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Covers standard business-letter etiquette, length limits, and how to address a specific reader. Emphasizes presenting the applicant as a colleague, avoiding submissive phrasing, and tailoring content using research, teaching, and service priorities. 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It also showcases writing ability.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What guidelines should be followed for formatting and length?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Use standard business letter etiquette and address the letter to a specific person. 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It briefly yet vividly demonstrates your qualifications and connects them to the requirements of the position. It also showcases your writing ability.  \nGeneral Guidelines:  \no Follow standard business letter etiquette. If you are affiliated with a university (i.e. a doctoral candidate), write your letter on university letterhead. If you are not using letterhead, include your name and mailing address in the top left corner of the letter.  \no Letters should never exceed two pages, or about 5-8 concise paragraphs. Some science and engineering sources suggest keeping your letter to one page of 3-4 paragraphs. There is no single “right way” to format your letter. The best approach is to talk to your advisor, consult a variety of sources in your field, and decide what seems best for your situation.  \no Always address your letter to a person. If it is not already provided, you may be able to find the name of the search committee chair by calling the institution’s main phone number.  \no This is critical: present yourself as a colleague, not a student. For example, do not refer to faculty as “professor so and so”—prefer full names instead (e.g.“Jane Doe”) .  \no Avoid phrases that include “privilege to,”“honor to,” etc. Don’t appear submissive.  \no Refer to and expand upon other job documents (e.g. CV and teaching statement) . Don’t simply re-iterate your CV in prose; instead, provide vivid details to highlight experiences listed there.  \no Be direct and brief, showing that you value the reader’s time:  \n􀀡 Use active voice: Instead of “My paper was about” say “I argued.”  \n􀀡 Avoid complex, overly long sentences and excessive jargon.  \n􀀡 Be concrete: Instead of “My teaching evaluations were positive” say “My students nominated me for the ‘Best Undergraduate Teaching Award’which I won in 2011.”  \n􀀡 Strive for a personal, warm and professional tone; they’re hiring a colleague after all.  \no Tailor your letter to the position for which you are applying, emphasizing different strengthsand experiences based on the advertised requirements. Research the institution to get a sense of what their needs and aims are and how you can help meet them.  \no Do not make the letter all about your own interests. Be clear and specific about how you will channel your expertise to help meet the department’s research and teaching needs.  \no Do not attempt to discuss every publication and conference presentation you’ve completed. Prioritize based on significance and relevance. You can include:  \n􀀡 A brief, accessible discussion of dissertation framework and methodology.  \n􀀡 A concise description of high-status peer-reviewed publications.  \n􀀡 Brief mentions of presentations at major national conferences in your field.  \n􀀡 Concrete examples of your teaching.  \no If applicable, identify yourself as a diversity hire. Show how your background is an asset to your work in terms of your research, teaching, and/or service.  \nAdditional Resources  \no The Professor Is In: [theprofessorisin.com](theprofessorisin.com)  \no The Purdue OWL: [owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/](owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/)  \no The Chronicle of Higher Education: [chronicle.com/](chronicle.com/)  \n[o](o University of Pennsylvania: www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/writtenmaterials/coverletters)[ University of Pennsylvania:](o University of Pennsylvania: www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/writtenmaterials/coverletters)[ ](o University of Pennsylvania: www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/writtenmaterials/coverletters)[www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/writtenmaterials/coverletters](o University of Pennsylvania: www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/writtenmaterials/coverletters)  \nACADEMIC COVER LETTER TEMPLATE  \nFOR RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS  ","cbCaihMd1gvCoal9","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaihMd1gvCoal9","pdf",116791,"English","# Purpose\n## General Guidelines\n## Additional Resources\n# Academic Cover Letter Template\n## Research in Institutions","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of an academic cover letter?\",\"answer\":\"It serves as the first opportunity to persuade a hiring committee, demonstrating qualifications and connecting them to the position’s requirements. It also showcases writing ability.\"},{\"question\":\"What guidelines should be followed for formatting and length?\",\"answer\":\"Use standard business letter etiquette and address the letter to a specific person. Keep it to two pages or about 5–8 concise paragraphs (often one page for science and engineering).\"},{\"question\":\"What sections does the academic cover letter template recommend for research institutions?\",\"answer\":\"It includes a Date and recipient header, an opening paragraph, and body paragraphs for research, a second project, teaching, and tailoring to the job and department requirements.\"}]","Writing an Academic Cover Letter - Purpose and Template Guidelines | PDF",1789279556]