Sample Cover Letters and Job Search Correspondence For the Graduate School of Education

From the University of Pennsylvania

Cover Letter Writing

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:
Introduce yourself and mention the position, the organization, how you learned about the opening, and your current status.

2nd Paragraph:
What your experience/education offers. Refer
the reader to your resume and highlight the special things in your
background that make you the right candidate for the position.

2nd or 3rd Paragraph:
Why you are interested in the position and
the organization, or, why you are a "good fit". It is appropriate to say
something about why you want a particular job and want to work for the
particular employer. *This is the piece that is most often missed and
can have the most impact.

Final Paragraph:
This is your chance to structure what you
hope the next steps will be. You can indicate interest in an interview,
and prepare the reader for the fact that you may follow up your letter
with a phone call to find out the status of your application. Basically,
you want to maintain as much control as possible.

Blind Cover Letter

123 East 99th Street

Upper Darby, PA, 19119

April 26, 2005

Ms. Jane Doe, Director

Office of International Programs

University of Texas

P.O. Box 112

Austin, TX 99999

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

(215) 898-4381

Enclosure



Cover Letter in Response to an Advertisement

781 44th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19112

(215) 898-4381

May 5, 2005

Dr. Irma Hireme

Director of Personnel

Chester County School District

343 Ivy Lane

Kennett Square, PA 19843

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

Thank You Letters and Acceptance Letters

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.

Thank You/Cover Letter After an Informational Interview

23 River Road

Philadelphia, PA 19111

(215) 898-4381

April 25, 2005

Mr. John Smith

Director of Student Activities

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, NJ 00544

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

Philadelphia, PA 19128

August 5, 2005

Dr. Jane Jones, Director of Languages

George Washington High School

Philadelphia, PA 19128

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

Thank You Letter if Not Interested

551 Germantown Pike

Plymouth Meeting, PA 19130

July 7, 2005

Mr. James Porter

Social Services Director

Family and Children Services

2600 Bethlehem Pike

Fort Washington, PA 19102

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

Acceptance Letter

788 Corrine Drive

Philadelphia, PA 19102

August 27, 2005

Ms. Joanna Koval

Senior Research Associate

Research for Better Schools

260 S. Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

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