obtaining supportive letters of recommendation have been permanently lost. Emphasize the candidate’s strengths by asking them to share a favourite paper, assignment, project, or other positive experience that may have taken place outside of your class or lab, to help you identify their strengths. Finally, discuss with the candidate their career goals to help them realize what they need to focus on to become more competitive or steer them in a different career direction. This conversation can mark an important step and become a great interaction and mentoring opportunity for ECRs.
Once you decide to write a recommendation letter, it is important to know what type and level of opportunity the candidate is applying for, as this will determine what should be discussed in the letter ( Figure 1 ). You should carefully read the opportunity posting description and/or ask the candidate to summarize the main requirements and let you know the specific points that they find important to highlight. Pay close attention to the language of the position announcement to fully address the requested information and tailor the letter to the specific needs of the institution, employer, or funding organisation. In some instances, a waiver form or an option indicating whether or not the candidate waives their right to see the recommendation document is provided. If the candidate queries a waiver decision, note that often referees are not allowed to send a letter that is not confidential and that there may be important benefits to maintaining the confidentiality of letters (see Table 1 ). Specifically, selection committees may view confidential letters as having greater credibility and, value and some letter writers may feel less reserved in their praise of candidates in confidential letters.
To acquire appropriate information about the candidate, one or more of the following documents may be valuable: a resume or curriculum vitae (CV), a publication or a manuscript, an assignment or exam written for your course, a copy of the application essay or personal statement, a transcript of academic records, a summary of current work, and specific recommendation forms or questionnaires (if provided) [ 9 ]. Alternatively, you may ask the candidate to complete a questionnaire asking for necessary information and supporting documents [ 10 ]. Examine the candidate’s CV and provide important context to the achievements listed therein. Tailor the letter for the opportunity using these documents as a guide, but do not repeat their contents as the candidate likely submits them separately. Even the most articulate of candidates may find it difficult to describe their qualities in writing [ 11 ]. Furthermore, a request may be made by a person who has made a good impression, but for whom you lack significant information to be able to write a strong letter. Thus, even if you know a candidate well, schedule a brief in-person, phone, or virtual meeting with them to 1) fill in gaps in your knowledge about them, 2) understand why they are applying for this particular opportunity, 3) help bring their past accomplishments into sharper focus, and 4) discuss their short- and long-term goals and how their current studies or research activities relate to the opportunity they are applying for and to these goals. Other key information to gather from the applicant includes the date on which the recommendation letter is due, as well as details on how to submit it.
For most applications (for both academic and non-academic opportunities), a letter of recommendation will need to cover both scholarly capabilities and achievements as well as a broader range of personal qualities and experiences beyond the classroom or the laboratory. This includes extracurricular experiences and traits such as creativity, tenacity, and collegiality. If necessary, discuss with the candidate what they would like to see additionally highlighted. As another example of matching a letter with its purpose, a letter for a fellowship application for a specific project should discuss the validity and feasibility of the project, as well as the candidate’s qualifications for fulfilling the project.
Another factor that greatly facilitates letter writing is drafting one as soon as possible after you have taught or trained the candidate, while your impressions are still clear. You might consider encouraging the candidate to make their requests early [ 11 ]. These letters can be placed in the candidate’s portfolio and maintained in your own files for future reference. If you are writing a letter in response to a request, start drafting it well in advance and anticipate multiple rounds of revision before submission. Once you have been asked by a candidate to write a letter, that candidate may return frequently, over a number of years, for additional letters. Therefore, maintain a digital copy of the letter for your records and for potential future applications for the same candidate.
In the opening, you should introduce yourself and the candidate, state your qualifications and explain how you became acquainted with the candidate, as well as the purpose of the letter, and a summary of your recommendation ( Table 2 ). To explain your relationship with the candidate you should fully describe the capacity in which you know them: the type of experience, the period during which you worked with the candidate, and any special assignments or responsibilities that the candidate performed under your guidance. For instance, the letter may start with: “This candidate completed their postdoctoral training under my supervision. I am pleased to be able to provide my strongest support in recommending them for this opportunity.” You may also consider ranking the candidate among similar level candidates within the opening section to give an immediate impression of your thoughts. Depending on the position, ranking the candidate may also be desired by selection committees, and may be requested within the letter. For instance, the recommendation form or instructions may ask you to rank the candidate in the top 1%, 5%, 10%, etc., of applicants. You could write "the student is in the top 5% of undergraduate students I have trained" Or “There are currently x graduate students in our department and I rank this candidate at the top 1%. Their experimental/computational skills are the best I have ever had in my own laboratory.”. Do not forget to include with whom or what group you are comparing the individual. If you have not yet trained many individuals in your own laboratory, include those that you trained previously as a researcher as reference. Having concentrated on the candidate’s individual or unique strengths, you might find it difficult to provide a ranking. This is less of an issue if a candidate is unambiguously among the top 10% that you have mentored but not all who come to you for a letter will fall within that small group. If you wish to offer a comparative perspective, you might more readily be able to do so in more specific areas such as whether the candidate is one of the most articulate, original, clear-thinking, motivated, or intellectually curious.
Key do’s and don’ts when writing a letter of recommendation
Theme | Do | Do Not |
---|---|---|
Describe all scholarly outputs in equal weight e.g., preprints, protocols, engineered animal models, computer models, software among others. Describe all scholarly and non-scholarly outputs in equal weight e.g., teaching, service, advocacy efforts. Promote the whole human candidate. | Do not ignore the candidate’s non-peer reviewed (e.g. preprints, data or code or protocols submitted to repositories) or in-press outputs. | |
Describe the candidate’s preprints and journal publications in terms of their quality and impact on your work and the field. | Do not judge papers by where they are published. It is the quality of the science & the reputation of the researcher, not the journal’s brand, that matters. Avoid paying excessive attention to how many papers the candidate has published in the family of journals. Refrain from boasting the journals impact factor (JIF) or journal name in the letter as publication in glamour journals does not validate the candidate’s research or guarantee a promising & successful career path. | |
Use agentic (e.g., confident, ambitious, independent) and standout (e.g., best, ideal) adjectives for all candidates, focusing on relevant accomplishments for the opportunity. | Avoid communal words (e.g., kind, affectionate, agreeable) that are more often used for women. Avoid using doubt raising phrases such as “He might be good”, or “she may have potential”, “she has a difficult personality”. | |
Make a criticism sound less damaging. e.g., “When candidate started at my laboratory, their skills were poorly developed, but they have worked diligently to improve them and have taken major steps in that direction.” | Do not leave out important, relevant information even if it may be perceived as negative, put a positive spin on it. | |
Do explain how the candidate’s current and prior work contributes to your laboratories research efforts. | Do not compare the candidate as being as good as person and , but not as good as person . This type of information creates subjectivity. | |
Include context for your scientific field and how the candidate’s research fits into and advances the field. | Do not merely describe mastery of techniques. Pay attention to the candidate’s wider comprehension of the field and their impact on their discipline. Avoid too much jargon and field-specific language, as often a broad audience will be reading the letter. |
The body of the recommendation letter should provide specific information about the candidate and address any questions or requirements posed in the selection criteria (see sections above). Some applications may ask for comments on a candidate’s scholarly performance. Refer the reader to the candidate’s CV and/or transcript if necessary but don’t report grades, unless to make an exceptional point (such as they were the only student to earn a top grade in your class). The body of the recommendation letter will contain the majority of the information including specific examples, relevant candidate qualities, and your experiences with the candidate, and therefore the majority of this manuscript focuses on what to include in this section.
