How to secure the higher-ed job you want

In applying for a position in higher education, the cover letter seems the least important piece of the application materials for many applicants. The curriculum vitae and transcripts provide the core of an application and document an aspiring faculty member’s experiences and training. The letters of reference are from one’s strongest supporters who will paint a strong image of the aspirant’s experience and potential.

However, the key to a successful application is in the details. The cover letter is the way to pull the many pieces of an applicant’s professional record in one place. A strong cover letter provides the opportunity to package the applicant’s materials to the specifics of the jobs and make the job of the hiring committee easy.

A successful applicant will read the job posting carefully and craft a cover letter that addresses each of the qualifications or requirements enumerated in the job posting. The qualifications are generally included in two sections–those required (sometimes listed as minimum) and those desired or preferred. The minimum or required qualifications are usually the bare minimum and are outlined so that the institution will be able to hire someone even if no one meets the “ideal” or preferred qualifications. For instance, a master’s degree in elementary education might be the minimum qualification, but the preferred qualification might be a doctorate in elementary education or a “closely related field.”

A successful applicant should address both levels of the qualifications in their cover letter. A candidate should not assume that the interview committee will make a leap in relating a degree as “closely related.” Speak to the specific coursework and research that directly related to the content area in question. If you do not make the connection for the reader; it may not be made.

1 2 Next

Author
Recent Posts

Steven M. Baule, Ed.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Steve Baule is a faculty member at Winona State University (WSU), where he teaches in the Leadership Education Department. Prior to joining WSU, Baule spent 28 years in K-12 school systems in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, and two years teaching in the University of Wisconsin System. For the 13 years prior to moving to the university level, Baule served as a public -school superintendent. He has written 10 books on a variety of educational and historical topics and has served on the editorial boards for two journals. Baule earned an advanced diversity and equity certificate while in the UW system. He holds a doctorate in instructional technology from Northern Illinois University and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University Chicago.

Baule’s scholarly interests focus on online student engagement, educational technology-- particularly the impact of 1:1 implementations, social-emotional learning, and the history of education. Baule led several efforts to improve student emotional health and reduce discipline issues prior to moving into higher education. He also writes on aspects of early American history.

Baule has held memberships in the American Association of School Administrators, the American Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Consortium for School Networking, the International Association of School Librarians, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Staff Development Council, and many of their state affiliates. He has served as a consultant in the areas of educational technology, facilities design, library program development, team building, and communications.

Latest posts by Steven M. Baule, Ed.D., Ph.D. (see all)