academics - and anyone good at covering letters - hatwoman's after more career advice again.

[hatwoman]

I am conscious that I do this too often...your thoughts are invaluable to me. esp as I think academia is a bit a law unto itself in many things. Some of you might be vaguely aware that I've just come to the end of my first term part-time lecturing. It was graduate students, from a mid-level US university. with a handful of students joining the class from universities in say the top 30-40 in the US.

I am applying for a lecturing job at a very good London university - it's a bit of a shot in the dark and I don;t think I stand much chance but I can't not give it a go. The saving grace, for me, is the ad specifically says PhD or commensurate experience and good research/publication record or strategy. I have one article accepted for publication in autumn and a half-way reasonable plan for a follow-up.

Application is cv plus covering letter. My question is about the covering letter. Can I do what I would do on a job application form. ie a very simple:

"I am writing to appply for the position of lecturer in xxx. I have outlined below the ways in which I fulfill the criteria in the person specification."

and then use headings - taken from the person spec?

Second question is how long can it be? they ask for the letter to "include" a 500 outline of research. I'm struggling to get the research bit down to 500, but I can have a go. what about the rest?
the other criteria are

Ability to teach; experience of teaching

Good communication skills

Ability and willingness to work as part of a team

Interest in developing new courses in area of expertise

Willingness to contribute to core undergraduate teaching

Desire to play a part in broader issues concerning the school

Experience of supervising

Phd or commensurate experience

I've definitely got something to say under each - and I will be hard with myself and keep it as short as possible (I'm doing a recruitment myself at work, and it's been hugely useful to be on the other end) but it's starting to look like an awfully long letter! perhaps it's not the way to structure it? any ideas? as ever much appreciated

also - can I check that a 3-page cv is acceptable - again it's not waffly - it was 4!

at length. it's that list that does it...

hatwoman I don't have any experience in the academic field but have some thoughts about cover letters.

I wouldn't use headings as such. Addressing the requirements in the way you have mentioned is a good idea. I would use a short sentence or two for each one, ie not quite as as long and detailed as you would in an application form. You don't want it long and waffly because they will then be skim-reading by half way through. Believe me.

For example to cover team working you could say-

I have worked as part of several successful teams, most recently blah blah blah

For interest in developing new courses you could say-

I have a particular interest in the possibility of developing a course in blah blah say what area and bit more detail about proposed course. Make them think you have considered it properly, have already thought about it.

You could join a couple of the requirements together in one paragraph or sentence, if that works. Basically you want to make it as easy as possible from your cv and cover letter for them to tick the boxes of what they want.

CV being 3 pages, not ideal, but I expect in your field there is more to say than just x job, x reponsibilities x date. More important than length specifically is that it is very easy to read, easy to pick out what they are looking for, is specifically tailored to this particular role and doesn't have anything irrelevant like you enjoy walking your dog or got a C in Geography GCSE or whatever.

With the research bit I would do that as a separate section after you have briefly addressed the criteria, make it easy for them to flip right to it if they want to , then finish the letter after that with something like

I would be happy to answer any further questions you may have about my experience and attend an interview to discuss my application further. I look forward to hearing from you.

Hope that helps, good luck

I'd second that, hatwoman, try to avoid the sections and write it out in succinct prose.

Emphasise the research because everyone is RAE obsessed.

Make the half thought out research plan a proper one--if it's a book, sketch out the chapters etc in case you get to interview stage and they ask.

Hi hatwoman [fmile] I certainly wouldn't give a second thought to the length of your CV- they can easily run into 10 pages in academia. I have to say I would go with headings personally, simply because you have so much to get through it would be easier to read than a free-form letter. I do think in academia there are fewer "rules" than in the rest of the world, but that may be more of a science thing. The only other thing I always look for (though admittedly in terms of lower level recruitment) is enthusiasm for the post/institution- why you want to work there rather than anywhere else.

That should be of course...