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[minidonut]

I'm applying for a humanities position at U. Glasgow - one which I would kill to have - and would like to ask what may be an overly broad, ridiculous question.  Actually, I'd like to ask a good question, but it may not turn out that way.

In short, I'm just wondering if cover letters are of the same sort as those that would be written for US universities - the general one paragraph for work, one paragraph for teaching, one paragraph for future plans, but all, of course tailored to the specific university and position - or if there are certain conventions one should be aware of when applying to a UK/Scottish university.

Any input is appreciated.  Thanks.

[marigolds]

This is only helpful in a very general way, but a friend of mine was recently living in Glasgow and applying for academic librarianships, and she said that the process was very different than any hiring process she had been through in the US - from application procedures to letters of rec to dress for the interview. 

[the_walrus]

I'm sure there are others on the board that have been on more shortlisting panels than I have (I've been on two), but my experience is that the good cover letters do look basically like what you've said.  There are some who target their letters to the "essential" and "desirable" criteria point by point.  In our department, that's not important. At others it may be, though.  My suggestion would be to at least make sure it's relatively obvious how you meet the criteria.

[expatinuk]

I've never seen a cover letter in the UK. We get the application form... that's it.

[qrypt]

I've never seen a cover letter in the UK. We get the application form... that's it.

Sure, but the application form includes the statement, and the statement is very much like a US cover letter (though without the pleasantries & fluff).

[wegie]

Your format sounds fine, minidonut. However, do make sure that you've at least touched on the essential and desirable criteria at some point or other in the letter. So, if they ask for post-doc experience say something like "as you can see from the enclosed CV, I currently hold <extremely fancy postdoc> at <even fancier university> and have just completed my second year of independent research after my PhD", yadda, yadda.

Good luck! It's a wonderful place to work (but then, with this moniker, I would say that ;-)

[the_walrus]

I've never seen a cover letter in the UK. We get the application form... that's it.

Sure, but the application form includes the statement, and the statement is very much like a US cover letter (though without the pleasantries & fluff).

Only the weakest of applicants fail to send cover letters in the cases I've seen.  But maybe I've not been on enough panels.

[scotia]

Stupid system seems to have eaten my earlier response.

We do get to see the covering letter, if they are sent. My experience is that the covering letters are sent, or not sent, by a range of candidates. Some university application systems do not allow covering letters or make it very difficult (the latter was the case in my last institution) so I don't hold it against the candidate if the CV and application form look good.

My preference, and a format I have had success with, is a no more than 1.5 page letter that simply states an interest in the job, maybe a couple of sentences on what you are doing now (which helps us to weed assorted people who see the job ad and think 'I am interested in basket-weaving - that would be a nice job to have'), a paragraph of about 300 words on research (highlighting from my CV the elements that show how I meet the essential/desirable criteria, though without explicitly saying so - as wegie suggests), a shorter paragraph on teaching and the usual stuff at the end. I also include in the application, though it has never been requested, a grid that shows the essential and desirable attributes and how my qualifications and experience match. I don't include the desirables I don't meet - any job that might ask me to have a background in teaching underwater basket weaving is not a job I want. The grid has been commented on favorably; as the dean said at my last interview (for this job), it helps those doing the short-listing by doing part of the work for them.

[minidonut]

Thanks to everyone for all of the input - it's much appreciated.

There are some who target their letters to the "essential" and "desirable" criteria point by point.  In our department, that's not important. At others it may be, though.  My suggestion would be to at least make sure it's relatively obvious how you meet the criteria.

I also include in the application, though it has never been requested, a grid that shows the essential and desirable attributes and how my qualifications and experience match...The grid has been commented on favorably; as the dean said at my last interview (for this job), it helps those doing the short-listing by doing part of the work for them.

You know, I've actually considered doing the latter, and think I may just do it this time around.  I've been having miserable luck on the job search, and thought about totally changing up my cover letters - nothing to lose, really, and might be interesting to see if it helps at all.  I think I'm an excellent fit for this position, and maybe I need to unequivocally point this out.

I'm probably setting myself up for another disappointment, but I'm allowing myself the fantasy of picturing working there.  I would sooooo like this job.

[mingus]

I wouldn't worry about that.  The fact that you want to work (a) in Scotland, which has crappy weather, and that's saying something for the UK, and (b) Glasgow, which one of the crappiest cities in Scotland, says a lot about your decision-making abilities.  Still, I wish you luck and doubt a cover letter would make much difference.

[secretweapon]

I wouldn't worry about that.  The fact that you want to work (a) in Scotland, which has crappy weather, and that's saying something for the UK, and (b) Glasgow, which one of the crappiest cities in Scotland, says a lot about your decision-making abilities.  Still, I wish you luck and doubt a cover letter would make much difference.

Uhh... what about the fact that he wants to work at a very good university in a terrible economy?  In a city with some lovely architecture?  And that most of the applicants have no problem with the weather, because they don't know much different?

Good luck anyway, Minidonut!  I would write a cover letter if I were you - I always have done.  It allows you to be crystal clear about how you meet each item of criteria in the essential and desirable lists.  Worst case scenario, the HR people throw it out. 

[scotia]

I wouldn't worry about that.  The fact that you want to work (a) in Scotland, which has crappy weather, and that's saying something for the UK, and (b) Glasgow, which one of the crappiest cities in Scotland, says a lot about your decision-making abilities.  Still, I wish you luck and doubt a cover letter would make much difference.

(1) There are bits of Scotland that have far better weather than bits of England. I speak from experience here. Admittedly those bits of Scotland do not include Glasgow.
(2) I have a lot of friends, not all of them natives (including two from the US who are now honorary Wegies), who love Glasgow. Like all major cities it has good bits and bad bits. Few major (any?) UK cities have the lochs and mountains quite so close by. Within two hours of leaving Glasgow you can easily be in the Arrochar Alps or the Trossachs.

Good luck minidonut.

[minidonut]

I wouldn't worry about that.  The fact that you want to work (a) in Scotland, which has crappy weather, and that's saying something for the UK, and (b) Glasgow, which one of the crappiest cities in Scotland, says a lot about your decision-making abilities.  Still, I wish you luck and doubt a cover letter would make much difference.

And the tenor of your response - which is unnecessarily nasty - says volumes about you.

To the others who responded, thanks again very, very much.

[jerseyjay]

I wouldn't worry about that.  The fact that you want to work (a) in Scotland, which has crappy weather, and that's saying something for the UK, and (b) Glasgow, which one of the crappiest cities in Scotland, says a lot about your decision-making abilities.  Still, I wish you luck and doubt a cover letter would make much difference.

Of course, I have heard people say similar things about New Haven, CT., so there you go. For what it is worth, I have known people who have worked at U. of Glasgow  and commuted daily from Edinburgh.