If you are ready to mentor students and pursue a rewarding academic career, an assistant professor position could be perfect for you. Assistant professors perform an important function at any college or university. They teach, conduct research, and work with students. Daily tasks can include answering inquiries, hosting office hours, grading assignments and planning lessons. Unlike professors, assistant profs don’t have tenure and might not have much teaching experience.
To land an assistant professor position, a cover letter for the application is essential. While your resume will list your experience, your assistant professor cover letter will elaborate on your specific skills and give the hiring committee an idea of why you are passionate about the position. Putting a little extra effort into your cover letter for an assistant professor job will help you to beat out your competition and land an interview.
If you are applying for the post of assistant professor in English, you’ll need to customize your associate professor cover letter to the specific English department. This cover letter sample for assistant professors can act as a guide for your own application.
Ginette Vibeke
English Department Manager
Great Mind University
I’m writing to apply for the open Assistant Professor position in the English Department at Great Mind University. I have a master’s degree in English literature from New City College and relevant experience as a teacher’s assistant. I believe my professional history will make me a good fit in your department.
In my previous position as a TA, I was responsible for planning and teaching tutorials and maintaining regular communication with my students. I developed tests and assignments, and graded essays, all of which required keen attention to detail and strong organization skills. I was able to develop my confidence as a teacher during those two years, and I look forward to bringing these skills to an assistant professor position at Great Mind.
My passion has always been medieval literature, and your English department is second to none in this regard. My particular focus is on the early Renaissance period, and I’m excited at the prospect of exploring this further in an assistant professor role.
If you have any questions about my qualifications, you can reach me by email or phone. I look forward to discussing my resume in person. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Peter Ettore
If the faculty you are applying to is mathematics, make sure you demonstrate relatable skills in your cover letter for associate professors. Use this cover letter for a faculty position example to help inspire your writing.
Nathan Mehmoud
Hiring Manager
Academy University
Dear Mr. Mehmoud,
I’m excited to submit my application for the assistant professor position at Academy University. I have a master’s in applied mathematics, and previous history as an associate professor. My combination of skills and experience make me an ideal applicant for this role.
I’ve spent the last four years working as an assistant professor at Small City College, where I planned lessons and taught tutorials while maintaining frequent communication with students and faculty. My experience as a tutor helped me develop my interpersonal skills, and I found a passion for helping students to meet their potential. These experiences all transfer directly to the assistant professor role.
I’m excited by the mathematics department at Academy University because its program attracts applicants from all over the world. I’m confident my skills and experience can support Academy University to achieve its objectives and students from diverse backgrounds.
I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further. You can reach me by phone or email. Thank you for your consideration.
Regards,
Eliana Thando
Like any application letter, writing a good assistant professor cover letter takes some time, but don’t overthink it! Here are some simple steps to writing a great cover letter for an assistant professor job.
Before you write your assistant professor cover letter, do some research about the position and the school. Knowing more about the faculty or school you’ll be working for can help you incorporate some key details into your cover letter for a university staff job. If you understand what the school is looking for in their profs, you can use the assistant professor cover letter to demonstrate that you share their values and meet their needs.
An associate professor cover letter should include all the standard components of any application letter. Use these tips to help you create an outline for your cover letter for an assistant professor job.
The very first section of your assistant professor cover letter should be basic personal information. Include your name, address, email, and links to online profiles at the top of your associate professor cover letter. You should also write the name of the hiring manager, their position title, and the company name on a cover letter for an assistant professor job.
If you’re applying for the post of assistant professor by email, use a clear subject line. It should be specific but brief and include the position title. For example, use a subject line like ‘Assistant Professor Job Application’ or ‘Assistant Professor Cover Letter and Resume.’
The greeting of your associate professor cover letter should be polite and professional. Use ‘Dear’ and then the manager’s last name.
The body paragraphs of your cover letter for the assistant professor position should be tailored to the position. Be specific about your relevant skills and experience and use direct examples of times you’ve used those skills. Try not to fit too much of your work history into the associate professor cover letter, since this will already be laid out in your resume.
Use the closing paragraph of your assistant professor cover letter to let the manager know how they can contact you. Thank them for their time and attention and invite them to follow up with you. Be confident but polite when closing your cover letter for the post of assistant professor.
The sign-off of your associate professor cover letter should be professional and polite. Words like ‘sincerely,’ or ‘best regards’ are safe choices.
If you’re writing your cover letter for an associate professor post as an email, don’t forget to include your contact information at the end. List your email and phone number once more, so the manager has easy access to your information after they’ve read your assistant professor cover letter.
