Teacher Cover Letter

A cover letter should always accompany anything mailed to an employer. As with a resume, the letter must be correct in all aspects. Poor spelling, grammatical errors and incorrect format are all indications of poor work. These send clear signals to employers.

Experienced job seekers should never submit the first draft of a letter. After editing it thoroughly take a break for an hour or so. Re-reading the letter will usually result in needed changes and modifications that were not obvious in the initial draft. You may want to read the letter aloud.

All letters should follow a standard business format and usually contain three brief paragraphs. The first paragraph explains why the letter is being sent. The second paragraph outlines specific skills or matters of particular interest. This paragraph should be concise, avoiding unnecessary flattery and overuse of vocabulary. The last paragraph expresses what action the writer wishes from the employer (e.g., "I will contact you next week to arrange a personal interview.").

Be certain of the correct spelling of all names, titles and addresses. When responding to an individual be certain of gender. Many given names - such as Pat - are gender neutral. Please address the letter to Hiring Manager, University of Kansas Medical Center. Do not use salutations like, To Whom It May Concern, Gentlemen, or Dear Personnel etc.

8 Easy Tips for Teacher Cover Letters

• Address a specific person. A quick telephone call to an employer can help determine the name and correct spelling of your recipient.  If you can't get this information, address the letter to "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear Human Resource Manager." Another suggestion is to use a subject line in place of the salutation (i.e., APPLICATION FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES POSITION.) Avoid salutations such as "Dear Sir," "Dear Madam," or "To Whom It May Concern."

• Keep it brief. Limit the letter to one page. Remember: a cover letter is intended to complement your resume, not repeat its content. Three to four paragraphs is sufficient.

• Match yourself to the opportunity. Effective cover letters are accomplishment-oriented and focus on specific skills and abilities. Rather than claiming to be "competent" and "qualified," cite examples and make an effort to link them to the job requirements.

• Demonstrate your interest. Show what you're learned about the organization and/or industry. This is where your research and networking will pay off. Where appropriate, use the vocabulary of a specific discipline or industry.

• Write in your own style. You can adopt a conversational tone as long as your writing is flawless and grammatically correct.  Avoid overused statements such as "Enclosed please find my resume for your review." Use the active voice and powerful verbs for lively communication.

• Put yourself in the reader's position. Count the number of sentences that you began with the word, Then edit! Downplay "I" and "me" and focus on the reader by using the word "you" as often as possible. Communicate what you can contribute to the reader's organization, rather than what you expect to get.

• Pay attention to detail. Employers value effective and careful communicators, and your writing skills are displayed in your cover letter. Grammar, spelling, or typographical errors will send you to the discard pile.  Ask an expert to proofread your letter for content, clarity, and correctness. Tip for emails: write in a Word document and then paste it into your email.

• First impressions count. The average employer receives over 200,000 letters annually from job applicants. Get yours noticed with these tips:

  • Type your letter using the same font as your resume.  Keep it simple (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 point).

  • If you抮e using a hard copy, print it on the same stock of paper as your resume.  White or off-white color is preferable.

  • Sign a hard copy letter with blue or black ink.