Graduate Student Cover Letter Collection

Career Center
Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 •
Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor • 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
Graduate Student
Cover Letter Collection
Index
Graduate Student Cover Letter Structure
Graduate Student Example Cover Letter
Skills, Qualifications and Certifications Bank for Cover Letters
Examples

Graduate Student Cover Letter Structure
Duke Career Center • studentaffairs.duke.edu/career • 919-660-1050 • Bay 5, Smith Warehouse, 2nd Floor •
114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Box 90950, Durham, NC 27708
Your Present Address
City, STATE Zip Code
Date
Contact’s Name
Contact’s Position Title
Employer Name
Street Address
City, STATE Zip Code
Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. Contact’s Name: (OR “Dear Hiring Manager”),
1st Paragraph (Introduction)
• Briefly describe who you are (e.g., “completing PhD in Social Psychology at Duke University”)
• Express enthusiasm and interest in the position
• If you were referred by a specific person in the company, you can mention it here
• Outline the rest of the document (connecting your most relevant skills/experiences, based on the job
description and your previous research, to the actual position/organization) – set up the structure that
you will follow (e.g., focusing on communication skills, then analytical skills, then real-world experience;
OR focusing on problem solving abilities, interpersonal skills, and then technical skills, etc.)
2nd – 4th Paragraphs (Body – Elaborating on specific experiences, skills, & fit – Order of these
paragraphs depends on importance and how you’ve outlined it previously)
• Tell a story about or describe your experience that references several of the necessary qualifications for
which the employer is asking (e.g., communication skills, technical expertise, analytical skills, etc.)
• Tell another story showcasing a different aspect of yourself that is relevant to the position – You can
think of the structure of the Cover Letter and Resume as similar (start with the most
important/relevant experiences)
• Explicitly state aspects of the role, team, and organization that you are applying to and emphasize
your fit
• Provide evidence that you have the skills/experience/talent necessary and that you will utilize these in
the most relevant and productive way for that particular organization
Final Paragraph (Next Steps)
• Thank them and reaffirm your enthusiasm about the role, team, and organization
• Restate your confidence in the fit between your background and role/expectations
• Detail your next action (e.g., “will follow-up with a call,” look forward to interviewing with you,” etc.)
Sincerely,
Your Typed Name

Graduate Student Cover Letter Structure - cont.
Job Description
Principal Data Analyst Big Bank LTD.
• Perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of econometric data, relating constants and variables,
restrictions, alternatives, conflicting objectives, and their numerical parameters to provide useful
information.
• Define data requirements and gather and validate information, applying judgment and statistical tests;
communicate feedback to internal clients around strength/relevance of criteria/requests for creating
business relevant information.
• Translate data into useful information via strong analytic, synthesis, and communication skills
• Develop complex data structures to support the generation of business insights and strategy.
• Maintain data infrastructure and develop scripts to automate recurring processes.
• Analyze data analysis requests obtained from management to conceptualize and define operational
problems and define data modeling requirements, validation of content, and problem solving
parameters.
• Use intuition and real time market intelligence to contextualize data/information and communicate your
conclusions to inform product and marketing discussions.
• Ability to tell compelling stories using data/information in order to persuade/influence an audience.
• Identify opportunities to use data analysis to develop new strategies and improve business
performance and utilize knowledge of mathematical modeling and other optimization methods to
perform quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Strong grasp of statistical approaches to data analysis; familiarity with analytic stats packages such as
Stata, minitab, or vista is a plus.
• Utilize programming and analytical tools including SAS, SQL, Teradata or similar relational database tool,
and Unix to formulate mathematical or simulation models.
• Communicate and present data to management by developing easily digestible text/reports.
• Create communications suitable for public distribution to thought leaders, industry leaders,
academics, clients, and mass media as needed.
• Serve as ambassador/speaker for the function when interfacing with colleagues from across the
organization; explains the value add of data analysis in simple language, to the effect of growing our
portfolio of internal clients
Qualifications
The position requires a Master’s degree or foreign equivalent in Economics, Finance, Engineering,
Mathematics, Science, Information Technology or a related quantitative analytical field, or equivalent
experience. Must have the following skill set, through formal education or work experience: quantitative and
qualitative data analysis; data modeling; developing reports; Teradata or similar relational database tool;
SQL; SAS; Unix programming. Must have worked with significant data sets, and be comfortable manipulating
such data sets to identify trends and extract useful information. Must be a gifted communicator, with a broad
awareness of domestic cultural trends and interest in global markets.

