CV and Cover Letter

Crafting a CV and Cover Letter Dr. David Lawrence Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning Georgia Institute of Technology

PLAN: What ismy purpose?

What ismy purpose?

To persuade the What is selection committee that I am anmy purpose? outstanding individual who can help the department strengthen its teaching and research programs.

How do Iaccomplish this?

➡ Think How do I Rhetoricallyaccomplish this?

➡ Think How do I Rhetoricallyaccomplish this? ➡ Communicate Strategically

➡ Think How do I Rhetoricallyaccomplish this? ➡ Communicate Strategically ➡ Build a Case

PLAN:Who is myaudience?

Research the School

Research the Department

Research Faculty

SelectionCommittee

Selection • Faculty membersCommittee

Selection • Faculty membersCommittee • Expertise in their area

Selection • Faculty membersCommittee • Expertise in their area • Busy, Overwhelmed

Selection • Faculty membersCommittee • Expertise in their area • Busy, Overwhelmed • Desire a successful hire

Selection • Faculty membersCommittee • Expertise in their area • Busy, Overwhelmed • Desire a successful hire • Diverse Priorities

Selection • Faculty membersCommittee • Expertise in their area • Busy, Overwhelmed • Desire a successful hire • Diverse Priorities • Personal Bias

Selection • Faculty membersCommittee • Expertise in their area • Busy, Overwhelmed • Desire a successful hire • Diverse Priorities • Personal Bias • Different Experiences

Crafting a Curriculum Vitae

Brainstorm

PREPARE - CONTENTBrainstorm

PREPARE - CONTENT • EducationBrainstorm

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures • Service: Community, Professional, Univ.

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures • Service: Community, Professional, Univ. • Honors & Recognitions

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures • Service: Community, Professional, Univ. • Honors & Recognitions • Grants & Fellowships

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures • Service: Community, Professional, Univ. • Honors & Recognitions • Grants & Fellowships • Patents

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures • Service: Community, Professional, Univ. • Honors & Recognitions • Grants & Fellowships • Patents • Creative Works

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures • Service: Community, Professional, Univ. • Honors & Recognitions • Grants & Fellowships • Patents • Creative Works • Special Skills

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures • Service: Community, Professional, Univ. • Honors & Recognitions • Grants & Fellowships • Patents • Creative Works • Special Skills • Training & Certiﬁcation

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures • Service: Community, Professional, Univ. • Honors & Recognitions • Grants & Fellowships • Patents • Creative Works • Special Skills • Training & Certiﬁcation • Professional Afﬁliations

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures • Service: Community, Professional, Univ. • Honors & Recognitions • Grants & Fellowships • Patents • Creative Works • Special Skills • Training & Certiﬁcation • Professional Afﬁliations • Personal Information

PREPARE - CONTENT • Education • ResearchBrainstorm • Publications • Conference Papers • Poster Sessions • Work Experience • Teaching Experience • Lectures • Service: Community, Professional, Univ. • Honors & Recognitions • Grants & Fellowships • Patents • Creative Works • Special Skills • Training & Certiﬁcation • Professional Afﬁliations • Personal Information • References

Prepare:Organization

Prepare: Organization

Prepare: Name & PersonalOrganization Information

Prepare:Organization Education First Reverse Chronological Order

Research Reverse Chronological Order Prepare:Organization

Prepare: Organization PublicationsReverse or Chronological Order

Prepare:Organization Teaching

Prepare:Organization

Sans-Serif Font Prepare: Style White SpaceSerif Font

Prepare: StyleAction Verbs

Bullets Prepare: Style Footer

Prepare: StyleOptional Footer

Prepare: Style HeaderOffset

Use Visual Maintain FormatHierarchy Indent Text

Crafting a Cover Letter

What ismy purpose?

To persuade the What is selection committee that I am anmy purpose? outstanding individual who can help the department strengthen its teaching and research programs.

PLAN:Who is myaudience?

