Assistant Professor Cover Letter Example and Template

Assistant professors teach classes and conduct research at colleges and universities. Becoming an assistant professor can be a rewarding career path with advancement opportunities, such as earning tenure and becoming a full professor. If you're an academic professional searching for an assistant professor position, submitting a strong cover letter that relates your skills to the job description can give you an advantage in the hiring process. In this article, we explain what to include in an assistant professor cover letter and share an example of a cover letter you can use as a reference when writing your own. Before you apply for a position, you can review resume samples to identify a format that presents your qualifications in an organized and visually appealing way. When you're ready, you can upload a resume file or build an Indeed Resume to start applying for assistant professor positions in your area. Alice Johnston, Ph.D.
Atlanta, GA
404-555-0107
alice.johnston@email.com May 3, 2023 Dear Hiring Manager, My name is Dr. Alice Johnston, and I'm writing to express my interest in the open position of Assistant Professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences at Peachtree University. As an experienced educator with a doctorate in English literature, I bring a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills to the role. My scholarly research, passion for teaching and dedication to the ideals of higher education make me a strong addition to the teaching staff of the College of Arts and Sciences, and I'm excited about the opportunity to share my knowledge with Peachtree University's students. My professional experience features both scholarship and pedagogy, allowing me to teach, research and publish at the same time. I recently completed my doctorate in English literature at Talwell University, where I participated in a research fellowship and published several research papers on early American literature. Before enrolling in my doctorate program, I earned a master's degree in literature, also at Talwell. While completing my master's program, I taught a total of 48 hours of introductory composition and literature over six semesters. On average, my students gave my teaching methods a 4.8 on a five-point scale. Along with my educational and teaching experience, I possess strong technical, administrative and interpersonal skills that make me an excellent candidate for the role. I'm skilled in using a wide range of administrative and educational software tools, including Moodle and the full Microsoft Suite, and I'm very comfortable teaching hybrid and remote classes. Past students have praised my enthusiasm for teaching, and I believe this energy can help me reach Peachtree University's students and help them develop their critical reading and writing skills. Finally, I am fluent in Spanish and experienced in developing accessible learning environments for all students. To facilitate the hiring process, I've attached my resume, transcripts, three writing samples and contact information for two professional references to this document. I'm available for an interview during regular business hours, but I can take calls and respond to emails during evenings and weekends. Please contact me if you have any questions about my qualifications. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you about this position at your earliest convenience. Sincerely,
Alice Johnston, Ph.D To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.

What to include in an assistant professor cover letter

The exact content of an assistant professor's cover letter might depend on your educational and professional background, the subjects you teach and the job requirements. Many cover letters for this career path include the following sections:

Contact information

Most cover letters feature the candidate's contact information at the top of the document, ensuring the hiring manager or department head can contact the candidate easily to schedule an interview or request additional information. Start with your first and last name, followed by your degree abbreviation. Then, list the city and state where you live, followed by your phone number and a professional email address. If you have a professional website or online portfolio of your completed academic work, you can list the URL for that resource under your email. Related: Creating an Email for Job Search: How To and Why You Should

Introduction and summary

At the beginning of your cover letter's body, introduce yourself and explain which job you're applying for and which department or college is offering the position. Next, summarize your most impressive and relevant qualifications to show the college's hiring manager or department head that you have the scholarly and professional skills to be successful in the job. Including a summary of your candidacy can distinguish you from other candidates and motivate the hiring manager to read the rest of your letter. You might include your years of scholarship, any degrees you hold and your area of study. Related: 7 Powerful Ways To Start a Cover Letter (With Examples)

Professional experience

Next, describe your professional experience in academia or other educational fields. Experienced professors might discuss their most recent teaching jobs, while beginners in the field might describe internships, fellowships, assistantships and other teaching experiences they had during their degree programs. When you describe a job or other professional program, include information about your responsibilities and the effects your work had on your students, like the average grade in your class or student ratings. You might include a mix of scholarly and teaching experiences if the job description includes both research and teaching responsibilities. Related: 11 Pros and Cons of Being a Graduate Assistant

Relevant skills

Assistant professors use a wide range of professional, technical and interpersonal skills to conduct research and lead classes. Describing your skills in a separate paragraph can help the hiring manager find them easily and allow you to include keywords from the job description in your cover letter. You might review the job description and underline key requirements or responsibilities. Then, add details about your skills in these areas. For example, you might explain which educational and administrative software programs you can use or languages you can speak. Related: Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Call to action

In a cover letter for an assistant professor position, a call to action can motivate a hiring manager to read your writing or research samples, contact your professional references or call you to schedule an interview. These statements show your enthusiasm for the opportunity and your sense of initiative, both qualities that many hiring managers value. You might ask the reader to contact you if they have questions or highlight the attached documents. After you write your call to action, add a statement thanking the hiring manager for their time. Related: How To Write a Call to Action in Your Cover Letter Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.