Graduate Student Example Cover Letter
Dr. Marlo Gervaise September 5, 2013
Provost’ Office
Stratham College
1745 University Drive
Gainesville, FL
Dear Dr. Gevaise,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Assistant Director of Data Analysis role. As I have studied the role
description, I have become increasingly excited at the degree to which my experiences align with the key role
requirements across the board. From my graduate work translating big data into useful information, to the
complex process, policy, and interpersonal issues I navigated to complete that work, to my hands-on experience
with non-profits, I believe the fit is a compelling one.
The skills I acquired in researching and writing a dissertation in South American Cultural Studies will be
enormously useful in this position. During my research in Uruguay, I became adept at navigating large data sets
and translating themes in the data to useful information. During my dissertation I assimilated and analyzed over
6,500 pages of discourse, identifying patterns within that mass of text-based data and pulling out conclusions
around those themes. I believe that this experience strongly foreshadows the work I would do as Assistant Director
of Data Analysis, and speaks to my ability to convert data to actionable information.
Beyond my skill with parsing and analyzing data, I bring a grounded approach to solving complex problems.
During my doctoral field studies, I was often faced with problems that required multiple solutions. As a result, I
learned to bring several solutions to the table, anticipate objections and prepare responses, and meet each issue
with a plan, a contingency plan, and a back-up contingency plan. I believe that these skills will inform and enrich
my work in researching and tracking potential donors.
Finally, I have hands-on experience working in donor development. Over the course of my 2012 internship wit the
Wake County United Way, I analyzed the organization’s efficacy and wrote reports for prospective donors, which I
presented in regional road shows; thus, I effectively provided a combination of research, marketing, and
donor-facing support. From core data analysis, to complex problem solving, to field-based experience with donor
development, I believe that my skills and experience make me an ideal candidate for this position.
I would relish the opportunity to take these skills to such a prestigious and forward-thinking organization such as
Stratham College. Not only am I an ideal fit for the position but, as a graduate of Duke University, I also bring
first-hand knowledge of the power and value of a liberal arts education, and would be delighted to represent an
institution like Stratham. Finally, Stratham’s commitment to encourage “students to grow personally,
professionally, and philosophically” and to “make a lasting mark” resonates strongly with me. The school’s
commitment to this type of personal and social growth can only be continued with a strong endowment. I want to
be a part of the team that fosters that mission.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Ellie M. Clampett

Graduate Student Example Cover Letter - cont.
Internship Position
Ms. Gillian Notelovitz
Intern Coordinator
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights/Leadership Conference Education Fund
1629 K Street, NW, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
October 10, 2013
Dear Ms. Notelovitz:

As a first-year Ph.D. student in Political Science at Duke University, I am writing to express my sincere interest
in a Summer 2011 internship with the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Leadership
Conference Education Fund. After speaking with several of my professors, I determined that the Leadership
Conference internship provides an ideal opportunity for me to work and grow as I look to gain real-world
experience in the policy arena. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is an important and
influential coalition, and one to which I believe I can contribute my analytical skills and academic training.
My strong writing and research skills make me well qualified to perform the work and meet the challenges of an
internship with the Leadership Conference. My background in the study of American politics began during my
undergraduate career, also at Duke University, where I earned a B.A. in Political Science and African & African
American Studies. I conducted independent research on topics such as racial attitudes, political institutions, and
policy outcomes as a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. As a Ph.D. student, I am working toward certification in
the fields of Political Behavior & Identities and Race, Ethnicity, and Politics. My studies focus on civic discourse and
the ways in which beliefs, attitudes, and social identities influence political decision-making, as well as the salience
of race in American politics.
The pursuit of my bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in these fields has helped me to develop my organizational and
communication skills, as well as a nuanced understanding of political analysis, policymaking, and a number of
other key issues facing disenfranchised communities. Furthermore, my prior internships and involvement as a
student leader have provided me with substantial experience communicating and collaborating with people at all
levels and across disciplines within organizations, successfully serving as a member of a team, and working with
diverse groups of people.
My commitment to social justice and advancing research in racial and ethnic minority politics, coupled with my
demonstrated skills, shows that I am ready and motivated to gain experience at the Leadership Conference on Civil
and Human Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund this summer. Thank you for considering my
application.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Haskins