The closing paragraph of the letter should briefly 1) summarize your opinions about the candidate, 2) clearly state your recommendation and strong support of the candidate for the opportunity that they are seeking, and 3) offer the recipient of the letter the option to contact you if they need any further information. Make sure to provide your email address and phone number in case the recipient has additional questions. The overall tone of the letter can represent your confidence in the applicant. If opportunity criteria are detailed and the candidate meets these criteria completely, include this information. Do not focus on what you may perceive as a candidate’s negative qualities as such tone may do more harm than intended ( Table 2 ). Finally, be aware of the Forer’s effect, a cognitive error, in which a very general description, that fits almost everyone, is used to describe a person [ 20 ]. Such generalizations can be harmful, as they provide the candidate the impression that they received a valuable, positive letter, but for the committee, who receive hundreds of similar letters, this is non-informative and unhelpful to the application.
In discussing a candidate’s qualities and character, proceed in ways similar to those used for intellectual evaluation ( Box 1 ). Information to specifically highlight may include personal characteristics, such as integrity, resilience, poise, confidence, dependability, patience, creativity, enthusiasm, teaching capabilities, problem-solving abilities, ability to manage trainees and to work with colleagues, curriculum development skills, collaboration skills, experience in grant writing, ability to organize events and demonstrate abilities in project management, and ability to troubleshoot (see section “ Use ethical principles, positive and inclusive language within the letter ” below for tips on using inclusive terminology). The candidate may also have a specific area of knowledge, strengths and experiences worth highlighting such as strong communication skills, expertise in a particular scientific subfield, an undergraduate degree with a double major, relevant work or research experience, coaching, and/or other extracurricular activities. Consider whether the candidate has taught others in the lab, or shown particular motivation and commitment in their work. When writing letters for mentees who are applying for (non-)academic jobs or admission to academic institutions, do not merely emphasize their strengths, achievements and potential, but also try to 1) convey a sense of what makes them a potential fit for that position or funding opportunity, and 2) fill in the gaps. Gaps may include an insufficient description of the candidate’s strengths or research given restrictions on document length. Importantly, to identify these gaps, one must have carefully reviewed both the opportunity posting as well as the application materials (see Box 1 , Table 2 ).
When writing letters to nominate colleagues for promotion or awards, place stronger emphasis on their achievements and contributions to a field, or on their track record of teaching, mentorship and service, to aid the judging panel. In addition to describing the candidate as they are right now, you can discuss the development the person has undergone (for specific examples see Table 2 ).
A letter of recommendation can also explain weaknesses or ambiguities in the candidate’s record. If appropriate – and only after consulting the candidate - you may wish to mention a family illness, financial hardship, or other factors that may have resulted in a setback or specific portion of the candidate’s application perceived weakness (such as in the candidate’s transcript). For example, sometimes there are acceptable circumstances for a gap in a candidate’s publication record—perhaps a medical condition or a family situation kept them out of the lab for a period of time. Importantly, being upfront about why there is a perceived gap or blemish in the application package can strengthen the application. Put a positive spin on the perceived negatives using terms such as “has taken steps to address gaps in knowledge”, “has worked hard to,” and “made great progress in” (see Table 2 ).
Describe a candidate’s intellectual capabilities in terms that reflect their distinctive or individual strengths and be prepared to support your judgment with field-specific content [ 12 ] and concrete examples. These can significantly strengthen a letter and will demonstrate a strong relationship between you and the candidate. Describe what the candidate’s strengths are, moments they have overcome adversity, what is important to them. For example: “candidate x is exceptionally intelligent. They proved to be a very quick study, learning the elements of research design and technique y in record time. Furthermore, their questions are always thoughtful and penetrating.”. Mention the candidate’s diligence, work ethic, and curiosity and do not merely state that “the applicant is strong” without specific examples. Describing improvements to candidate skills over time can help highlight their work ethic, resolve, and achievements over time. However, do not belabor a potential lower starting point.
Provide specific examples for when leadership was demonstrated, but do not include leadership qualities if they have not been demonstrated. For example, describe the candidate’s qualities such as independence, critical thinking, creativity, resilience, ability to design and interpret experiments; ability to identify the next steps and generate interesting questions or ideas, and what you were especially impressed by. Do not generically list the applicant as independent with no support or if this statement would be untrue.
Do not qualify candidate qualities based on a stereotype for specific identities. Quantify the candidate’s abilities, especially with respect to other scientists who have achieved success in the field and who the letter reader might know. Many letter writers rank applicants according to their own measure of what makes a good researcher, graduate trainee, or technician according to a combination of research strengths, leadership skills, writing ability, oral communication, teaching ability, and collegiality. Describe what the role of the candidate was in their project and eventual publication and do not assume letter readers will identify this information on their own (see Table 2 ). Including a description about roles and responsibilities can help to quantify a candidate’s contribution to the listed work. For example, “The candidate is the first author of the paper, designed, and led the project.”. Even the best mentor can overlook important points, especially since mentors typically have multiple mentees under their supervision. Thus, it can help to ask the candidate what they consider their strengths or traits, and accomplishments of which they are proud.
If you lack sufficient information to answer certain questions about the candidate, it is best to maintain the integrity and credibility of your letter - as the recommending person, you are potentially writing to a colleague and/or someone who will be impacted by your letter; therefore, honesty is key above all. Avoid the misconception that the more superlatives you use, the stronger the letter. Heavy use of generic phrases or clichés is unhelpful. Your letter can only be effective if it contains substantive information about the specific candidate and their qualifications for the opportunity. A recommendation that paints an unrealistic picture of a candidate may be discounted. All information in a letter of recommendation should be, to the best of your knowledge, accurate. Therefore, present the person truthfully but positively. Write strongly and specifically about someone who is truly excellent (explicitly describe how and why they are special). Write a balanced letter without overhyping the candidate as it will not help them.
Beware of what you leave out of the recommendation letter. For most opportunities, there are expectations of what should be included in a letter, and therefore what is not said can be just as important as what is said. Importantly, do not assume all the same information is necessary for every opportunity. In general, you should include the information stated above, covering how you know the candidate, their strengths, specific examples to support your statements, and how the candidate fits well for the opportunity. For example, if you don’t mention a candidate’s leadership skills or their ability to work well with others, the letter reader may wonder why, if the opportunity requires these skills. Always remember that opportunities are sought by many individuals, so evaluators may look for any reason to disregard an application, such as a letter not following instructions or discussing the appropriate material. Also promote the candidate by discussing all of their scholarly and non-scholarly efforts, including non-peer reviewed research outputs such as preprints, academic and non-academic service, and advocacy work which are among their broader impact and all indicative of valuable leadership qualities for both academic and non-academic environments ( Table 2 ).
Provide an even-handed judgment of scholarly impact, be fair and describe accomplishments fairly by writing a balanced letter about the candidate’s attributes that is thoughtful and personal (see Table 2 ). Submitting a generic, hastily written recommendation letter is not helpful and can backfire for both the candidate and the letter writer as you will often leave out important information for the specific opportunity; thus, allow for sufficient time and effort on each candidate/application.
Making the letter memorable by adding content that the reader will remember, such as an unusual anecdote, or use of a unique term to describe the candidate. This will help the application stand out from all the others. Tailor the letter to the candidate, including as much unique, relevant information as possible and avoid including personal information unless the candidate gives consent. Provide meaningful examples of achievements and provide stories or anecdotes that illustrate the candidate’s strengths. Say what the candidate specifically did to give you that impression ( Box 1 ). Don’t merely praise the candidate using generalities such as “candidate x is a quick learner”.
