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[asbeau]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to the boards and I'm looking for some adjunct cover letter help. I hope this is the right place!
I've been home with my daughter since she was born, 2 1/2 years ago. I'm just now looking to teach a class or two. I haven't had a job since I earned my doctorate. My CV says I earned it May '11, but in reality I haven't done much of anything work or school related since June '09, so there's not much else on my CV since then.
I'm hoping someone can review this cover letter text and tell me what kind of message it sends. Also, does it work or can you suggest something else to write?
Thanks!!

Dear Dr. X:

I am writing to apply for the XXXX College adjunct faculty position in the Curriculum and Teaching Department currently posted on your website. I am particularly suited to teaching courses in educational research. I am also eager to teach courses in educational psychology, learning, and development, should those opportunities arise. I am interested in teaching a course either on campus, locally off campus, on-line, or a hybrid.
After teaching middle school math for two years, I pursued a doctoral degree in educational psychology because of my belief in the power of research to transform teaching and equality in education. Through my program, my enjoyment of educational research grew. Moreover, I was happy to discover that I loved teaching undergraduates as much as I loved teaching elementary and middle school students. Now in my third year of an extended maternity leave, I would like to begin my return to teaching.
As you can see from my vita, I have experience in educational research that I am eager to share with undergraduates. I have taken the lead on all aspects of scientific pursuits: background research, conception, planning, execution, and dissemination. I have also collaborated at each of these levels with professors and students across disciplines and institutions. Further, I worked one-on-one with three undergraduate students in developing their research interests and conducting their own original research.   
I have attached my curriculum vitae with contact information for references. I appreciate your consideration and I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you further.

[hegemony]

Hi, Asbeau.  I appreciate that you're new to this and I applaud you for taking the initiative both to apply and to ask for feedback on your letter.

The number-one thing employers look for is whether you're right for the job.  So I'd eliminate the phrases like "I'm eager to...", "I would like to..." and the mention of maternity leave.  All of the applicants are eager, of course. They assume that.  The maternity leave is irrelevant, and you don't want to plant an idea in their minds that you might be distracted from your main passion in life, which is teaching undergraduates.  (Or at least this should be the implication of your letter.)  Don't bother about explaining gaps on your resume.

So I'd foreground what you can do for them based on the wording of their ad. That's what they care most about. Your letter also doesn't mention any specific teaching at all.  Have you been in charge of a classroom in the course of your training, or even been a TA or the like?  I'd make sure that was in the letter.  I'd aim for something like:

"I'm writing to apply for the [etc. etc.]  My strengths lie in educational research, educational psychology, and learning and development; I have taught classes in X, Y and Z at So-and-So University.  I earned my PhD in Educational Blah at So-and-So University in 2011, which involved [X and Y relevant to teaching]..."

I'd put the focus less on how you're happy teaching undergraduates to things that show what a great teacher you must be -- a teaching-statement kind of focus that shows off your approach.  In fact, I'd take the word "happy" out altogether.   You don't want it to seem as if you're focused on your needs -- the job will make you happy.  Rather, you're focused on their needs.  What do they want in a teacher?  Focus on what you have to offer them. 

Best of luck

[collegekidsmom]

I also would never mention maternity leave or any sort of personal detail in any job letter.

[asbeau]

Thank you for the detailed reply. A few years ago, when I was applying for tenure-track jobs, I used a much more standard cover letter and got interviews, etc. Last year, when I was applying for adjunct jobs, I used a very similar letter with a lot of teaching details, but didn't even get a single reply. Because of that, I thought maybe the adjunct search was a different sort of animal, but I guess not.

Is there any difference between a cover letter for a tenure-track or full time teaching job and an adjunct job?

Thanks.

[zharkov]

Is there any difference between a cover letter for a tenure-track or full time teaching job and an adjunct job?

More or less the same, but I'd keep the adjunct letter to one page, and just focus on teaching.  (Not research or service.)  Also, list the exact course titles and course numbers of courses you'd be interested in teaching.

[melba_frilkins]

I have to say that on the receiving end of many applications for adjunct positions, I do appreciate explanations of gaps and I wouldn't bat an eye at maternity leave. That's legitimate and wouldn't bother me at all. However, keep in mind that I am exactly one person. I suppose majority rules when you're looking for this kind of advice.

To tell the truth, when I look at adjunct applications, 90% of what I focus on is whether the applicant has experience teaching undergrads and if they have a solid degree (in the actual discipline not a related field, and from a decent institution). Conducting any one adjunct interview is no big deal, so I err on the side of yes, let's interview them if the applicant meets those two basic criteria (and believe it or not, that means I actually reject the majority of applications). 

