Hi Hayder,

I do understand your desire to write these pieces carefully.  A very good idea.  I can give you some advice based upon what I have given my doctoral students when they are searching for jobs in the United States, Canada, English, and Australia.  These suggestions work there...not certain about other regions and what they expect in academic searches. 

With that caveat, the CV is actually a brief report of your "academic/Scholarly life" (hence the term)...you provide the basic and overall information about your accomplishments so far as an academic/researcher/scholar. This should be done in a readable and consistent format and the following areas should be included (if you have accomplishments in each one....otherwise, focus on the ones that have content). A section each for: Education, Title of the Dissertation, Professional Employment, Professional Memberships, Honors and Awards, Professional Duties,Courses Taught, Publications (divided by Refereed Articles; Books, Monographs, Chapters, and Manuals), Reviews and Other Selected Publications, Additional Publishing Activities, Selected Refereed Presentations at National and International Meetings, Selected Seminars/Workshops Presented, Invited University Lectures and Colloquia, Paid Research Consultantships, and Funded Grants. 

These areas are generally what one includes (if you have experience or content for them.....what I have suggested here is NOT expected of someone just beginning their academic career...or even someone fairly new (6 years or less) to academia.... these are categories to include if you have some content in them. I have attached a sample vitae with only the headings and  few items for format purposes.....remember, though, all these categories are more appropriate for a senior level (i.e., old and experienced) scholar...so don't worry if you don't have use for some of the headings.

The cover letter/application letter is the one real opportunity to show the full search committee what is unique about you for their position.  It is true that when you send the vitae, it gives the information that they are looking for regarding baseline qualifications.  However, everyone’s vitae are fairly similar in format and so they often look the same…it is in the actual letter of application that you “push” your uniqueness and advantage.  Of course, during any other contact you get to impress the one or two people you interact with…and that is crucial….it helps get you the interview with the committee…..but this letter and the vitae are the first times the actual committee gets to evaluate you…and it is permanent…ink and paper…so you should carefully craft this letter to show what sets you apart.

 First, the opening that you have for those positions that you are really interested in, you should directly contact and then follow up with this kind of letter.  For those applications going to someone that you have previously met or have talked with on the phone (NOT a bad idea for those you are interested in), you need to open more specifically and personably.  Something like:

 Dear Dr. ______,

Thank you so much for your time and the information that you gave me last _____ concerning your advertised position at ______________.  Based upon our conversation, I was better able to gauge the position and the opportunities there.  Frankly, our conversation has gotten me quite interested in your department and your advertised position.  Consequently please consider this letter and curriculum vitae as my application for this position.

You get the idea.  You must let them think that you are interested only or uniquely in them and their program.  To do otherwise puts people off.  Of course, if you do this, then make certain that the following paragraphs pick up on that.  For example in your letter (if you use a more personable opening) you would change the beginning of the next paragraph appropriately (As I mentioned to you during our conversation, I am currently…).  Again, being a bit personable and even showing interest in them helps. HOWEVER, be careful not to cite specific people there lest you fall prey to any “in-house” struggles, agendas, or conflicts.

Second, let them know you are interested in the people and opportunities there.  It is important for them to know you are interested and motivated to go the extra step of, for example, looking at their website.  Note, however, that I wouldn’t commit to a name or project….while that may please someone…it may alienate someone else.  Imagine what such a statement might do here if you “picked the wrong horse”.

Third, you should stress a few of the items that are unique about you and your experience…that is, what you can offer them that is unique. Make it personable and more specific directing them to parts of the vitae.

Fourth, I think that in the last paragraph you should again be more personable and come out and express your interest again.  If there is something about the region of the country or something else additional, put that here too.  It lets them have further knowledge of how strongly you are interested and that never hurts.  It is not excessive – no one wants a “suck up” but it does the job.

A few other “caveats”

If you use the same letter (and I would) to every possible job opening, make certain that you “tweak” it a bit for each unique place and, above all, carefully check that you have all the names and facts correct on each individual letter.  I can’t tell you how many times I have seen application letters with the wrong names somewhere in the letter……look also at the prepositions used.  Frankly, if a letter that I get makes that mistake, I think they are not really that serious and I have actually thrown such letters away.  BE CAREFUL.