Gender affects scientific careers. Avoid providing information that is irrelevant to the opportunity, such as ethnicity, age, hobbies, or marital status. Write about professional attributes that pertain to the application. However, there are qualities that might be important to the job or funding opportunity. For instance, personal information may illustrate the ability to persevere and overcome adversity - qualities that are helpful in academia and other career paths. It is critical to pay attention to biases and choices of words while writing the letter [ 13 , 14 ]. Advocacy bias (a letter writer is more likely to write a strong letter for someone similar to themselves) has been identified as an issue in academic environments [ 3 ]. Studies have also shown that there are often differences in the choice of words used in letters for male and female scientists [ 3 , 5 ]. For instance, letters for women have been found not to contain much specific and descriptive language. Descriptions often pay greater attention to the personal lives or personal characteristics of women than men, focusing on items that have little relevance in a letter of recommendation. When writing recommendation letters, employers have a tendency to focus on scholarly capabilities in male candidates and personality features in female candidates; for instance, female candidates tend to be depicted in letters as teachers and trainees, whereas male candidates are described as researchers and professionals [ 15 ]. Also, letters towards males often contain more standout words such as “superb”, “outstanding”, and “excellent”. Furthermore, letters for women had been found to contain more doubt-raising statements, including negative or unexplained comments [ 3 , 15 , 16 ]. This is discriminative towards women and gives a less clear picture of women as professionals. Keep the letter gender neutral. Do not write statements such as “candidate x is a kind woman” or “candidate y is a fantastic female scientist” as these have no bearing on whether someone will do well in graduate school or in a job. One way to reduce gender bias is by checking your reference letter with a gender bias calculator [ 17 , 18 ]. Test for gender biases by writing a letter of recommendation for any candidate, male or female, and then switch all the pronouns to the opposite gender. Read the letter over and ask yourself if it sounds odd. If it does, you should probably change the terms used [ 17 ]. Other biases also exist, and so while gender bias has been the most heavily investigated, bias based on other identities (race, nationality, ethnicity, among others) should also be examined and assessed in advance and during letter writing to ensure accurate and appropriate recommendations for all.
The recommendation letter should be written using language that is straightforward and concise [ 19 ]. Avoid using jargon or language that is too general or effusive ( Table 1 ). Formats and styles of single and co-signed letters are also important considerations. In some applications, the format is determined by the application portal itself in which the recommender is asked to answer a series of questions. If these questions do not cover everything you would like to address you could inquire if there is the option to provide a letter as well. Conversely, if the recommendation questionnaire asks for information that you cannot provide, it is best to explicitly mention this in writing. The care with which you write the letter will also influence the effectiveness of the letter - writing eloquently is another way of registering your support for the candidate. Letters longer than two pages can be counterproductive, and off-putting as reviewers normally have a large quantity of letters to read. In special cases, longer letters may be more favourable depending on the opportunity. On the other hand, anything shorter than a page may imply a lack of interest or knowledge, or a negative impression on the candidate. In letter format, write at least 3-4 paragraphs. It is important to note that letters from different sectors, such as academia versus industry tend to be of different lengths. Ensure that your letter is received by the requested method (mail or e-mail) and deadline, as a late submission could be detrimental for the candidate. Write and sign the letter on your department letterhead which is a further form of identification.
Recommendation letters can serve as important tools for assessing ECRs as potential candidates for a job, course, or funding opportunity. Candidates need to request letters in advance and provide relevant information for the recommender. Readers at selection committees need to examine the letter objectively with an eye for information on the quality of the candidate’s scholarly and non-scholarly endeavours and scientific traits. As a referee, it is important that you are positive, candid, yet helpful, as you work with the candidate in drafting a letter in their support. In writing a recommendation letter, summarize your thoughts on the candidate and emphasize your strong support for their candidacy. A successful letter communicates the writer’s enthusiasm for an individual, but does so realistically, sympathetically, and with concrete examples to support the writer’s associations. Writing recommendation letters can help mentors examine their interactions with their mentee and know them in different light. Express your willingness to help further by concluding the letter with an offer to be contacted should the reader need more information. Remember that a letter writer’s judgment and credibility are at stake thus do spend the time and effort to present yourself as a recommender in the best light and help ECRs in their career path.
S.J.H. was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant R35GM133732. A.P.S. was partially supported by the NARSAD Young Investigator Grant 27705.
ECR | Early-Career Researcher |
CV | Curriculum Vitae |
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Scientific literature has items called letters, communications and journal papers. They all seem quite similar in terms of format and content. What are the differences between them?
In physics, each category has a different length limit. Often "paper" has no limit. Typically the shorter the length limit, the more prestigious it is and the tougher the acceptance criteria. The subject matter covered by the journal is the same for all categories. Some journals also have a "review" category which includes papers which are not original research. Often a review is by invitation only.
This will depend wildly on the field and journal in question. In my experience, the main differentiators are the allowable length and the amount of peer review. For example, in my field (Epidemiology):
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Last Updated: July 6, 2023 Fact Checked
This article was reviewed by Gerald Posner and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 57,737 times.
Particularly when writing a research paper or report in history or the social sciences, you may want to use a letter someone wrote as a reference. Generally, a letter you received will be cited differently than a letter by a famous or historically significant person that is kept in a collection of papers for researchers to access. The format of your citation will also vary depending on whether you're using the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or Chicago style.
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What is this handout about.
The long list of application materials required for many academic teaching jobs can be daunting. This handout will help you tackle one of the most important components: the cover letter or letter of interest. Here you will learn about writing and revising cover letters for academic teaching jobs in the United States of America.
An academic cover letter describes your experiences and interest as a candidate for a specific position. It introduces you to the hiring committee and demonstrates how your academic background fits with the description of the position.
At their most basic level, academic cover letters accomplish three things: one, they express your interest in the job; two, they provide a brief synopsis of your research and teaching; and three, they summarize your past experiences and achievements to illustrate your competence for the job. For early-career scholars, cover letters are typically no more than two pages (up to four pages for senior scholars). Occasionally, a third page may make sense for an early-career scholar if the application does not require a separate teaching statement and/or research statement. Digital versions of cover letters often contain hyperlinks to your CV or portfolio page. For some fields, cover letters may also include examples of your work, including music, popular articles, and other multimedia related to your research, service, or teaching available online. Typically, letters appear on departmental or university letterhead and include your signature. Above all, a strong cover letter presents your accomplishments and your familiarity with the institution and with the position.
Like all writing, composing a cover letter is a process. The process may be as short as a few hours or as long as several weeks, but at the end the letter should present you as a strong candidate for the job. The following section has tips and questions for thinking through each stage of this writing process. You don’t need to answer all of these questions to write the letter; they are meant to help you brainstorm ideas.
Before you begin writing your cover letter, consider researching the institution, the department, and the student population. Incorporating all three aspects in your letter will help convey your interest in the position.
Get to know the institution. When crafting your cover letter, be aware of the type of institution to which you are applying. Knowing how the institution presents itself can help you tailor your letter and make it more specific.
Learn about the department. Knowing the specific culture and needs of the department can help you reach your audience: the department members who will be reading your documents and vetting you as a candidate.
Consider the students. The search committee will often consider how you approach instructing and mentoring the student body. Sometimes committees will even reserve a position for a student or solicit student feedback on a candidate:
Many answers to these questions can be found both in the job description and on the institution’s website. If possible, consider contacting someone you know at the institution to ask about the culture directly. You can also use the institution’s course catalog, recruitment materials, alumni magazine, and other materials to get answers to these questions. The key is to understand the sort of institution to which you are applying, its immediate needs, and its future trajectory.