Skills, Qualifications and Certifications Bank for Cover Letters
Skills, Qualifications,
or Certifications
Where You Developed or
Used the Skill
Sentence/Paragraph for Cover Letter
Leadership skills Student Organization at Duke
As President of the Biomedical Engineering society, I developed greater leadership
and organizational skills through my experience planning an annual career
conference featuring 80 alumni panelists and over three hundred attendees.
Communication skills
Internship at RTI
International
At RTI International, the success of my internship in Innovation and
Commercialization depended on my ability to interact with a variety of
professionals. I was able to thrive in these interactions by adapting my
communications skills in order to effectively get my point across, whether it be
with my fellow interns, my supervisor, or even the President of the Division.
Myers-Briggs
Certification
Myers-Briggs Certification
Program
Official certification as a Myers-Briggs facilitator has enabled me to enhance my
leadership skills through presenting to professional associations, counseling in
one-on-one settings and implementing workshops for higher education
institutions
C++
Internship with Microsoft/
Academic Coursework
My internship at Microsoft allowed me to hone the technical skills that I acquired
through my academic coursework on real-world projects leading to increased
proficiency in C++ programming and MATLAB scripting.

Skills, Qualifications,
or Certifications
Where You Developed or
Used the Skill
Sentence/Paragraph for Cover Letter
Resources
Events@Duke Calendar:
www.calendar.duke.edu/events
DukeConnect:
www.dukeconnect.com
Durham Networking Opportunities:
www.linkingthetriangle.com
Linkedin:
www.linkedin.com
Slideshare:
www.slideshare.net
Career Center Information
(919) 660-1050
Smith Warehouse
Bay 5, 2nd Floor
career-student@studentaffairs.duke.edu
studentaffairs.duke.edu/career
Skills, Qualifications and Certifications Bank for Cover Letters - cont.

Additional Examples
Duke
Alumni

1217
Northcreek
Drive

|

Durham,
NC
27707

|

(718)
496-‐0473

|

duke.alumni@alumni.duke.edu

Duke
Contact

Intern
Coordinator

The
Leadership
Conference
on
Civil
and
Human
Rights/Leadership
Conference
Education
Fund

1629
K
Street,
NW,
10th
Floor

Washington,
DC
20006

March
29,
2011

Dear
Ms.
Lighty:

As
a
first-‐year
Ph.D.
student
in
Political
Science
at
Duke
University,
I
am
writing
to
express
my

sincere
interest
in
a
Summer
2011
internship
with
the
Leadership
Conference
on
Civil
and

Human
Rights
and
the
Leadership
Conference
Education
Fund.

After
speaking
with
several
of

my
professors,
I
determined
that
the
Leadership
Conference
internship
provides
an
ideal

opportunity
for
me
to
work
and
grow
as
I
look
to
gain
real-‐world
experience
in
the
policy

arena.

The
Leadership
Conference
on
Civil
and
Human
Rights
is
an
important
and
influential

coalition,
and
one
to
which
I
believe
I
can
contribute
my
analytical
skills
and
academic
training.

My
strong
writing
and
research
skills
make
me
well
qualified
to
perform
the
work
and
meet
the

challenges
of
an
internship
with
the
Leadership
Conference.

My
background
in
the
study
of

American
politics
began
during
my
undergraduate
career,
also
at
Duke
University,
where
I

earned
a
B.A.
in
Political
Science
and
African
&
African
American
Studies.

I
conducted

independent
research
on
topics
such
as
racial
attitudes,
political
institutions,
and
policy

outcomes
as
a
Mellon
Mays
Undergraduate
Fellow.