In any contacts, be personably but “academic business-like. Don’t talk too much about yourself and your accomplishments.  Talk about them and how you can learn and collaborate and fit in.  Be confident but not egocentric.  Remember, people are trying to figure out 1) if you can fit their needs and 2) if you can all “get along” or live together……it is sort of like a marriage.

Do follow-up via a phone call or e-mail about two weeks after you send the letter.  Tell them that you wanted to make certain they got the application and see if there is anything else they need.  Again, it shows interest and motivation.

If there are applications where the deadlines have come and gone, give the search committee chair a call and check to see if the deadline was extended.  Tell them that you were waiting to make certain you gave them enough time before following up and since their position interests you so much you thought you would ask.    

I know this is long...but perhaps it will help you. Good luck! 

Hi,

A CV is a background information on your education and working experience. A cover letter is addressed to the particular employer whom you applying for a job and this letter promotes you in terms of you being qualified for the job applied for. 

Article A Curriculum Vitae: Making Your Best Impression

Dear Hayder S. Ahmed,

Please check the links below for your reference: 

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/how-to-write-a-cv

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/example-cvs

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/cover-letters

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/cvs-and-cover-letters/cover-letters/sample-cover-letter

http://www.mccc.edu/pdf/career-services_resume-guide.pdf

Best regards,

Pham

Hi Hayder,

I do understand your desire to write these pieces carefully.  A very good idea.  I can give you some advice based upon what I have given my doctoral students when they are searching for jobs in the United States, Canada, English, and Australia.  These suggestions work there...not certain about other regions and what they expect in academic searches. 

With that caveat, the CV is actually a brief report of your "academic/Scholarly life" (hence the term)...you provide the basic and overall information about your accomplishments so far as an academic/researcher/scholar. This should be done in a readable and consistent format and the following areas should be included (if you have accomplishments in each one....otherwise, focus on the ones that have content). A section each for: Education, Title of the Dissertation, Professional Employment, Professional Memberships, Honors and Awards, Professional Duties,Courses Taught, Publications (divided by Refereed Articles; Books, Monographs, Chapters, and Manuals), Reviews and Other Selected Publications, Additional Publishing Activities, Selected Refereed Presentations at National and International Meetings, Selected Seminars/Workshops Presented, Invited University Lectures and Colloquia, Paid Research Consultantships, and Funded Grants. 

These areas are generally what one includes (if you have experience or content for them.....what I have suggested here is NOT expected of someone just beginning their academic career...or even someone fairly new (6 years or less) to academia.... these are categories to include if you have some content in them. I have attached a sample vitae with only the headings and  few items for format purposes.....remember, though, all these categories are more appropriate for a senior level (i.e., old and experienced) scholar...so don't worry if you don't have use for some of the headings.

The cover letter/application letter is the one real opportunity to show the full search committee what is unique about you for their position.  It is true that when you send the vitae, it gives the information that they are looking for regarding baseline qualifications.  However, everyone’s vitae are fairly similar in format and so they often look the same…it is in the actual letter of application that you “push” your uniqueness and advantage.  Of course, during any other contact you get to impress the one or two people you interact with…and that is crucial….it helps get you the interview with the committee…..but this letter and the vitae are the first times the actual committee gets to evaluate you…and it is permanent…ink and paper…so you should carefully craft this letter to show what sets you apart.

 First, the opening that you have for those positions that you are really interested in, you should directly contact and then follow up with this kind of letter.  For those applications going to someone that you have previously met or have talked with on the phone (NOT a bad idea for those you are interested in), you need to open more specifically and personably.  Something like:

 Dear Dr. ______,

Thank you so much for your time and the information that you gave me last _____ concerning your advertised position at ______________.  Based upon our conversation, I was better able to gauge the position and the opportunities there.  Frankly, our conversation has gotten me quite interested in your department and your advertised position.  Consequently please consider this letter and curriculum vitae as my application for this position.

You get the idea.  You must let them think that you are interested only or uniquely in them and their program.  To do otherwise puts people off.  Of course, if you do this, then make certain that the following paragraphs pick up on that.  For example in your letter (if you use a more personable opening) you would change the beginning of the next paragraph appropriately (As I mentioned to you during our conversation, I am currently…).  Again, being a bit personable and even showing interest in them helps. HOWEVER, be careful not to cite specific people there lest you fall prey to any “in-house” struggles, agendas, or conflicts.