Remember, there is a resource that can help you with all three aspects—people. Reach out to your advisor, committee members, faculty mentors, and other contacts for insight into the prospective department’s culture and faculty. They might even help you revise your letter based on their expertise. Think of your job search as an opportunity to cultivate these relationships.
After you have done some initial research, think about how your experiences have prepared you for the job and identify the ones that seem the most relevant. Consider your previous research, internships, graduate teaching, and summer experiences. Here are some topics and questions to get you started thinking about what you might include.
Research Experiences. Consider how your research has prepared you for an academic career. Since the letter is a relatively short document, select examples of your research that really highlight who you are as a scholar, the direction you see your work going, and how your scholarship will contribute to the institution’s research community.
Teaching Experience. Think about any teaching experience you may have. Perhaps you led recitations as a teaching assistant, taught your own course, or guest lectured. Pick a few experiences to discuss in your letter that demonstrate something about your teaching style or your interest in teaching.
Internships/Summer/Other Experiences. Brainstorm a list of any conferences, colloquiums, and workshops you have attended, as well as any ways you have served your department, university, or local community. This section will highlight how you participate in your university and scholarly community. Here are some examples of things you might discuss:
In answering these questions, create a list of the experiences that you think best reflect you as a scholar and teacher. In choosing which experiences to highlight, consider your audience and what they would find valuable or relevant. Taking the time to really think about your reader will help you present yourself as an applicant well-qualified for the position.
Remember that the job letter is an opportunity to introduce yourself and your accomplishments and to communicate why you would be a good fit for the position. Typically, search committees will want to know whether you are a capable job candidate, familiar with the institution, and a great future addition to the department’s faculty. As such, be aware of how the letter’s structure and content reflect your preparedness for the position.
The structure of your cover letter should reflect the typical standards for letter writing in the country in which the position is located (the list below reflects the standards for US letter writing). This usually includes a salutation, body, and closing, as well as proper contact information. If you are affiliated with a department, institution, or organization, the letter should be on letterhead.
Before you send in your letter, make sure you proofread and look for formatting mistakes. You’ll read more about proofreading and revising later in this handout!
The second most important aspect of your letter is its content. Since the letter is the first chance to provide an in-depth introduction, it should expand on who you are as a scholar and possible faculty member. Below are some elements to consider including when composing your letter.
Identify the position you are applying to and introduce yourself. Traditionally, the first sentence of a job letter includes the full name of the position and where you discovered the job posting. This is also the place to introduce yourself and describe why you are applying for this position. Since the goal of a job letter is to persuade the search committee to include you on the list of candidates for further review, you may want to include an initial claim as to why you are a strong candidate for the position. Some questions you might consider:
Describe your research experience and interests. For research-centered positions, such as positions at R1 or other types of research-centered universities, include information about your research experience and current work early in the letter. For many applicants, current work will be the dissertation project. If this is the case, some suggest calling your “dissertation research” your “current project” or “work,” as this may help you present yourself as an emerging scholar rather than a graduate student. Some questions about your research that you might consider:
Present your plans for future research. This section presents your research agenda and usually includes a description of your plans for future projects and research publications. Detailing your future research demonstrates to the search committee that you’ve thought about a research trajectory and can work independently. If you are applying to a teaching-intensive position, you may want to minimize this section and/or consider including a sentence or two on how this research connects to undergraduate and/or graduate research opportunities. Some questions to get you started:
Describe your teaching experience and highlight teaching strategies. This section allows you to describe your teaching philosophy and how you apply this philosophy in your classroom. Start by briefly addressing your teaching goals and values. Here, you can provide specific examples of your teaching methods by describing activities and projects you assign students. Try to link your teaching and research together. For example, if you research the rise of feminism in the 19th century, consider how you bring either the methodology or the content of your research into the classroom. For a teaching-centered institution, such as a small liberal arts college or community college, you may want to emphasize your teaching more than your research. If you do not have any teaching experience, you could describe a training, mentoring, or coaching situation that was similar to teaching and how you would apply what you learned in a classroom.
Talk about your service work. Service is often an important component of an academic job description. This can include things like serving on committees or funding panels, providing reviews, and doing community outreach. The cover letter gives you an opportunity to explain how you have involved yourself in university life outside the classroom. For instance, you could include descriptions of volunteer work, participation in initiatives, or your role in professional organizations. This section should demonstrate ways in which you have served your department, university, and/or scholarly community. Here are some additional examples you could discuss:
Present yourself as a future faculty member. This section demonstrates who you will be as a colleague. It gives you the opportunity to explain how you will collaborate with faculty members with similar interests; take part in departmental and/or institution wide initiatives or centers; and participate in departmental service. This shows your familiarity with the role of faculty outside the classroom and your ability to add to the departmental and/or institutional strengths or fill in any gaps.
Compose a strong closing. This short section should acknowledge that you have sent in all other application documents and include a brief thank you for the reader’s time and/or consideration. It should also state your willingness to forward additional materials and indicate what you would like to see as next steps (e.g., a statement that you look forward to speaking with the search committee). End with a professional closing such as “Sincerely” or “Kind Regards” followed by your full name.
If you are finding it difficult to write the different sections of your cover letter, consider composing the other academic job application documents (the research statement, teaching philosophy, and diversity statement) first and then summarizing them in your job letter.
Different kinds of letters may be required for different types of jobs. For example, some jobs may focus on research. In this case, emphasize your research experiences and current project/s. Other jobs may be more focused on teaching. In this case, highlight your teaching background and skills. Below are two models for how you could change your letter’s organization based on the job description and the institution. The models offer a guide for you to consider how changing the order of information and the amount of space dedicated to a particular topic changes the emphasis of the letter.
Date: Month Day, Year Search Committee Chair’s First and Last Name, Graduate Degree Dear Dr./Mr./Ms. Search Committee Chair’s last name and/or Search Committee Members: Paragraph 1 [3-5 Sentences]: Identify the position you are applying for. Introduce yourself to the committee and your research interests. Connect your interests to the department and describe what makes you interested in becoming part of this departmental community. Paragraph 2 [3-5 Sentences]: Briefly explain your research to date. Consider mentioning your research questions, methods, key findings, as well as where and when you published and/or presented this work. Paragraph 3 [4-5 Sentences]: Elaborate on your current research project. Consider mentioning your most prestigious funding awards for this project. Explain your key findings in more detail. Paragraph 4 [3-5 Sentences]: Introduce your future research plans and goals. Point out the intellectual merit and/or broader impacts of this future work. Paragraph 5 [3-5 Sentences]: Briefly discuss your teaching experience and strategies. Provide examples of teaching strategies or an anecdote highlighting your teaching effectiveness. You may also want to introduce your philosophy on diversity in an academic setting. Paragraph 6 [2-3 Sentences]: Make a connection between your work and the department to which you are applying. Include how you will participate in the intellectual life of the department both inside and outside the classroom. Provide concrete examples of how you will be a hard-working and collaborative colleague. Paragraph 7 [1-2 Sentences]: A thank you for the search committee’s time and consideration. Sincerely, Your Name |
Date: Month Day, Year Search Committee Chair’s First and Last Name, Graduate Degree Dear Dr./Mr./Ms. Search Committee Chair’s last name and/or Search Committee Members: Paragraph 1 [3-5 Sentences]: Identify the position you are applying for. Introduce yourself to the committee and your research interests. Connect your interests to the department and describe what makes you interested in becoming part of this departmental community. Paragraph 2 [3-5 Sentences]: Briefly discuss your teaching experience and pedagogical commitments. Provide examples of teaching strategies or an anecdote highlighting your teaching effectiveness. You may also want to introduce your philosophy on diversity in an academic setting. Paragraph 3 [3-4 Sentences]: Provide a discussion of how you involved yourself with students or the broader university community outside of the traditional classroom setting. Discuss how those interactions influenced your teaching. Paragraph 4 [2-3 Sentences]: Briefly explain your current research interests to date and how it relates to your teaching. State your research questions, methods, and key findings or arguments. Point out the intellectual merit and/or broader impacts of this future work. Paragraph 5 [3-5 Sentences]: Highlight when and where your research was published and/or presented this work or any forthcoming publications. Mention any prestigious funding or awards. Introduce your future research plans and goals. Paragraph 6 [2-3 Sentences]: Make a connection between your work and the department to which you are applying. Include how you will participate in the intellectual life of the department both inside and outside the classroom. Provide concrete examples of how you will be a hard-working and collaborative colleague. Paragraph 7 [1-2 Sentences]: A thank you for the search committee’s time and consideration. Sincerely, Your Name |
Remember your first draft does not have to be your last. Try to get feedback from different readers, especially if it is one of your first applications. It is not uncommon to go through several stages of revisions. Check out the Writing Center’s handout on editing and proofreading and video on proofreading to help with this last stage of writing.