As
a
Ph.D.
student,
I
am
working
toward

certification
in
the
fields
of
Political
Behavior
&
Identities
and
Race,
Ethnicity,
and
Politics.

My

studies
focus
on
civic
discourse
and
the
ways
in
which
beliefs,
attitudes,
and
social
identities

influence
political
decision-‐making,
as
well
as
the
salience
of
race
in
American
politics.

The
pursuit
of
my
bachelor’s
and
doctoral
degrees
in
these
fields
has
helped
me
to
develop
my

organizational
and
communication
skills,
as
well
as
a
nuanced
understanding
of
political

analysis,
policymaking,
and
a
number
of
key
issues
facing
disenfranchised
communities.

Furthermore,
my
prior
internships
and
involvement
as
a
student
leader
have
provided
me
with

substantial
experience
communicating
and
collaborating
with
people
at
all
levels
and
across

disciplines
within
organizations,
successfully
serving
as
a
member
of
a
team,
and
working
with

diverse
groups
of
people.

My
commitment
to
social
justice
and
advancing
research
in
racial
and
ethnic
minority
politics,

coupled
with
my
demonstrated
skills,
shows
that
I
am
ready
and
motivated
to
gain
experience

at
the
Leadership
Conference
on
Civil
and
Human
Rights
and
the
Leadership
Conference

Education
Fund
this
Summer.

Thank
you
for
considering
my
application.

Sincerely,

Duke
Alumni

Additional Examples - cont.
Genentech,
Inc.

1
DNA
Way

South
San
Francisco,
CA
94080

30
March,
2011

Dear
XXXXXXX,

I
had
the
opportunity
to
interact
with
Ms.
XXXX,
a
Genentech
employee,
and
was
very

impressed
with
the
organization’s
intellectually
stimulating
yet
informal
work
culture.
At

Genentech,
I
will
learn
and
grow
professionally,
pursue
my
passion
for
using
my

background
and
skills
to
impact
lives
and
make
a
difference,
and
be
assured
that
I
will
be

appreciated
for
my
“unique
DNA”.
I
am
currently
a
Master
of
Science
student
in
the

Biomedical
Engineering
Program
at
Duke
University.
After
discovering
the
Operations

Rotational
Development
Analyst
position,
I
know
that
Genentech
is
the
company
I
want
to

start
my
career.
The
position
is
a
perfect
blend
of
my
engineering
background,

communication,
leadership
and
interpersonal
skills

I
have
always
had
a
wide
variety
of
interests
which
have
led
me
to
learn
new
things
and

take
on
diverse
responsibilities.
In
addition
to
excelling
in
academics
as
is
demonstrated
by

my
merit
based
fellowship
at
Duke,
I
have
worked
on
a
variety
of
projects
ranging
from

marketing
to
process
design.
Through
these
experiences,
I
demonstrated
my
ability
to
be
a

quick
learner
and
a
problem
solver.
Recently,
I
worked
in
an
inter-‐disciplinary
team
and

won
second
place
in
the
Duke
Global
Health
Case
Competition,
where
I
used
my

communication
skills
to
present
creative
solutions
to
address
chronic
diseases
after
the

earthquake
in
Haiti.
My
certification
from
Communication
Across
a
curriculum,
Louisiana

State
University,
helped
in
team
discussions
and
bringing
the
message
to
the
audience,
it

will
also
aid
me
in
presenting
the
learnings
of
each
rotation
at
Genentech.

By
taking
up
leadership
roles
in
several
student
organizations
and
involving
myself
in

community
service
during
my
collegiate
years,
I
have
proven
to
be
a
team
player
as
well
as

a
leader.
I
believe
in
taking
initiative
to
make
an
impact.
While
interning
at
Johnson
&

Johnson,
I
initiated
and
led
weekly
intern
meetings
to
facilitate
holistic
learning
about

different
functions
of
Clinical
Operations
that
each
of
the
interns
were
involved
in.

