To Whom It May Concern

"To whom it may concern" you won't be hearing from me.  Oh no!  I won't write letters to you.  Don't expect the general letter of support that is so carelessly thrown out into the world, the letter that is meant to cover all situations.  I won't spend my time writing to you or wasting your time.  I won't burden you with the boring, blah, blah, blah, vanilla letter stating that this person is great.

If you happen to be on a search committee, you might receive a letter from me and in that letter you would find carefully crafted words to explain to you the wonderful talents of a colleague I have chosen to fully support.  Computers these days make it so easy to tailor a letter for each person for whom I write a letter.  When I agree to write that letter, I will ask the requester for five important items:

1.  An updated resume or CV
2.  The job description to which the candidate is applying
3.  A few points the candidate believes I can best speak to related to the position they are seeking
4.  The date by which they need the letter
5.  The contact information for submitting the letter

I hope you will take to heart these letters written from the heart and ignore other "to whom it may concern letters" where the reference didn't take the time to truly express their support of the candidate.  When it comes time for you to write a letter of reference, take the time.  Ask for the materials you need, if you truly support the candidate and give it your best honestly crafted words of support.  OH and by the way, if you are applying for a position and you need to include a list of references, make sure you ask those people ahead of time so they are prepared to receive calls about you.

Tips for Writing an Effective Cover Letter

Tips for Writing an Effective Cover Letter

1.  Write one.  It may sound silly, but I’m amazed at how many people don’t include a cover letter unless it is specifically requested in the job announcement.

2. Consider the purpose of your cover letter.  Use the cover letter to show how your knowledge, skills and abilities fit with the minimum requirements and the responsibilities of the position.  This makes it easier for the reviewer to understand how you would fit in the position and at the institution.  Also, it makes it more likely that the reviewer will consider offering you an interview.

3.  Tailor it to the specific job.  This is particularly important if you are applying for multiple jobs at the same institution.  Your cover letter is the glue between your resume and the job announcement.  Ensure that you use the opportunity to explain why you are a good fit for the specific position.

4.  Be concise.  Your cover letter should be one to two pages in length.  Make each word count.

 

5.  Sell yourself.  This is your opportunity to share your accomplishments and what you enjoy doing.  Share your passion and your enthusiasm for the field in which you work.  What is your greatest achievement?

6. Use their words.  Using the words from the job announcement is another way to make it easier for the reviewer to consider you.  For example, if the job announcement is looking for experience with flipped classrooms and your resume shows that you taught a hybrid class, use the term “flipped classroom” in your cover letter and explain the connection. Be careful, too much cutting and pasting from the job announcement may seem a little odd.

7.  Make it easy to read.  Remember that reviewers could be considering a hundred or so applications for a position.  In your cover letter, use headings in bold or italics to highlight the significant areas of responsibilities and describe your experience or how the knowledge, skill or abilities transfer.  Here’s an example:

Budgeting Experience
I’ve been responsible for a 2 million dollar budget as the Coordinator for Student Life.  I oversaw the purchasing requisitions, purchase orders, invoicing and approval for the department.  I understand how funding works at a public institution and these skills are a perfect fit for the position you are seeking. 

8.  Proofread!  Your cover letter is a writing sample.

9.  Tell a story.  For the more creative and if you can, relate the position you are seeking to an experience on an anecdote in your life.

10. Be more formal.  Skip the abbreviations or the text speak such as LOL or J!