Prepare: OrganizationLetterhead Date Recipient / Title / Address Person’s Name or Selection Committee

November 30, 2003Dr. John MatthewsCivil EngineeringUniversity of Texas at AustinBox 19308 Austin, TX 76019-0308Dear Dr. Matthews,I am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professorin Structural Engineering beginning Fall 2004, as advertisedon your department website. I am currently a doctoralcandidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,and fully expect to complete my PhD degree requirementsby May 2004. I am extremely interested in obtaining a facultyposition at the University of Texas, as its engineeringresearch programs have a stellar reputation that is knownworldwide.

November 30, 2003 Purpose: why are you writing?Dr. John MatthewsCivil EngineeringUniversity of Texas at AustinBox 19308 Austin, TX 76019-0308Dear Dr. Matthews,I am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professorin Structural Engineering beginning Fall 2004, as advertisedon your department website. I am currently a doctoralcandidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,and fully expect to complete my PhD degree requirementsby May 2004. I am extremely interested in obtaining a facultyposition at the University of Texas, as its engineeringresearch programs have a stellar reputation that is knownworldwide.

November 30, 2003 Purpose: why are you writing?Dr. John MatthewsCivil Engineering Where did you ﬁnd position?University of Texas at AustinBox 19308 Austin, TX 76019-0308Dear Dr. Matthews,I am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professorin Structural Engineering beginning Fall 2004, as advertisedon your department website. I am currently a doctoralcandidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,and fully expect to complete my PhD degree requirementsby May 2004. I am extremely interested in obtaining a facultyposition at the University of Texas, as its engineeringresearch programs have a stellar reputation that is knownworldwide.

November 30, 2003 Purpose: why are you writing?Dr. John MatthewsCivil Engineering Where did you ﬁnd position?University of Texas at Austin Who are you?Box 19308 Austin, TX 76019-0308Dear Dr. Matthews,I am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professorin Structural Engineering beginning Fall 2004, as advertisedon your department website. I am currently a doctoralcandidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,and fully expect to complete my PhD degree requirementsby May 2004. I am extremely interested in obtaining a facultyposition at the University of Texas, as its engineeringresearch programs have a stellar reputation that is knownworldwide.

November 30, 2003 Purpose: why are you writing?Dr. John MatthewsCivil Engineering Where did you ﬁnd position?University of Texas at Austin Who are you?Box 19308 Austin, TX 76019-0308Dear Dr. Matthews, IngratiationI am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professorin Structural Engineering beginning Fall 2004, as advertisedon your department website. I am currently a doctoralcandidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,and fully expect to complete my PhD degree requirementsby May 2004. I am extremely interested in obtaining a facultyposition at the University of Texas, as its engineeringresearch programs have a stellar reputation that is knownworldwide.

I believe that my academic training and my six years ofexperience working as a structural engineer prepare me to bean effective researcher and instructor in your department. Mydoctoral dissertation was conducted under the direction ofProf. Mark Daniels, and looks at the use of a relatively newmethodology for the design of joints, walls, footings, and otherportions of reinforced or prestressed concrete structures. In myresearch, I developed an integrated design and analysisenvironment for this methodology in which both strength andserviceability requirements are explicitly satisﬁed. This wasdelivered in a computer-based program that is freely available tothe community and has been downloaded by more than 2500people.

Topic Sentence (Claim) I believe that my academic training and my six years of experience working as a structural engineer prepare me to be an effective researcher and instructor in your department. My doctoral dissertation was conducted under the direction of Prof. Mark Daniels, and looks at the use of a relatively new methodology for the design of joints, walls, footings, and other portions of reinforced or prestressed concrete structures. In my research, I developed an integrated design and analysis environment for this methodology in which both strength and serviceability requirements are explicitly satisﬁed. This was delivered in a computer-based program that is freely available to the community and has been downloaded by more than 2500 people.

Topic Sentence (Claim) Training / Research I believe that my academic training and my six years of experience working as a structural engineer prepare me to be an effective researcher and instructor in your department. My doctoral dissertation was conducted under the direction of Prof. Mark Daniels, and looks at the use of a relatively new methodology for the design of joints, walls, footings, and other portions of reinforced or prestressed concrete structures. In my research, I developed an integrated design and analysis environment for this methodology in which both strength and serviceability requirements are explicitly satisﬁed. This was delivered in a computer-based program that is freely available to the community and has been downloaded by more than 2500 people.