I
look
forward
to
growing
in
an
intellectually
challenging
yet
supportive
environment,
and

be
mentored
by
experts
in
the
field.
I
will
bring
my
passion,
knowledge
and
skills
to
the

team
and
the
tasks,
and
contribute
to
Genentech’s
technical
and
business
functions
by

designing
and
implementing
processes
that
make
an
impact
on
cutting
edge
products.

Please
feel
free
to
reach
me
at
123.456.7890
or
at
duke.student@duke.edu
Thank
you
for

your
time
and
consideration.

Sincerely,

Duke
Student

Additional Examples - cont.
Associate
Director,
Education
and
Training
Core

Social
Science
Research
Institute

Duke
University

Box
90420

Durham,
NC

27708-‐0420

May
20,
2011

RE:
Postdoctoral
Associate
in
Survey
Research
Methods

Dear
Hiring
Manager:

As
a
recent
PhD
graduate
in
Sociology
from
Duke
University
I
am
an
excellent
fit
for
the
Social
Science

Research
Institute’s
(SSRI)
Postdoctoral
Associate
position
in
Survey
Research
Methods.

I
believe
that

my
experience
in
publishing
quantitative
research,
conducting
survey
research,
and
teaching

undergraduates
would
be
particularly
beneficial
to
this
position.

During
my
six
years
at
Duke,
I
served
as
a
Research
Assistant
and
Project
Manager
for
four

multidisciplinary
research
teams.
In
these
positions,
I
analyzing
quantitative
and
qualitative
data,
serving

as
first
author
on
four
manuscripts
that
have
been
accepted
for
publication
in
peer-‐reviewed
journals,

and
designing
surveys
using
the
latest
technology
and
best
practices
advocated
by
survey

methodologists.
For
example,
as
a
Research
Assistant
at
Duke
University’s
Center
for
Child
and
Family

Policy,
I
designed,
implemented,
and
analyzed
the
results
from
a
web-‐based
survey.
The
findings
served

as
a
basis
for
reports
I
wrote
for
funding
agencies
and
for
manuscripts
that
have
been
submitted
for

publication
in
peer-‐reviewed
journals.
By
becoming
immersed
in
survey
research,
I
am
equipped
with
the

skills
necessary
to

develop
resources
and
advise
social
and
behavioral
scientists
about
survey
research.

As
I
also
have
ample
experience
working
in
a
collaborative
environment
on
survey
research
topics,
I
am

confident
I
can
assist
SSRI
personnel
in
developing
the
Duke
Initiative
on
Survey
Methodology.

As
you
can
see
on
my
resume,
I
also
have
experience
in
conducting
independent
survey
research
and

teach
Duke
undergraduate
students.
My
independent
research
interests
and
experience
intersect
with
Dr.

Johnson’s
research
agenda
on
voting
behavior
in
U.S.
presidential
elections
and
the
validity
of
survey

research
methods
teaching
experience
includes
assisting
undergraduates
who
were
conducting

quantitative
research
as
part
of
class
projects
and
serving
as
a
mentor
for
an
undergraduate
who

analyzed
data
from
a
large,
secondary
data
set
for
their
senior
thesis.
By
merging
the
knowledge
gained

from
working
with
undergraduates
on
survey
research
projects
with
my
ability
to
effectively
present

quantitative
research
findings
at
national,
scientific
conferences
I
know
I
can
develop
and
lead
effective

and
engaging
workshops
that
introduce
Duke
students,
faculty,
and
research
scientists
to
the
science
and

art
of
conducting
high-‐quality
survey
research.

I
am
available
to
start
immediately.
Please
do
not
hesitate
to
contact
me
with
any
questions
at
919-‐123-‐
4567
or
duke.student@duke.edu.
Thank
you
very
much
for
your
time
and
consideration,
and
I
look

forward
to
hearing
from
you
soon.

Sincerely,

Duke
Student

Additional Documents
Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae
Internships
Interviewing
Job Search
Networking
Resume
Additional Resources
Career Center Skills Guides
Cover Letter Skills Guide
Curriculum Vitae Skills Guide
Internships Skills Guide
Interviewing Skills Guide
Networking Skills Guide
Resume Skills Guide
Strategic Search Skills Guide

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