Using the word dissertation. Some search committee members may see the word “dissertation” as a red flag that an applicant is too focused on their role as a graduate student rather than as a prospective faculty member. It may be advantageous, then, to describe your dissertation as current research, a current research project, current work, or some other phrase that demonstrates you are aware that your dissertation is the beginning of a larger scholarly career.
Too much jargon. While you may be writing to a specific department, people on the search committee might be unfamiliar with the details of your subfield. In fact, many committees have at least one member from outside their department. Use terminology that can easily be understood by non-experts. If you want to use a specific term that is crucial to your research, then you should define it. Aim for clarity for your reader, which may mean simplification in lieu of complete precision.
Overselling yourself. While your job letter should sell you as a great candidate, saying so (e.g., “I’m the ideal candidate”) in your letter may come off to some search committee members as presumptuous. Remember that although you have an idea about the type of colleague a department is searching for, ultimately you do not know exactly what they want. Try to avoid phrases or sentences where you state you are the ideal or the only candidate right for the position.
Paying too much attention to the job description. Job descriptions are the result of a lot of debate and compromise. If you have skills or research interests outside the job description, consider including them in your letter. It may be that your extra research interests; your outside skills; and/or your extracurricular involvements make you an attractive candidate. For example, if you are a Latin Americanist who also happens to be well-versed in the Spanish Revolution, it could be worth mentioning the expanse of your research interests because a department might find you could fill in other gaps in the curriculum or add an additional or complementary perspective to the department.
Improper sendoff. The closing of your letter is just as important as the beginning. The end of the letter should reflect the professionalism of the document. There should be a thank-you and the word sincerely or a formal equivalent. Remember, it is the very last place in your letter where you present yourself as a capable future colleague.
Small oversights. Make sure to proofread your letter not just for grammar but also for content. For example, if you use material from another letter, make sure you do not include the names of another school, department, or unassociated faculty! Or, if the school is in Chicago, make sure you do not accidentally reference it as located in the Twin Cities.
Name dropping. You rarely know the internal politics of the department or institution to which you are applying. So be cautious about the names you insert in your cover letters. You do not want to unintentionally insert yourself into a departmental squabble or add fire to an interdepartmental conflict. Instead, focus on the actions you will undertake and the initiatives you are passionate about.
We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.
Ball, Cheryl E. 2013. “Understanding Cover Letters.” Inside Higher Ed , November 3, 2013. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2013/11/04/essay-cover-letter-academic-jobs .
Borchardt, John. 2014. “Writing a Winning Cover Letter.” Science Magazine , August 6, 2014. https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2014/08/writing-winning-cover-letter# .
Helmreich, William. 2013. “Your First Academic Job.” Inside Higher Ed , June 17, 2013. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2013/06/17/essay-how-land-first-academic-job .
Kelsky, Karen. 2013. “How To Write a Journal Article Submission Cover Letter.” The Professor Is In (blog), April 26, 2013. https://theprofessorisin.com/2013/04/26/how-to-write-a-journal-article-submission-cover-letter/ .
Tomaska, Lubomir, and Josef Nosek. 2008. “Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Cover Letter to Accompany a Job Application for an Academic Position.” PLoS Computational Biology 14(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006132 .
You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Whether you’re aiming to impress a potential employer, articulate a request, or lodge a formal complaint, knowing how to write an effective formal letter is key to ensuring your message is received with the attention it deserves. From the perfect opening to a polished conclusion , we’ll guide you through the essentials of crafting a letter that communicates your message effectively and professionally for any circumstance.
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A formal letter is a type of written communication that sticks to a set structure and tone . It includes specific elements like the sender’s and recipient’s addresses, a formal greeting , and a closing statement. Formal letters are often used for job applications, official complaints, or business inquiries.
While these letters follow a strict formal letter structure, have a clear objective, and maintain a professional tone, informal letters can be conversational and personal. They can be written to friends, family, or acquaintances and include personal news, congratulations , invitations, or any other personal topics.
There are many types of formal letters. Some formal letter examples include:
When you think of a formal letter, you probably imagine a handwritten or typed document that gets written, signed, stamped, and then sent through the mail. But formal letters can also be delivered through email , depending on how urgent the situation is and the preferences of the receiver and the sender.
However you choose to send your formal letter, the intention should remain the same: to clearly and effectively communicate the topic at hand in a clear, professional manner.
Formal letters are sent in situations that require a professional approach or official communication. Here are examples of these instances:
Header (date/address/return address).
Date: When you write a formal letter, it’s crucial to include the date on which you wrote it. This information is essential for time-sensitive communication.
Address: Write the recipient’s full address, including their PO Box number or office suite.
Return address: Include your company’s full address. This makes it easy for the recipient to send a response.
In a formal letter, the standard salutation is “Dear” followed by the recipient’s title and last name. Begin your letter with “Dear [recipient’s name]” and add a comma after the name. When you cannot determine the recipient’s name, you may address the letter to their title.
The body paragraphs are the main text of the letter. In these paragraphs, the sender outlines the purpose of the letter. It includes these sections:
After the body section, close the letter with a simple, professional sign-off . Polite ways to end the letter include the following sign-offs:
The final component of a formal letter is your signature. Include your full name and job title if relevant, followed by your wet signature and printed name.
Writing a formal letter doesn’t need to feel daunting. There’s a simple six-step process you can stick to in order to keep things easy. Follow this tried-and-true method to efficiently and effectively structure formal correspondence:
1 Plan Your Message: Before you begin writing, take a moment to clarify your purpose. What are you hoping to achieve with this letter? Who is your audience ? Understanding these aspects will guide your tone and content.
2 Start With a Proper Format: Formal letters have a specific layout that includes the sender’s address, date, recipient’s address, salutation , body, close, and signature. Align your text to the left and use a professional font like Times New Roman or Arial. Make sure your writing is single-spaced, with a blank line between paragraphs. There should be a two-inch margin at the top and bottom of the document and a one-inch margin on both sides.
3 Craft a Clear Opening: Your first paragraph should immediately inform the recipient of the letter’s purpose. Keep it concise and to the point; there’s no need for lengthy introductions.
4 Develop the Body: In the body, detail your request, question, or the information you’re conveying. Use separate paragraphs for each main point to keep your letter organized and easy to read. Support your statements with facts or specific examples where necessary.
5 Conclude Effectively: Summarize your letter’s main points and clearly state any action you expect from the recipient, such as a reply by a certain date or a meeting request. Finish with a polite closing, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards,” followed by your signature and printed name.