Topic Sentence (Claim) Training / Research Character (ethos) I believe that my academic training and my six years of experience working as a structural engineer prepare me to be an effective researcher and instructor in your department. My doctoral dissertation was conducted under the direction of Prof. Mark Daniels, and looks at the use of a relatively new methodology for the design of joints, walls, footings, and other portions of reinforced or prestressed concrete structures. In my research, I developed an integrated design and analysis environment for this methodology in which both strength and serviceability requirements are explicitly satisﬁed. This was delivered in a computer-based program that is freely available to the community and has been downloaded by more than 2500 people.

Although my dissertation focuses on a single topic, other areasthat interest me for my future research stem from my goal ofdeveloping improved analytical models and methods for design,evaluation, and upgrade of concrete structures subjected tomonotonic and reversed loading and structures equipped withpassive systems. One of the studies that I have started is thedevelopment of a performance-based seismic design method forductile reinforced concrete wall structures based on yielddisplacement. I have also worked on evaluation andimprovement of accuracy of nonlinear static analysis for seismicdesign under the auspices of a project from the AppliedTechnology Committee, a national organization.

TransitionAlthough my dissertation focuses on a single topic, other areasthat interest me for my future research stem from my goal ofdeveloping improved analytical models and methods for design,evaluation, and upgrade of concrete structures subjected tomonotonic and reversed loading and structures equipped withpassive systems. One of the studies that I have started is thedevelopment of a performance-based seismic design method forductile reinforced concrete wall structures based on yielddisplacement. I have also worked on evaluation andimprovement of accuracy of nonlinear static analysis for seismicdesign under the auspices of a project from the AppliedTechnology Committee, a national organization.

“Concrete” Example TransitionAlthough my dissertation focuses on a single topic, other areasthat interest me for my future research stem from my goal ofdeveloping improved analytical models and methods for design,evaluation, and upgrade of concrete structures subjected tomonotonic and reversed loading and structures equipped withpassive systems. One of the studies that I have started is thedevelopment of a performance-based seismic design method forductile reinforced concrete wall structures based on yielddisplacement. I have also worked on evaluation andimprovement of accuracy of nonlinear static analysis for seismicdesign under the auspices of a project from the AppliedTechnology Committee, a national organization.

“Concrete” Example Transition Character (ethos)Although my dissertation focuses on a single topic, other areasthat interest me for my future research stem from my goal ofdeveloping improved analytical models and methods for design,evaluation, and upgrade of concrete structures subjected tomonotonic and reversed loading and structures equipped withpassive systems. One of the studies that I have started is thedevelopment of a performance-based seismic design method forductile reinforced concrete wall structures based on yielddisplacement. I have also worked on evaluation andimprovement of accuracy of nonlinear static analysis for seismicdesign under the auspices of a project from the AppliedTechnology Committee, a national organization.

During my graduate training, I have been fortunate enough toalso serve as a teaching assistant and occasionally instruct for anintermediate level course on reinforced concrete design. My ﬁveyears of professional experience as an engineer have providedme with a broad view that is useful in assisting students withprojects and assignments. Through my participation as a teachingassistant, I have developed conﬁdence and an interest inteaching and look forward to the opportunity to both teachassigned classes and to develop my own classes.

Teaching ExampleDuring my graduate training, I have been fortunate enough toalso serve as a teaching assistant and occasionally instruct for anintermediate level course on reinforced concrete design. My ﬁveyears of professional experience as an engineer have providedme with a broad view that is useful in assisting students withprojects and assignments. Through my participation as a teachingassistant, I have developed conﬁdence and an interest inteaching and look forward to the opportunity to both teachassigned classes and to develop my own classes.

