Cover Letter

It has been so hard to write a cover letter. So I actually went to the library and looked at some books...

So here are some notes I got from reading guides on how to write cover letter, an important functional writing exercise that any academic must go through at some point:

1. Short self-intro; your current position; your MFA/Ph.D.-granting institution, your general field, subfield, and area of specialization.
2. primary research project—what, where, and how, and which achievements arose from it,such as publications, conference papers, panels, and grants.
3. primary research project’s large contributions to the field and discipline as a whole—how it pushes boundaries, engages in dynamic new debates, and enlarges the discipline.
4. publication plans.
5. second project.
6. Your teaching, as it ties in with all of the above.
7. Your specific interest in the job and department to which you are applying, with specific programs, specializations, and people mentioned by name.
8. “I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you, [signature]”

• Think about how your interest in both the job and the organization developed—in order to stand out from the potentially long list of applicants, you will need to make a coherent argument for why it was a logical decision on your part to apply for the position, and why it would be a logical decision on their part to hire you. What kind of contribution will you make to their existing department? How will you fit in? Make sure you are writing for your target audience.
• No over sentimental weepy stuff. No unsubstantiated statements about passion and what not. And no fluffing anything up. Everything has to be totally true.
• Think of the CV as something you must aim to add to each month. Add a new line in each month. You have to build it up slowly.
• If your CV doesn't have it, it doesn't have it. THE CV IS NOT SPECULATIVE FICTION. If there are missing skills, then one has to get back to working until one has all the skills to do that dream job awesomely.

FINALLY:

• DON'T EXCEED 2 PAGES
• NO MUSHY OR EMOTIVE-WITHOUT-SUBSTANTIATION SENTENCES ALLOWED - certainly I do have a tendency to write in a personal tone so I must avoid this