6 Review: Before you send out your letter, take the time to proofread it. A formal letter isn’t just formatted correctly—its grammar, punctuation, and spelling should also be mistake-free. Run a grammar check , and consider your tone to ensure that you sound professional.
Grammarly’s formal letter generator can help you write a formal letter in a few clicks. Just enter a few key details and Grammarly will generate a draft that you can further tailor to your needs.
When adhering to the formal letter format, it’s essential to avoid common mistakes that can undermine your professionalism, including:
Avoiding these mistakes will help ensure that your formal letters are both professional and effective, increasing the likelihood of achieving your desired outcome.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your email address]
[Your phone number]
[Recipient’s Name]
[Recipient’s Title and Position if applicable]
[Recipient’s Company if applicable]
[Recipient’s Address]
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
[Opening paragraph: Introduce yourself and state the purpose of your letter. Provide any relevant background information or necessary context.]
[Body paragraphs: Use topic sentences to introduce the main ideas of your letter. Elaborate on additional details relevant to your purpose for writing.]
[Closing paragraph: Summarize the key points, express appreciation or interest, and directly state any desired follow-up actions.]
[Your Printed Name]
[Your Typed Signature]
John Smith Sales Manager AcmeCo 123 Business Rd. Business City, CA 12345 555-555-4567 [email protected] March 11, 2024
Samantha Green Procurement Officer InnovateTech Solutions 456 Industry St. Market Town, MT 67890
Dear Ms. Green,
I hope this letter finds you well. My name is John Smith, and I am the Sales Manager at AcmeCo, a leading provider of innovative solutions designed to enhance operational efficiency and drive business growth. At AcmeCo, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality products and services tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients.
I am reaching out to introduce you to our latest product offering, the AcmeCo Efficiency Booster. This solution has been specifically developed to address common challenges faced by tech businesses. It offers a range of features designed to optimize workflows, reduce operational costs, and improve overall productivity.
Many of our clients have already seen significant benefits from implementing the AcmeCo Efficiency Booster, reporting an average increase in productivity of 25% within the first three months of use. We believe that InnovateTech Solutions could experience similar, if not greater, improvements by integrating our solution into your operations.
We are confident in the value that the AcmeCo Efficiency Booster can bring to your organization and would be delighted to provide you with a comprehensive demonstration at your convenience. Additionally, we are offering an exclusive introductory discount to new clients interested in exploring the potential of our product.
Please feel free to contact me directly at 555-555-4567 or via email at [email protected] to schedule a demonstration or to discuss how AcmeCo can contribute to the success of InnovateTech Solutions. We are looking forward to the opportunity to partner with you and support your company’s growth objectives.
Thank you for considering AcmeCo as your partner in achieving operational excellence. We are excited about the prospect of working together and are committed to providing you with the best possible service and support.
John Smith Sales Manager AcmeCo
Enclosures: Product Brochure, Customer Testimonials
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If you are using letterhead, do not include the sender's address at the top of the letter; instead, begin with the date.
123 Winner's Road New Employee Town, PA 12345
March 16, 2001
Ernie English 1234 Writing Lab Lane Write City, IN 12345
Dear Mr. English:
The first paragraph of a typical business letter is used to state the main point of the letter. Begin with a friendly opening, then quickly transition into the purpose of your letter. Use a couple of sentences to explain the purpose, but do not go in to detail until the next paragraph.
Beginning with the second paragraph, state the supporting details to justify your purpose. These may take the form of background information, statistics or first-hand accounts. A few short paragraphs within the body of the letter should be enough to support your reasoning.
Finally, in the closing paragraph, briefly restate your purpose and why it is important. If the purpose of your letter is employment related, consider ending your letter with your contact information. However, if the purpose is informational, think about closing with gratitude for the reader's time.
Lucy Letter
(Tab to center, begin typing) 123 Winner's Road New Employee Town, PA 12345
(Tab to center, begin typing) Sincerely,
(Tab to center, begin typing) Lucy Letter
(Indent) The first paragraph of a typical business letter is used to state the main point of the letter. Begin with a friendly opening, then quickly transition into the purpose of your letter. Use a couple of sentences to explain the purpose, but do not go in to detail until the next paragraph.
(Indent) Beginning with the second paragraph, state the supporting details to justify your purpose. These may take the form of background information, statistics or first-hand accounts. A few short paragraphs within the body of the letter should be enough to support your reasoning.
(Indent) Finally, in the closing paragraph, briefly restate your purpose and why it is important. If the purpose of your letter is employment related, consider ending your letter with your contact information. However, if the purpose is informational, think about closing with gratitude for the reader's time.
Your researcher cover letter must showcase your academic excellence and research skills. Highlight your publications or any relevant projects that demonstrate expertise in your field. Connect your past experiences with the potential role, indicating how they make you an ideal candidate. It's crucial to convey your passion for the subject and how you can contribute valuable insights to the team.
Cover letter guide.
Researcher Cover Letter Sample
Cover Letter Format
Cover Letter Salutation
Cover Letter Introduction
Cover Letter Body
Cover Letter Closing
No Experience Researcher Cover Letter
Key Takeaways
Embarking on the job hunt, you’ve likely discovered the need to complement your resume with a researcher cover letter—a daunting task for many. Surpassing the routine checklist of your resume, your cover letter should weave a compelling narrative around your proudest professional milestone. It must strike the delicate balance between formal tone and original expression, avoiding overused phrases that dull your accomplishments. Keep it concise; this powerful one-pager is your chance to captivate and convince.
Use the power of Enhancv's AI: drag and drop your researcher resume, which will swiftly be converted into your job-winning cover letter.
If the researcher isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
Samuel Moore
Columbus, Ohio
+1-(234)-555-1234
When writing your researcher cover letter, keep in mind that it'll only be read by the recruiters and not the Applicant Tracker System (or software used to assess your profile). That's why you should structure your content with a/an:
Industry standards dictate your paragraphs to be single-spaced and to wrap your content in a one-inch margin. Designing your researcher cover letter, refer to one of our templates , which automatically takes care of the spacing and margins.
Choose the same font for your researcher cover letter as you did for your resume : the likes of Lato and Bitter would help you to stand out in a sea of cover letters in Arial or Times New Roman.
Export your whole researcher cover letter from our builder in PDF to keep the same formatting and image quality.
Proven track record in conducting independent research and publishing in peer-reviewed journals: It demonstrates the ability to contribute to the scientific community with original findings.
Expertise in specialized techniques or methodologies unique to the field: This shows the candidate possesses the technical skills necessary to perform and contribute to cutting-edge research.
Successful grant writing experience: Securing funding is critical for research; this skill indicates the candidate can attract the necessary resources to support their work.
Prior involvement in collaborative projects with multidisciplinary teams: Research increasingly requires collaboration across various disciplines, so the ability to work with diverse teams is highly valued.
Evidence of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities: Researchers must be able to tackle complex problems, analyze data, and draw meaningful conclusions that propel the field forward.
Strong communication skills, both written and oral: The ability to effectively communicate research findings to a wide range of audiences, including non-specialists, is essential for disseminating knowledge and advancing one's career in academia or industry.
Have you ever considered just how powerful a personalized salutation can be?
We sure have news for you! Your researcher cover letter should start with the right salutation to recruiters, nurturing a sense of respect and individuality.
Greet recruiters by using their first name (e.g. "Dear Tom" or "Dear Patricia") if you've previously established contact with them.
Otherwise, opt out for the less familiar, "Dear Ms. Peaches" or "Dear Ms Kelsey", if you've found the recruiter's name on LinkedIn or a corporate website.