As such, I can't recall a cover letter actually helping an applicant to earn an interview for an adjunct position, but there are definitely letters that have stopped the application in its tracks. Perhaps then, I'm making the case for less is more.

-------------------
If you are looking for other suggestions about the letter, I'd recommend to shake up the sentence structure in the first paragraph (every single sentence begins with "I am"). And "like to begin my return to teaching" would suffice. I think "online" is more standard than "on-line".

The "As you can see from my vita..." paragraph, to me reads like you are trying too hard to stretch non-teaching duties into evidence that you can or sort of have taught. Have you taught undergrad classes before or simply decided that you would love to do that? It isn't clear from the letter alone.

[seniorscholar]

The best adjunct cover letters I've read when I was on the comp committee one year were:

I have a PhD in [English, Rhet-Comp, or Communications] [or a MFA in Creative Writing] from Name of School, and am seeking adjunct work in [this community]. I have taught [it had better include composition, and anything else] both as a TA [and as an adjunct at name of places]. In the upcoming semester I will be available [list times, as in "during the afternoon" or "for evening courses" or "mornings only"] to teach at [which location: we have a main campus in the city, a small campus in the suburbs, and a downtown "campus" for evening courses only]. I attach my c.v., and can be reached at [all the contact information you use with people that are not family, perhaps including something about the best times at any phone numbers].

Note: no explanations of why you're looking for adjunct work, no explanations of missing times on the c.v., no self-promoting enthusiasms, and no unnecessary wording. As Melba Frilkins says, what we want to know is: do you have an appropriate degree, do you have teaching experience, and where and when can you work.[/list]

[hopeandfaith]

This is a very helpful thread.

I have read somewhere (think it was a CareerBuilder article?) that the cover letter should state briefly why there is a gap in employment history.  I guess this is why it is so important to be aware of industry-specific details.

SeniorScholar makes excellent points.  To-the-point is great, but it makes landing an interview hard on those of us who do not yet have teaching experience.  :)

[seniorscholar]

  To-the-point is great, but it makes landing an interview hard on those of us who do not yet have teaching experience.  :)

Since adjuncts are hired, and often on short notice, to teach classes for whom there is no instructor available  (without any training and, often, with no supervision), it is very very hard to get an adjunct position with no teaching experience. Yes, I know this is the "how do I get experience if no one will hire me without experience?" problem, but the assumption is that you have been, at the very least, a teaching assistant some time during your graduate schooling.

If you are still in graduate school, and have no teaching experience, find out how to get some. At the very least, work for a tutoring service (there are such volunteer-run organizations in most communities of any size, dedicated to helping underprepared youth prepare for college) during the summer or in after-school hours, or seek out some other community program (English conversation for recent immigrants? adult literacy? advising adults on dealing with public agencies, or with budget issues?) which will at least give you something to claim as experience in communicating some sort of knowledge to people age 16 and up.

[hopeandfaith]

Thanks for the info SeniorScholar!

I am the primary caregiver for a recently disabled parent, and am 38 years of age.  I finishing up grad school -- I am in an online program.

Would there be a way to gain this teaching experience online?  It sounds as if most of them require hours away from home.

[tee_bee]

I have read somewhere (think it was a CareerBuilder article?) that the cover letter should state briefly why there is a gap in employment history.  I guess this is why it is so important to be aware of industry-specific details.

Yes. And one thing to keep in mind: a very large proportion of the advice offered at places like CareerBuilder does not translate well at all to academia. Keep the resume to one or two pages? No. It's not a resume here. Call a week after you send a letter to follow up? Nope.

Frankly, academia is so different from "the real world" that I'm not sure how I'd apply for a "real world" job! I knew how to do it 20 years ago.

[zharkov]

Thanks for the info SeniorScholar!

I am the primary caregiver for a recently disabled parent, and am 38 years of age.  I finishing up grad school -- I am in an online program.

Would there be a way to gain this teaching experience online?  It sounds as if most of them require hours away from home.

Once you complete your online master's degree, look for adjunct jobs teaching online.  All those big online schools have links on their home pages about employment.   You typically are required to take a free online training class, then get assignments as you are needed.  The pay isn't that hot, but the experience in doing online teaching has some value.

About staffing regular face to face classes, I'd probably give someone the chance who had taught 5 or 8 online classes.  (To teach a single class as an adjunct.)  It also depends on how much in demand your field is.