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Cover letters: Still necessary for academics

Writing an eye-catching cover letter is often the most difficult part of assembling a job application, primarily because candidates are trying to convince the human resources manager that they are the perfect candidate for the job on just a single sheet of paper.

Some companies in Germany, like Telef贸nica, Henkel and Otto, have begun conforming to international standards and are no longer requiring traditional cover letters. Instead, the curriculum vita (resum茅) can be prefaced by a brief profile that summarizes the applicant鈥檚 most important skills. The applicant鈥檚 primary goal, ideally written specifically for the position in question, can also be included in the preface. With one-click applications, however, the individual flavour is missing completely.

But in academia and university administration 鈥� in addition to most companies 鈥� the classic cover letter is still an important part of the application process. Those applying for a job in academia 鈥� a position as a university employee, for example, or as a doctoral candidate, postdoc or professor 鈥� may have to meet special requirements. Whatever position is being applied for, the cover letter always provides candidates the opportunity to present themselves beyond their CV and to directly link their personal skills to the job being sought.

Content: What should be included?

Applicants should use their letter to elucidate why the advertised position is perfect for them and which precise qualifications they have for exactly this job. It is important to respond specifically to the job description in the advertisement. Applicants will find the following key questions helpful: What skills and goals 鈥� professional and personal 鈥� do I associate with the job offer? What about the employer do I find particularly interesting? Empty phrases such as 鈥渆xciting new challenge鈥� and 鈥済reat interest鈥� should be avoided.

Salary expectation: Should it be included in an academic cover letter?

Applicants should include their salary expectations if it is explicitly requested. The desired salary 鈥� expressed as the gross annual salary 鈥� should be expressed in connection with the benefits the applicant brings to the job in question. For more information about salaries paid in various industries, please consult the academics salary guide.

Applying with a recommendation

A recommendation from an employee of the company the candidate is applying to can increase the chances of getting a job interview 鈥� but only under certain conditions. It is important to know, for example, how the person providing the recommendation is seen within the company.

If he or she is a valued employee, their recommendation will be helpful. A recommendation from a lazy or unpopular employee on the other hand, might actually be harmful. The person doing the recommending should also know something about the applicant鈥檚 strengths and qualifications. After all, the personnel department is likely to contact them to ask for additional information.

The recommendation should be mentioned at the very beginning of the cover letter. Doing so ensures that it will be read and increases the reader鈥檚 curiosity about the rest of the application. The more important and prestigious the position held by the recommender, the more the recommendation should be emphasized.

But be careful: In some situations, it is not allowed for employees to discuss job openings that have not yet been announced. In such instances, a recommendation should be dispensed with, because without the possibility of obtaining an assessment of the applicant, it is worthless and raises more questions than it answers.

Cover letters for unsolicited applications

Openings are not always advertised on job boards or on the employer鈥檚 homepage. Particularly when job openings appear suddenly and must be filled quickly, recruiters frequently turn to candidates who previously approached the employer with an unsolicited application.

The goal of unsolicited applications is to grab the attention of the employer in question and to initiate a dialogue. Those who send in unsolicited applications demonstrate initiative, dedication and ambition. The cover letter and, especially, the introduction of an unsolicited application are therefore particularly time-consuming and complex. In the absence of a job advertisement and the initial clues it often contains, extensive research is key.

That research should clarify the following points: What products and services does the employer offer? What qualifications are important to the potential employer both now and in the future? In the cover letter, candidates must make clear the specialist skills they have that the employer needs. Ideally this will grab the employer鈥檚 attention and 鈥� if all goes well 鈥� lead to a contract.

Cover letters for jobs in academia

Those applying for positions as doctoral candidate should largely adhere to the same cover letter rules as for jobs in the private sector. In the cover letter, applicants should elucidate their interest in the position in question and indicate what skills and specialties they bring. Every cover letter should be custom written for the specific position, given that the primary goal is to establish a clear link between the job profile and one鈥檚 own qualifications and experience.

Candidates applying for a professorship should study the job advertisement particularly carefully, since the requirements for filling the opening are generally set out in detail. In only makes sense to apply if the requirements are met as precisely as possible: Research focus, teaching experience and civil service requirements must be right. If you wish to teach and conduct research at a university of applied sciences, you generally need to have practical professional experience 鈥� and this experience should be outlined in your cover letter.

Postdoc applications have a special element to them: the letter of motivation. In it, the applicant should explain why they would like to work in this particular area of research and at the institution in question 鈥� and why they are especially suitable for the position. At the end of the letter, applicants should outline a compelling vision that discusses the research priorities they would like to establish for the position advertised.

Cover letters for civil servant applications

A secure salary, regular working hours, great job security: The public sector offers many advantages. That means, however, that competition in the application process is correspondingly fierce and the demands on applicants are high.

In the public sector as well, digital applications have become more common than analogue ones. And the cover letter should generally be more conservative than creative 鈥� with a simple design, unobtrusive colours, a formal salutation and a matter-of-fact tone. Since the salaries of public service employees are regulated by collective bargaining agreements and specific pay is determined by relevant pay scales and salary tables, it is not necessary to state your salary expectations.