"To whom it may concern" is never a good option, as it creates a sense that you've been sending out your researcher cover letter to anyone. Instead, use "Dear HR team" or "Dear (company name) recruiter" for a feeling of exclusivity.
We know just how difficult it is to start writing your researcher cover letter introduction .
There are so many great qualities you have as a professional, which one should you choose?
How about writing up to two sentences about your passion and commitment to the work you do or are set to do?
Try to describe exactly what you enjoy about the potential role.
A positive attitude from the get-go will help you stand out as a motivated researcher professional.
Now that you have the recruiters' attention, it's time to write the chunkiest bit of your researcher cover letter .
The body consists of three to six paragraphs that focus on one of your achievements.
Use your past success to tell a story of how you obtained your most job-crucial skills and know-how (make sure to back these up with tangible metrics).
Another excellent idea for your researcher cover letter's middle paragraphs is to shine a light on your unique professional value.
Write consistently and make sure to present information that is relevant to the role.
So far, you've done a fantastic job in tailoring your researcher cover letter for the role and recruiter.
Your final opportunity to make a good impression is your closing paragraph.
And, no, a "Sincerely yours" just won't do, as it sounds too vague and impersonal.
End your researcher cover letter with the future in mind.
So, if you get this opportunity, what do you plan to achieve? Be as specific, as possible, of what value you'd bring to the organization.
You could also thank recruiters for their interest in your profile and prompt for follow-up actions (and organizing your first interview).
If you're worried about writing your Researcher cover letter and have no professional experience , we sure have some advice for you.
Turn recruiters' attention to your transferable or relevant skills gained thanks to your life and work experience.
Instead of writing about past jobs, focus on one achievement (whether from your volunteering experience, education, etc.) and the skills it has helped you build.
Alternatively, you could focus your Researcher cover letter on your career objectives and goals. Always remember to make those relevant to the job you're applying for by detailing how you see yourself growing as part of the company.
Recruiters would be way more impressed with candidates who fit the job profile and can bring about plenty of skills and vision to the table.
Summarizing the most important aspects in writing your researcher cover letter, remember to:
Explore additional researcher cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
Enhancv harnesses the capabilities of ChatGPT to provide a streamlined interface designed specifically focused on composing a compelling cover letter without the hassle of thinking about formatting and wording.
How to write a cover letter for a job with no experience in that field, how to write a great linkedin connection message [with examples], how to answer the "how did you hear about this job" interview question, how to decide whether to use the reverse chronological resume, how to include study abroad on a resume.
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Your head is already bursting with knowledge, but you love nothing more than doing your research and gathering new information.
Well, it’s time to put those research skills to use to find out more about the company and what the employer expects from your application.
In our guide below, we’ll show you what to include in your cover letter and how to use your research to your advantage. Check out our top tips and researcher cover letter examples below.
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The example cover letters here should give you a good general idea on how your Researcher cover letter should be formatted and written.
The rest of this guide gives more specific guidance on how to create your own cover letter in this format, and even includes some templates you can copy and paste.
Here’s how you can write your own eye-catching cover letter, broken down into simple steps.
When you send a cover letter with a job application, you should always write your message into the body of your email – or the body of the messaging system if you are sending via a job website.
Why do this?
Simply because you want to get your message seen as soon as the recruiter opens your application.
If you attach the cover letter as a separate item, this means the recipient will have to open it before they can read it – slowing down the process and potentially causing frustration along the way.
So, write your cover note in the body of your email/message to ensure you make an instant connection with the reader.
Start you cover letter with a greeting that is professional but friendly.
This will build rapport with the recruiter whilst showing your professionalism.
Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very traditional companies.
Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.
Once you’ve opened up the cover letter with a warm greeting to start building a relationship, it is time to identify which role you want to apply for.
Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so you need to ensure you apply to the correct one.
Be very specific and use a reference number if you can find one.
See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles
The bulk of your cover letter should be focused around highlighting your suitability for the job you are applying to.
Doing this will show the recruiter that you are suitable candidate and encourage them to open your CV.
The best way to do this, is by studying the job advert you are applying to, and find out what the most important skills and knowledge are.
Once you know the most important requirements, you then need to highlight your matching skills to the recruiter. In a few sentences, tell them exactly why you are a good fit for the job and what you can offer the company.
When sending a job application to a recruiter or hiring manager, it is important to remember that they will normally be very busy and pushed for time.
Therefore, you need to get you message across to them quickly (in a matter of seconds ideally). So, keep your cover letter short and to-the-point. A long waffling cover letter will overwhelm recruiters when they are running through hundreds of emails in there inbox, but a concise one will get their attention.
So, keep your cover letter to just a few sentences long, and save the extensive detail for your CV.
To finish off your cover note, add a professional signature to the bottom, stating your important contact details and information.
This not only provides recruiters with multiple means of contacting you, but it also adds a nice professional appearance to the cover letter, which shows that you know how to conduct yourself in the workplace.
Include the following points;
Here is an example signature;
Warm regards,
Aaron Smith Customer service professional 075557437373 [email protected] LinkedIn
Quick tip : To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate document that you could copy in.
Your Researcher cover letter will be unique to your situation, but there are certain content guidelines you should stick to for best results.
To attract and entice recruiters, stick with the following key subjects in your cover letter – adapting them to fit your profession and target jobs.
Copy and paste these Researcher cover letter templates to get a head start on your own.
Good morning, Layla
Attached you will find my CV in application for the Graduate Researcher position at Aspire Ltd, as advertised on Glassdoor. With a BSc in Mathematics and a passion for pushing the boundaries of knowledge, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team’s research endeavours.
During my studies at the University of London, I developed a passion for computational sciences and statistical techniques. My coursework in equipped me with strong analytical and critical thinking skills, which I am eager to apply to real-world research projects.
I completed an 8-month internship at Crown Continental Limited, where I helped improve data processing efficiency by 35% through collaborating with team members in developing a custom software tool for automating complex mathematical simulations. In addition, I was pivotal in finalising five major projects one week ahead of schedule on average.
I am excited about the opportunity to apply my skills to towards exploring new avenues of inquiry. Feel free to reach out to me via email or phone, as I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience.
Kind regards
James Doyle
Good day Shaun
I am writing to apply for the Researcher position at Revealing Reality. With 8 years of experience in designing/conducting impactful social studies, I am excited about contributing my insights to your team.
Throughout my career working for the UK Innovation Group, I have focused on qualitative research, survey creation and data analysis to investigate the interactions between individuals, and characteristics, structures, and functions of diverse populations/institutions, such as families, communities, schools, workplaces, as well as physical, economic, cultural, and policy environments.
My contributions to numerous large-scale projects enabled me to secure £4M and £2M respectively for studies that uncovered significant findings concerning adequate standards of living and rights to food. Furthermore, I collaborated with colleagues in enhancing participant satisfaction by 10%+ through offering incentives and holding their interest for the duration of various studies.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me to discuss how my qualifications and competencies make me the idea candidate for the role. I am flexible with my schedule and can accommodate an interview at a time that works best for you.
Alexander Perry
I am pleased to reach out to you concerning the Senior Pharmaceutical Researcher position at Astra Zeneca. With extensive experience in designing, leading, and executing poignant drug development studies, I am confident in my ability to contribute actionable insights and innovation to your team.
Throughout my 18-year career working for Apollo Therapeutics, I have helped spearhead 2K+ diverse project initiatives, ranging from treatment creation, formulation optimisation, and clinical trials, where my supervision efforts resulted in the launch of numerous novel pharmaceutical products that led to the company gaining £150B in profits. Additionally, I guided manufacturing optimisation activities which increased production efficiency by 20%+ and lowered overall costs by 10%.
