How to Write Letters of Intent for Education Jobs
You've graduated with a degree in education, obtained advanced certifications and licenses and now it's time to convey your qualifications and intentions in a letter. In a weak job market, the jobs may be few and competitors many, making it all the more important to present yourself in the strongest possible fashion. Provided that your letters of recommendation are in top shape, it's time to turn your attention to your cover letter. A strong cover letter can help a committee decide whether they will look further into your qualifications or throw you on the reject pile at first glance.
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Instructions
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Research the school system or university. Familiarize yourself with the philosophies, values and needs of each district, school, university or educational company that you are applying to. Your letter should reflect that knowledge.
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Compete from the start. Julia Miller Vick, co-author of The Academic Job Search Handbook (University of Pennsylvania Press), suggests that your cover letter "stand out and should not sound formulaic and impersonal. There's no excuse for not writing a cover letter that shows how your education, experience, and interests fit with what the institution is seeking."
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Direct your salutation to a real person. Or, if you have been instructed to send the information to a search committee it is acceptable to start with: "Dear Committee Members."
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Answer the questions. Mary Morris Heiberger, associate director at the Career Services office of the University of Pennsylvania, states, "If the ad mentions that four things are desired, and your letter explicitly makes reference to all four, even someone who is skimming job materials can quickly flag your application for further consideration."
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Be specific. The more you can match your experiences to the stated needs of the program, the more interesting your letter will be to the reader.
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Read it over. This will eliminate any possibility of typographical errors or misspelled names, something that could send you to the discard pile at the first cut.
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