Cover Letter
Apr. 22nd, 2007 06:45 pmDear Person:
I am applying for your job.
I've never done this kind of stuff, so I'm not sure how I'll do. But y'all train people, right?
I hope your other candidates suck and thus I will be the obvious best candidate.
Sincerely,
me
**
Maybe I better work on that draft a bit more.
**
[name]
Director, UT Learning Center
[address]
Dear Mr. [name]:
I am writing to apply for your opening for a Supplemental Instruction Program Coordinator (posting number 07-04-10-01-3132), which I found listed on UT's job search web page. After reading about the SI program and hearing good things about it from my colleagues, I am excited about the possibility of getting more closely involved with education at UT.
It sounds like you need someone who is good at teaching and inspiring SI Leaders to work with professors to organize sessions that help all their students to succeed in their course. I have worked with professors as a TA and departmental typist to help them with their classes. And I have worked as a tutor both at the UT Learning Center and Sylvan Learning Centers to help students succeed in their classes. As a head counselor at an overnight camp, I worked with a revolving staff of one to three assistants during sessions of about one to two weeks with groups of twelve to forty campers. During that time I developed a leadership style based on providing enough of a structure that people know what to do and enough flexibility that people can have lots of choice and space to make contributions.
You ask for someone who can research and share information on teaching effectiveness. I have secondary teaching certification in math and social studies and am the type of person to take vacation time to attend conferences in the field of education.
You want someone to provide one-on-one academic counseling to students. I have been a member of UT's Academic Counselors Association for over six years and have counseled some students as the back-up undergraduate coordinator for a department at UT and in answering questions related to UT's degree audit system in my current position.
You're also looking for an instructor for Learning Center classes and workshops. I have taught classes in first aid to a variety of students, taught swimming classes to overnight campers, and taught workshops on camping skills to Girl Scout Leaders. I have delivered training to UT staff in using the degree audit system: how to run audits, interpret them, do overrides, and code new requirements. This includes lots of experience in training people-persons (academic advisers) in very technical skills, which is challenging but very satisfying.
Earning degrees in the social sciences gave me experience in writing and in analyzing social science data.
I would enjoy the opportunity to become part of the UT Learning Center team. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to schedule an interview.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[me]
**
That's better. Much better.
Please let me know any comments you have, especially the kind that starts, "You come off as an idiot when you say..."
I am applying for your job.
I've never done this kind of stuff, so I'm not sure how I'll do. But y'all train people, right?
I hope your other candidates suck and thus I will be the obvious best candidate.
Sincerely,
me
**
Maybe I better work on that draft a bit more.
**
[name]
Director, UT Learning Center
[address]
Dear Mr. [name]:
I am writing to apply for your opening for a Supplemental Instruction Program Coordinator (posting number 07-04-10-01-3132), which I found listed on UT's job search web page. After reading about the SI program and hearing good things about it from my colleagues, I am excited about the possibility of getting more closely involved with education at UT.
It sounds like you need someone who is good at teaching and inspiring SI Leaders to work with professors to organize sessions that help all their students to succeed in their course. I have worked with professors as a TA and departmental typist to help them with their classes. And I have worked as a tutor both at the UT Learning Center and Sylvan Learning Centers to help students succeed in their classes. As a head counselor at an overnight camp, I worked with a revolving staff of one to three assistants during sessions of about one to two weeks with groups of twelve to forty campers. During that time I developed a leadership style based on providing enough of a structure that people know what to do and enough flexibility that people can have lots of choice and space to make contributions.
You ask for someone who can research and share information on teaching effectiveness. I have secondary teaching certification in math and social studies and am the type of person to take vacation time to attend conferences in the field of education.
You want someone to provide one-on-one academic counseling to students. I have been a member of UT's Academic Counselors Association for over six years and have counseled some students as the back-up undergraduate coordinator for a department at UT and in answering questions related to UT's degree audit system in my current position.
You're also looking for an instructor for Learning Center classes and workshops. I have taught classes in first aid to a variety of students, taught swimming classes to overnight campers, and taught workshops on camping skills to Girl Scout Leaders. I have delivered training to UT staff in using the degree audit system: how to run audits, interpret them, do overrides, and code new requirements. This includes lots of experience in training people-persons (academic advisers) in very technical skills, which is challenging but very satisfying.
Earning degrees in the social sciences gave me experience in writing and in analyzing social science data.
I would enjoy the opportunity to become part of the UT Learning Center team. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to schedule an interview.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[me]
**
That's better. Much better.
Please let me know any comments you have, especially the kind that starts, "You come off as an idiot when you say..."