Second, let them know you are interested in the people and opportunities there.  It is important for them to know you are interested and motivated to go the extra step of, for example, looking at their website.  Note, however, that I wouldn’t commit to a name or project….while that may please someone…it may alienate someone else.  Imagine what such a statement might do here if you “picked the wrong horse”.

Third, you should stress a few of the items that are unique about you and your experience…that is, what you can offer them that is unique. Make it personable and more specific directing them to parts of the vitae.

Fourth, I think that in the last paragraph you should again be more personable and come out and express your interest again.  If there is something about the region of the country or something else additional, put that here too.  It lets them have further knowledge of how strongly you are interested and that never hurts.  It is not excessive – no one wants a “suck up” but it does the job.

A few other “caveats”

If you use the same letter (and I would) to every possible job opening, make certain that you “tweak” it a bit for each unique place and, above all, carefully check that you have all the names and facts correct on each individual letter.  I can’t tell you how many times I have seen application letters with the wrong names somewhere in the letter……look also at the prepositions used.  Frankly, if a letter that I get makes that mistake, I think they are not really that serious and I have actually thrown such letters away.  BE CAREFUL.

In any contacts, be personably but “academic business-like. Don’t talk too much about yourself and your accomplishments.  Talk about them and how you can learn and collaborate and fit in.  Be confident but not egocentric.  Remember, people are trying to figure out 1) if you can fit their needs and 2) if you can all “get along” or live together……it is sort of like a marriage.

Do follow-up via a phone call or e-mail about two weeks after you send the letter.  Tell them that you wanted to make certain they got the application and see if there is anything else they need.  Again, it shows interest and motivation.

If there are applications where the deadlines have come and gone, give the search committee chair a call and check to see if the deadline was extended.  Tell them that you were waiting to make certain you gave them enough time before following up and since their position interests you so much you thought you would ask.    

I know this is long...but perhaps it will help you. Good luck! 

 Dears,

Thank you very much for the interest.

Sincerely

Dear Hayder

Cover Letter is a document that highlights the job seeker’s credentials, generally sent with a resume or curriculum vitae.

Curriculum Vitae shortly known as CV, on the other hand is a summary of the applicant’s educational and employment credentials. A little bit of confusion takes birth in the mind of many people when they are asked to distinguish the two. Just take a read of this article to know about the differences between CV and cover letter.

Key Differences Between CV and Cover Letter

The major differences between CV and Cover Letter are explained below:

Curriculum Vitae is a biography of a person’s career like his qualifications, skills, competencies, achievements, etc. Cover Letter is a letter which gives a short description of the applicant to the potential employer.

CV is a detailed document, but Cover Letter is ‘to the point’ document.

A CV includes the details about the educational and employment history of the applicant. Conversely, cover letter expresses the interest of the candidate in the job applied.

Normally, the size of CV is two or more than two pages. On the other hand the length of a cover letter does not exceed one page.

A CV cannot modified according to the job, it remains same for all jobs, whereas a cover letter can be modified according to the job.

Dear Hayder -

An excellent reference for all kinds of writing is the Purdue Online Writing Lab, (Purdue OWL) sponsored by Purdue University here in the U.S.

The following URL will lead you to information about cover letters;

          https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/734/01/ 

The next will lead you to information about writing a CV:

          https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/641/1/  

Finally, on the home page you can search any writing topic you need:

          https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/  

I understand the desire to know how to address these issues since  good writing skills are essential today. I use the Purdue OWL site and often refer students to it.

GOOD LUCK!

Bonnie

 Dears,

Thank you very much for the interest.

Sincerely

Dear Bonnie,

I liked very much your suggestion!

Congratulations!

Dionéia

Dear Colleagues,

We have a RG Project

https://www.researchgate.net/project/International-Journal-of-Psycho-Educational-Sciences?openDialog=followers

And we need an editor of the English language. We invite linguists, literary scholars and teachers of English with the degrees at least a PhD or above.

If there is someone interested, could you, please send your proposals to our RG colleague, Beata Borowska-Beszta?( via RG or to [email protected])

Thank you for your kind attention,

Dionéia

A CV (curriculum vitae) is different from a cover letter in that acover letter is more concise and a CV is fairly detailed. While a CVincludes detailed information about a person's educational background and work experience, a cover letter is a more concise document expressing interest in the job being applied to.