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Sample Cover Letters and Job Search Correspondance For the Graduate School of Education 
Contents (select)
A targeted and well-written cover letter is key to getting from the paper stage to the interview stage. Cover letters should always be sent to a specific person rather than a generic “Sir or Madam,” or “To Whom It May Concern.” It is well worth taking the extra step to find out the name of the specific contact person. Make sure you spell check and proof read carefully. Cover letters should be limited to one page and usually follow the following format: 1st Paragraph: 2nd Paragraph: 2nd or 3rd Paragraph: Final Paragraph: 123 East 99th Street April 26, 2005 Ms. Jane Doe, Director Dear Ms. Doe: I was interested to read the article in The Austin Times which addressed the growing international student population at your university. I am moving to Austin next month and am eager to continue my work with international students. I am writing to introduce myself as I would like to be considered for any positions that may be available in the Office of International Programs at the University of Texas. As indicated in my enclosed resume, I will graduate this May from the University of Pennsylvania with an M.S.Ed., with a specialization in Intercultural Communications. For the past year I have worked as a Resident Advisor at the International House in Philadelphia. I have been responsible for 40 international students who have recently moved to the United States. In this position, I provide individual counseling on personal, cultural and immigration issues, as well as organize professional, social and cultural programs. Combining interpersonal and organizational skills, I have been successful at assisting these students in making the transition to the United States. Additionally, last summer I assisted with International Student Orientation at the University of Pennsylvania. Both of these positions have enhanced my understanding of international student issues and concerns. My graduate course work has increased my knowledge of international cultures, customs and communication styles. These experiences have formed an excellent foundation on which to build my international student advising career and I would be most interested in continuing my career at the University of Texas. Thank you for taking the time to review my resume. I will call you the first week of May to see if we can arrange a mutually convenient time for a personal interview. I will be moving to Austin the end of May and would be delighted to meet with you shortly thereafter. I look forward to speaking with you soon. Sincerely yours, Beth Bradley Enclosure
781 44th Street May 5, 2005 Dr. Irma Hiremet Dear Dr. Hireme: I am writing to apply for the elementary teaching position which was advertised in Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania. In August I will graduate from the University of Pennsylvania with my Master of Science degree in Elementary Education. As suggested by your assistant, Pat Smith, I have enclosed my resume and a completed application form; letters of recommendation and transcripts are being forwarded from the respective university offices. As you will note in my enclosed resume, I have extensive teaching experience, both in and out of the classroom. Currently I am teaching kindergarten at Merion Elementary School which has a whole language philosophy. Last month I developed and implemented a four-week interdisciplinary thematic unit on Russia and a four-week literature study on poetry. With excellent evaluations from my cooperating teacher, I will assume full teaching responsibilities for two weeks at the end of this month. My teaching experience is not limited to the classroom as my roles extend to tutor, theater/music director and volunteer big sister. These experiences have not only enhanced my teaching ability, but have also confirmed my passion for the profession. I am eager to continue my career and would be delighted to join Chester County Public Schools. Your county-wide commitment to a whole language philosophy and your high level of parental and community involvement makes me extremely interested in your district. Please give my application careful consideration. Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Kayla J. Robinson Enclosures After every interview (whether for an actual position or for information only) a thank you letter must be sent. Even if you did not enjoy the interview (or the interviewer), and/or you are not interested in the position, it is important to thank the interviewer for the time they spent with you. You never know if, five years from now, that person will be in a position to hire you for a job you would really like. In addition to writing thank you letters, it is also standard practice to send a letter when you accept a position and when you've decided that you no longer wish to be considered (see samples on the following pages). None of the letters need to be long and elaborate - the vital thing is to write a well-written letter and to send it immediately after your interview. Content Address the letter to the person who initially invited you for the interview. If you saw more than one person, you can write to each of them, or refer to them in your letter to the primary interviewer. Mention the title of the position for which you interviewed. If you are interested in the position, express your enthusiasm and reiterate your desire for the job and your qualifications for it. You may want to add information or materials (such as reference letters) that enhance your candidacy. You may also refer to the discussion which occurred in the interview. Basically, you want to express thanks for the time the employer spent with you. You may also mention the date you expect to hear from them. If you are not interested, you can still express appreciation for being considered and for the courtesy extended to you. If you can imagine no circumstances under which you would accept the position, you should not continue with the process. Thus, if you've decided to withdraw yourself from the applicant pool, this would be a good time to put that in writing. Try to give a reason for your withdrawal that will leave you on good terms with the interviewer.
23 River Road April 25, 2005 Mr. John Smith Dear Mr. Smith: Thank you for meeting with me last week for an informational interview. I had not realized how diverse the responsibilities of a Director of Students Activities were. Specifically, I was intrigued to hear how much you are involved with faculty and non-student affairs offices on campus. This degree of involvement is certainly unique, and very exciting. Our discussion has confirmed my desire to continue my career in Student Activities. It would be my preference to work in an office as creative and outreach oriented as yours. As you know, I have been working in a university setting for three years and will complete my Master's degree in Higher Education Administration at the University of Pennsylvania in May, 1996. While in school I was extremely active in several student organizations through our Student Activities office. I am enclosing my resume for you to keep on file should a position become available in your office. If you would like to meet to discuss my qualifications more formally, I will be availableat your convenience. Thank you again for your time. I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Jennifer R. Gold Enclosure Thank You Letter if Interested 791 Henry Avenue August 5, 2005 Dr. Jane Jones, Director of Languages Dear Dr. Jones: I sincerely enjoyed meeting with you yesterday and learning more about the French Teacher position at George Washington High School. Our conversation confirmed my interest in becoming part of your teaching staff. It was particularly exciting to discover the possibility of developing interdisciplinary units with the History Department. As I mentioned, my focus in working with children is to demonstrate the connection between language and every day life. The challenge of starting a French club would certainly provide me with an outlet for this goal. I feel confident that my experience both in France and in the classroom would enable me to meet the challenges of the job effectively. Please extend my thanks to Dr. Smith of the History Department and to Mr. Johnson of the District Personnel Office for their efforts in making my visit so pleasant. I look forward to hearing from you by August 15, 2005. Sincerely, Susan Backhaus
551 Germantown Pike July 7, 2005 Mr. James Porter Dear Mr. Porter: I would like to thank you for interviewing me for the Counseling position at Family and Children Services. Unfortunately, I must withdraw my name from the list of applicants. As we discussed, at this point in my career I find it necessary to be pursuing a position with more supervisory potential. I hope that you will keep me in mind if such a position becomes available. Thank you for considering me for this position. Sincerely, David J. Cooper 788 Corrine Drive August 27, 2005 Ms. Joanna Koval Dear Ms. Koval: I am extremely excited to be joining Research for Better Schools as a Research Assistant. I feel confident that this will be a challenging and stimulating environment in which to continue my career. As per our discussion, I understand that the salary for this job is $30,000. Although the timing is not the best, I appreciate your understanding my need to take off the last week in September for my brother's wedding. I will begin work on September 10, 2005 and look forward to seeing you then. Sincerely yours, James T. Thurber |
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