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Written by Daniela McVicker
Applying for a job in academia or research institutions can be daunting. The recruitment process is rigorous, requiring some level of maturity in the way you apply for a job in the sector. An academic cover letter, for instance, needs to carry some weight. As you ponder upon applying for that new job, we have chosen to give you the secrets of crafting cover letters to win you a job at your dream academic institution below.
Assess the Position Numerously
The big question for you to answer within yourself is, “what do you know about the job?” Take your time to understand the position of application and the nature of that position wholly. Do not start the application process until you get a vivid picture of what the job involves.
The reason is that you need to tailor your application in a manner that appeals to the needs of the employer. Any job vacancy has job requirements. The first step is to ensure you understand those qualifications, even better list them somewhere. On a different page, jot down key competencies that align with those requirements. Ultimately connect your qualifications to what the position is about, justify them, and portray enough that you are adequately equipped for the position.
Study the Organisation
Your application is to a given academic institution. Organisations differ largely in multiple ways – from the structure to the demands they have in prospective employees. At this age, you will visit the Internet and get reviews of people that applied for jobs to the academic institution of your choice. Read the reviews carefully to know both about the organisation’s recruitment process and the organisation as a whole. Moreover, you need to understand the philosophy of the organisation because, as a candidate, you need to prove that your philosophy fits that of the organisation.
Mind Formatting and Style of Your Cover Letter
Different pieces of writing take different formats and styles. An academic letter will take a more formal direction in style and format. An excellent academic cover letter format, for instance, takes the format of a business letter. The length needs to be something over a page and a half to two pages. The idea is about providing all the required information in a minimalistic yet exhaustive manner. The font size needs to be readable, about 12 points. The same applies to your font type, Times New Roman and Calibri are perfect and bring out your letter ideally. The font colour needs to be black, which is common. Moreover, avoid the temptation of flamboyance in your writing. Bottom line, the letter needs to come out clean and
professional.
Seek a Third Opinion on Your Application
Once the cover letter is ready, it is now time to give your copy to a trusted individual to review it for you. Look for someone that will give you an honest opinion of how your application sounds. Even better seek the opinion of more than one person. Use their reviews to make your cover letter better by discarding errors and making up for any significant omissions.
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Seek the Help of a Good Writer
You may not have the time to make your application, and therefore you need someone that matches up to your application standards. Thanks to the Internet, a lot of top sites out there can chip in to help you with your cover letter writing and may set you on the path to that promising job interview.
Refer Employer to Your LinkedIn
Getting a job these days through the Internet is a common practice. An excellent online employee profile may be what you need to show that you are good at what you do. The best site is LinkedIn. If you do not have one, create one, build an impeccable Linkedin profile, do several academic pieces of research, and share your papers on the platform. A reference to your LinkedIn can make your prospective employee take you more seriously, given the effort you offer to your profession and personal brand.
Attach Only Required Credentials
The cover letter comes at the top of any application. Once you have stated your case correctly in your cover letter, the rest of the attachable files also need to maintain a good impression. The first thing is to make sure that you do not attach anything you were not supposed to attach. You do not want your prospective employee to perceive you as someone that defies simple application requirements.
There is a lot you need to do to get your academic cover letter right. The above should get you on the right path before you can start. Take your time, understand the position and organisation do a good cover letter and wait for that interview phone call or email. All the best!
About the author: Daniela McVicker is a blogger and content editor. She’s an experienced writer who specializes in a variety of topics writing for different academic writing services. These include hiring and recruiting, education, personal branding, and technology. Daniela also enjoys binge-watching funny shows on Netflix and creating art projects with her friends.ge 1 of 3