Teaching Example Future TeachingDuring my graduate training, I have been fortunate enough toalso serve as a teaching assistant and occasionally instruct for anintermediate level course on reinforced concrete design. My ﬁveyears of professional experience as an engineer have providedme with a broad view that is useful in assisting students withprojects and assignments. Through my participation as a teachingassistant, I have developed conﬁdence and an interest inteaching and look forward to the opportunity to both teachassigned classes and to develop my own classes.

Teaching Example Character (ethos) Future TeachingDuring my graduate training, I have been fortunate enough toalso serve as a teaching assistant and occasionally instruct for anintermediate level course on reinforced concrete design. My ﬁveyears of professional experience as an engineer have providedme with a broad view that is useful in assisting students withprojects and assignments. Through my participation as a teachingassistant, I have developed conﬁdence and an interest inteaching and look forward to the opportunity to both teachassigned classes and to develop my own classes.

Teaching Example Character (ethos) Future TeachingToneDuring my graduate training, I have been fortunate enough toalso serve as a teaching assistant and occasionally instruct for anintermediate level course on reinforced concrete design. My ﬁveyears of professional experience as an engineer have providedme with a broad view that is useful in assisting students withprojects and assignments. Through my participation as a teachingassistant, I have developed conﬁdence and an interest inteaching and look forward to the opportunity to both teachassigned classes and to develop my own classes.

I would enjoy discussing this position with you in the weeks tocome. In the meantime, I am enclosing my Curriculum Vitae andstatement of teaching and research interests. Letters ofrecommendation will arrive under separate cover. If you requireany additional materials or information, I am happy to supply it.Thank you very much for your consideration.Sincerely,Alexander Carrols

EnclosuresI would enjoy discussing this position with you in the weeks tocome. In the meantime, I am enclosing my Curriculum Vitae andstatement of teaching and research interests. Letters ofrecommendation will arrive under separate cover. If you requireany additional materials or information, I am happy to supply it.Thank you very much for your consideration.Sincerely,Alexander Carrols

Enclosures Other MaterialsI would enjoy discussing this position with you in the weeks tocome. In the meantime, I am enclosing my Curriculum Vitae andstatement of teaching and research interests. Letters ofrecommendation will arrive under separate cover. If you requireany additional materials or information, I am happy to supply it.Thank you very much for your consideration.Sincerely,Alexander Carrols

Enclosures Other MaterialsOfferI would enjoy discussing this position with you in the weeks tocome. In the meantime, I am enclosing my Curriculum Vitae andstatement of teaching and research interests. Letters ofrecommendation will arrive under separate cover. If you requireany additional materials or information, I am happy to supply it.Thank you very much for your consideration.Sincerely,Alexander Carrols

Thank You Enclosures Other MaterialsOfferI would enjoy discussing this position with you in the weeks tocome. In the meantime, I am enclosing my Curriculum Vitae andstatement of teaching and research interests. Letters ofrecommendation will arrive under separate cover. If you requireany additional materials or information, I am happy to supply it.Thank you very much for your consideration.Sincerely,Alexander Carrols

Plan:Purpose

Plan:PurposeAudience

Prepare:

Prepare:Invention

Prepare: InventionOrganization

Prepare: InventionOrganization Style

Questions?

ReferencesSample Cover Letter Graduate College Career Services Ofﬁce University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign http://www.grad.illinois.edu/careerservices/academiccoverlettersCV Examples Career Services Swarthmore College http://careerservices.swarthmore.edu/ Career Services Georgia Institute of Technology http://www.career.gatech.edu/plugins/content/index.php?id=92 O’Brien, Ralph. “Applying for a Job: Your Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter.” Amstat News, September 2000. Crafting a CV and Cover Letter by David Lawrence is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at davelawrence.org.

Photo Credits Mr Tickle ssteacher http://goo.gl/cLUUS http://goo.gl/YpLWF Federico Coppola presenttensejournal.org http://goo.gl/HXJml http://goo.gl/KZ5IP Smithsonian Institution Yishay Mor http://goo.gl/pQCte http://goo.gl/MpIIQ Parker Michael Knight dsb nola http://goo.gl/xg70X http://goo.gl/qKQX4Crafting a CV and Cover Letter by David Lawrence is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at davelawrence.org.

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CV and Cover Letter

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