As a consummate professional, I also guarantee the successful processing of patent applications, regulatory approvals, while helping with the publication of papers in reputable journals.
Enclosed is my CV that outlines by comprehensive scientific qualifications, skills, and other achievements. Please let me know your preferred date and time for an interview, and I will ensure to be there promptly.
Writing a strong attention-grabbing cover letter is a vital step in landing a good Researcher job.
Use the tips, strategies and examples above to get more responses from you job applications and start lining job interview up.
Good luck with your job search!
Letters (Correspondence)
Aleid/Adelaide of Holland
This is a letter from "Epistolæ: Medieval Women's Letters". Epistolæ is a collection of medieval Latin letters to and from women. The letters collected date from the 4th to the 13th centuries, and they are presented in their original Latin as well as in English translation. Dr. Joan Ferrante, Professor Emerita of English and Comparative Literature of Columbia University, has, with her colleagues, collected and translated these letters mainly from printed sources. She worked with the Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning to develop this unique open online collection for teaching and research purposes.
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IMAGES
COMMENTS
ACS Energy Letters publishes papers primarily in a Letter format─brief reports (2,500-3,000 words and 3-5 figure panels) of original research. The Letter format is designed to highlight research findings that have particular urgency and impact; the findings will influence how researchers think about, work on, and interpret research topics and should be reported rapidly in peer-reviewed form.
Research Letter. Research Letters are concise, focused reports of original research. These should not exceed 600 words of text and 6 references and may include up to 2 tables or figures. Online supplementary material is only allowed for brief additional and absolutely necessary methods but not for any additional results or discussion.
Research Letters are similar to original and short paper types in that they report the original results of studies in a peer-reviewed, structured scientific communication. The Research Letter article type is optimal for presenting new, early, or sometimes preliminary research findings, including interesting observations from ongoing research ...
It is helpful to familiarise yourself with the different types of articles published by journals. Although it may appear there are a large number of types of articles published due to the wide variety of names they are published under, most articles published are one of the following types; Original Research, Review Articles, Short reports or Letters, Case Studies, Methodologies.
First, they can probably figure out your name. You don't need that to be in the first sentence (or any of the sentences—the closing is an obvious enough spot). Next, "the open position" and "your company" are too generic. That sounds like the same cover letter you sent to every single employer in a hundred mile radius.
therefore be brief. On your CV, we suggest including the information that this is a research letter. Title Page The title page should: • Present a title that includes, if appropriate, the study design e.g.: o "The effects of A on B in patients with Z: research letter", "Rates of M in patients with N: research letter"
Write. Within the opening paragraph, a salutation to the LTE is optional but may erode into the limited word count. Avoid starting with the antiquated 'Dear Sir', and if necessary, use 'Dear Editor'. Introduce the issues raised or the purpose of the LTE early on. Clearly mention the paper in question and provide a citation to the ...
o "The effects of A on B in Z: research letter", "X, a new mechanism for Q in R: research letter" o Because the scientific process is rarely unequivocal, we do not favor declarative titles (e.g. "A promotes B in Z: research letter"). However, if you feel your work is best served by a declarative title, you may use one and justify it in ...
Research Letters are similar to original and short paper types in that they report the original results of studies in a peer-reviewed, structured scientific communication. The Research Letter article type is optimal for presenting new, early, or sometimes preliminary research findings, including interesting observations from ongoing research ...
the characteristics of participants or description of materials. a clear description of all processes and methodologies employed. Generic names should generally be used. When proprietary brands are used in research, include the brand names in parentheses. the type of statistical analysis used, including a power calculation if appropriate.
Introduction. A letter of recommendation or a reference letter is a statement of support for a student or an early-career researcher (ECR; a non-tenured scientist who may be a research trainee, postdoctoral fellow, laboratory technician, or junior faculty colleague) who is a candidate for future employment, promotion, education, or funding opportunities.
Here are nine steps to help you compose a cover letter when submitting your research paper to a professional journal: 1. Set up the formatting. Set up your word processor to format your cover letter correctly. Formatting standards for research paper cover letters usually include: Using single spacing between each line.
Often "paper" has no limit. Typically the shorter the length limit, the more prestigious it is and the tougher the acceptance criteria. The subject matter covered by the journal is the same for all categories. Some journals also have a "review" category which includes papers which are not original research. Often a review is by invitation only.
2. Provide a title for the letter that lists the writer and recipient. After the author's name, type the name of the author again (in first name-last name format). Follow it with the word "to," then write the name of the recipient of the letter. Place a comma after this "title."
At their most basic level, academic cover letters accomplish three things: one, they express your interest in the job; two, they provide a brief synopsis of your research and teaching; and three, they summarize your past experiences and achievements to illustrate your competence for the job. For early-career scholars, cover letters are ...
In a formal letter, the standard salutation is "Dear" followed by the recipient's title and last name. Begin your letter with "Dear [recipient's name]" and add a comma after the name. When you cannot determine the recipient's name, you may address the letter to their title. Body. The body paragraphs are the main text of the letter.
COVER LETTER. Dear Hiring Manager, I recently came across the opening for the Research Coordinator role at your esteemed institution, and after thorough research into your organization's innovative approach to clinical trials, I felt compelled to submit my application. One of my key accomplishments was at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where I ...
123 Winner's Road. New Employee Town, PA 12345. March 16, 2001. Ernie English. 1234 Writing Lab Lane. Write City, IN 12345. Dear Mr. English: The first paragraph of a typical business letter is used to state the main point of the letter. Begin with a friendly opening, then quickly transition into the purpose of your letter.
Part 5: Drafting an entry-level research assistant cover letter Formatting your cover letter correctly. Your research assistant cover letter should be one page, single- or 1.5-spaced and contain 4-5 paragraphs. Each paragraph will have a specific purpose. Here's an outline showing the best format for research assistant cover letters.
Template 1: Requesting Permission from an Organization. Dear [Recipient's Name], I am writing to you as [Your Position/Title] of [Your Institution/Company Name], currently engaged in a study titled " [Title of Your Research]". Our research aims to [briefly describe the purpose and objectives of your research].
13 Professional Researcher Cover Letter Examples and Template for 2024 | Enhancv. Dear Hiring Manager, Having harmonized extensive research endeavors with the core values of organizations, I am eager to align my skills with Ithaka S+R's initiatives to foster academic growth and equity. In one of my key roles as Senior Research Analyst at The ...
Researcher cover letter example 3. CV templates. The example cover letters here should give you a good general idea on how your Researcher cover letter should be formatted and written. The rest of this guide gives more specific guidance on how to create your own cover letter in this format, and even includes some templates you can copy and paste.
This is a letter from "Epistolæ: Medieval Women's Letters". Epistolæ is a collection of medieval Latin letters to and from women. The letters collected date from the 4th to the 13th centuries, and they are presented in their original Latin as well as in English translation. Dr. Joan Ferrante, Professor Emerita of English and Comparative Literature of Columbia University, has, with her ...
A Letter to Research Students1. Duane A. Bailey Department of Computer Science Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267. [email protected] Research can be made more enjoyable and productive through a little organization. For many computer scientists, research techniques are a product of experience rather than, unfortunately ...
Ice, one of the most enigmatic materials on Earth, exhibits diverse polymorphism, with research mainly focusing on the most commonly observed phases: hexagonal ice (Ih), cubic ice (Ic), and stacking-disordered ice (Isd). While their formation or structural changes are crucial for advancements in cloud science, climate modeling, and cryogenic technology, the molecular mechanisms driving these ...