Cover letters that spark interest are one of the keys that pave the way to obtaining job interviews: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Composing an attractive cover letter requires you to strike the right balance between promoting your unique value to a potential employer and explicating the reasons why the company or research institute you are applying to is a perfect fit for you. The workshop is aimed at PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows who wish to train their ability to write a cover letter that complements their CV and other application documents.
Objectives and workshop content:
- Content: The structure and content of various parts of a cover letter for a job application
- Attending to language conventions in cover letters
- Personalizing the letter for each application
- Highlighting your achievements and skills without sounding arrogant
- Conciseness: Keeping the letter no longer than one page
- Reviewing and customising participants’ own cover letters, both by peers and the lecturer
In addition to these core points, any issues identified in participants’ own writing may be addressed.
Target Group:
Doctoral Candidates & Postdocs
Workload:
Pre-workshop preparation:
Participants write, upload and bring to the workshop an unedited first draft of a letter of application that will be reviewed during the workshop. Having a copy of a job advertisement for a position the participant would like to apply for is also recommended, as the cover letters can then be tailored to that specific position. Workload: 1-2 hours.
Time spent in the workshop:
3 hours (4 lessons).
Post-workshop:
Participants will have the opportunity to submit their revised cover letters to the lecturer for comments and corrections. Workload: 1 hour (this part is not obligatory).