When you are applying for the post of assistant professor, certain skills will make you stand out from your competition. Your assistant professor cover letter is a great opportunity to showcase these skills in action.
One of the best skills you can demonstrate on your assistant professor cover letter is good written and verbal communication. Assistant professors must communicate with faculty and students both in-person and over email. They also need to write papers and get their ideas across clearly and concisely. In your associate professor cover letter, you can give examples of times that you’ve used communication skills.
Assistant professors are often tasked with conducting research and submitting their findings to be published. Experience or training in research methods is a great skill to highlight on a cover letter for a university staff job. When you are applying for the post of assistant professor, you can mention any previous research projects you’ve worked on.
While writing a cover letter for the post of assistant professor, look for ways to demonstrate your analytical skills. Professors need to teach their students reasoning skills and be critical thinkers themselves. One way to demonstrate analytical skills on your assistant professor cover letter is by describing a challenge at work and your method of resolving it.
Keep in mind as you’re creating your assistant professor cover letter, that writing will be a big part of your job. Professors must write their research as well as email correspondence with students and faculty. A great way to demonstrate writing skills is with a well-written associate professor cover letter, but you can also indicate times that you’ve successfully used writing skills in your academic career.
If you’re applying for the post of assistant professor, you are likely passionate about academia and have dedicated a huge part of your life to your studies. Don’t be afraid to show your passion for your subject or the department in your associate professor cover letter. Passion will let the hiring manager know that you care and help your assistant professor cover letter stand out.
Educators have a challenging position and occasionally need patience when dealing with students and other faculty members. Patience is therefore a good skill to incorporate in your assistant professor cover letter. Try to give an example of a time when patience and thoughtfulness helped you in a work environment.
Since assistant professors must lead a class of students, then leadership skills are essential to include in your assistant professor cover letter. You could be speaking in front of a large group at times and may need to take charge of different tasks in your department. Include examples of your leadership ability on your cover letter for an associate professor job to help your chances with the hiring committee.
It will help you to show you’re a motivated person when applying for the post of assistant professor. Professors have a difficult job, and the hiring manager will want to know that you are enthusiastic. Look for ways to give examples of your tireless commitment to academia in your assistant professor cover letter.
Since professors work independently, present their ideas, and speak publicly, confidence is a crucial skill to demonstrate in a cover letter for a university staff job. Give examples of times you’ve been self-assured in a previous position when applying to the post of assistant professor.
A professor has many duties they need to juggle, including countless administrative tasks. It may help your chances to show your organisation skills in a cover letter for an assistant professor position. Give specific examples of your organisation skills in action when you write your assistant professor cover letter.
The best thing you can do to perfect your associate professor cover letter is to proofread it. Wait some time after you’ve finished your assistant professor cover letter to reread it and check for grammatical errors or awkward sentences. You can improve your cover letter even further by asking a friend or colleague to proofread it for you.
Whether you are applying for the post of assistant professor for the first time or have experience teaching at the university level, use your associate professor cover letter to elaborate on applicable experience. This can be anything from tutoring to camp counselling. Don’t go into your entire work history in your assistant professor cover letter but instead write about directly relevant experience and pick one or two positions you think will help you shine.
If you’re not sure how to start writing, try following an example of a cover letter for a faculty position as a jumping off point. Use this template of an assistant professor cover letter and fill it in with your own details.
[Your Name]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]
[Your Website URL]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[Hiring Manager’s Position Title]
[School Name]
[School Address]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I’m writing to apply for the position of [Position Title] at [School Name]. I am skilled in [list skills] and I have relevant experience in [list experience]. My qualifications and professional history make me an ideal candidate for this role.
In my previous role as [Previous Position Title] at [Company Name], I was responsible for [describe several key responsibilities]. During my time there, I [list major accomplishments]. I used this opportunity to advance my skills in [describe a skill] when I [give specific examples of that skill in action].
I am excited by the prospect of working for [School Name] because [give a reason you are excited]. I look forward to bringing my expertise in [list skills] to the team at [School Name].
If you have any questions about my qualifications, you can reach me by [preferred contact method]. I look forward to meeting you. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
🔑 Key Takeaways
If you’re applying for the post of assistant professor, you surely have a passion for academia and maybe even some experience under your belt.
Writing a strong associate professor cover letter is the first step in a rewarding career. Think about the skills you need to demonstrate when you write your assistant professor cover letter and give specific examples of your accomplishments. Do some research before writing a cover letter for a university staff job, and make sure you proofread before you submit.
A well-written assistant professor cover letter can land you your dream position!
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--- Originally written by Tiffany Quinn ---
