If you are looking to apply for any faculty position at a university or college, your adjunct faculty cover letter will differ from the standard business cover letter.
The cover letter you write will, in most cases, be reviewed by the HR departmentโs staff to determine if you are the best candidate for the position. After being reviewed, it will then be forwarded to the search committee, which is usually comprised mostly of academic deans and faculty members. These people will then dive deep into your adjunct faculty cover letter and resume than would be normal in the business world. They will also, in most cases, be more interested in the theoretical fundamentals of your work than any typical recruiter.
Free Templates
How to Write
Following are the steps for writing an adjunct faculty cover letter:
- Include your full name and contact info at the very top of the cover letter
- Start the letter by professionally addressing the recipient by their name and professional title
- Mention where you saw the job advert and your interest in the position
- Use the first paragraph to explain why you are the best candidate for the position
- Highlight your experiences, accomplishments, and qualifications that are related to the position that you are applying for
- Thank the recipient and express interest in meeting them to discuss the role in more detail
- End the letter with a standard sign-off and include your full name
Adjunct Faculty Cover Letter Format
Your adjunct faculty cover letter should be written in the same standard format same to that of any business cover letter. An adjunct cover letter is usually a two-page document equated to a single page for non-academic letters.
Below are examples of the appropriate format for an adjunct cover letter and guidelines for formatting yours:
Sample 1:
Clay Bridges
(111) 437-9875
Clay.bridges@email.com
4-may-16
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am honored to apply for the Adjunct Faculty position at Ridgeways University. This role will provide me with valuable experience to become a full professor as I am currently doing my Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics at Ridgeways University. I can prepare lesson plans for full professors as well as assist in grading papers since I am a diligent researcher in my chosen field.
I would like to become an Adjunct Faculty member while working on my Ph.D. I have teaching experience that I picked up as a teaching assistant while doing my masterโs degree. Feedback from my professors confirms that I can respond to studentsโ needs and explain difficult concepts to them.
I also help professors to create lesson plans and also offer proposals on how best to make students understand the course material.
Thank you very much for your time. My experience as a student at Ridgeways University has been greatly rewarding. I am ready to give back by joining the faculty.
Sincerely,
Clay Bridges
Sample 2:
Rodney King
3465Luther Street
Los Angeles, CA 45789
(222)-630-6758
rking@zmail.com
David Brooks
Boston University
5678 Hart Lane
Boston, MA 45607
Aug 7, 2013
Subject: Application for the position of Adjunct Faculty
Dear Mr. Brooks,
I am interested in your Adjunct Faculty position at Boston University. You will find that I have the qualifications and skills you require in the included resume.
As a member of the Adjunct Faculty at the Music Institute for the past 4 years, I have taught in the Music Department. I received my masterโs degree from Hogwarts University in Music Education and taught at Kingโs College as a full-time professor for 5 years. I would like to bring this experience to your school as an Adjunct Professor because of my experience, education, and my love for teaching.
I wish to further my career in Music Education with your university, and I think I am a perfect fit for this role. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely,
(Signature handwritten in blue pen ink)
Rodney King
Encl: Resume
Effective Tips
Following are the tips for writing an effective adjunct faculty cover letter:
Pass the HR screening process
The first challenge that you will have is to pass through the Human Resources (HR) Screening process. They will review all the required credentials included in the job notice and draft statements containing evidence that you have as many of the listed skills, credentials, experience, and knowledge. When writing, you should try and address as many of their preferred skills and qualifications as possible. Use concrete examples to back up your proclamations about your strengths.
Prepare yourself for a faculty review
If you are applying for an adjunct faculty position, the faculty reviewers will generally have an interest in your thinking and the approach that you will use in your research and teaching within your discipline. They will review in-depth how your background fits with their institutionโs standards.
Research the faculty that you are applying to and assess their positioning and expertise. Emphasize the key points that intersect between your philosophy and the major departmental philosophies.
Target your letter
If you have traditionally valued expertise in areas not embodied by the faculty, make sure that you categorically point them out in the cover letter. Tailor the letter to the collegeโs orientation and adjust the mix of weight on teaching and research based on the listed job requirements in that setting.
Colleges are always looking to hire adjunct faculty members who are ardent about their current research and not resting on their past works.
When writing, try, and highlight any funding that you may have received for your research work. Include any awards or recognitions that you may have received for your teaching and research activities.
Use a Professional tone
It is important that when writing your adjunct faculty cover letter you maintain professionalism throughout. Avoid the temptation of using words and phrases that could appear unprofessional or slang. Cliches are to be avoided. This does not mean, however, that you can use a conversational tone when writing to seem like you are conversing with the reader.
Proofread your work
Take a few minutes before submitting your letter and go through your letter to ensure that it is free of any misspellings and grammatical errors. You can request somebody else to go through the letter to ascertain that all the details are in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
An adjunct faculty is a professor who teaches on a part-time basis, often teaching preparatory courses or undergraduates semester-by-semester throughout an academic year.
In most cases, for you to be considered for a job as an adjunct professor, you will be required to have at least a masterโs or a doctoral degree. Though some technical schools or community colleges hiring for these faculty positions may only require you to have a bachelorโs degree along with some years of work experience.
Conclusion
Writing an adjunct faculty letter cover letter is a vital step in your job search. When writing the letter, ensure that you properly reference the qualifications listed in the job description. In your cover letter, ensure that you reference only your most relevant and outstanding qualifications to help your potential employers see how you would be the best fit for the position. We hope that this guide will help you draft a cover letter that will help you secure your dream job.