Writing a Research Assistant Cover Letter (with Sample)
Use this cover letter sample to help you write a powerful cover letter that separates you from the competition.
Writing a Research Assistant Cover Letter
A research assistant cover letter should accompany a resume when a person is seeking the job of research assistant for a large corporation or a government position. A resume should never be sent without a cover letter. The cover letter will be the first contact the employer has with the applicant, which is why it should make a good impression. The letter should be engaging, creative and stand out from all the other applicants.
The applicant should convey through the letter that they are knowledgeable of the organization that will receive the application. This means that if a person is applying for several jobs at the same time, they need to personalize each cover letter. The letter should be directed to the hiring executive or human resources (HR) person for a personalized greeting that will help the letter stand out compared with letters directed To Whom it May Concern.
The aim of a good employment cover letter is to make the recipient look at the resume. This means the letter must not only contain pertinent information about the applicant’s qualifications, but should also contain some special point. This is not the place to list all the educational qualifications because those are presented in the resume. Cover letters also need to make a good presentation without spelling or grammatical errors. Either one of these could mean the letter is filed in the trash. Other things that may get a resume filed in the trash basket are:
• Overly long letters
• Generic letters that could go to any organization
• Template letters that have no personal touch
• Getting the organization’s name wrong
A good cover letter can mean the difference between getting a job or not. The HR person should be able to easily find the position for which the candidate is applying. The HR person may have many different jobs advertised and not take the time to read the resume and match it to a job. Some of the points that need to be clearly expressed in the letter are:
• Knowledge and understanding of the particular job
• Interest in working for that particular organization
• What the applicant can offer the organization
• Confidence that he or she is the right person for the job
• The applicant’s achievements and accomplishments
• How the candidate learned about the position
Are You the Best Candidate?
The applicant should not be shy in showcasing their talents in the field. They should mention specific skills and clearly present the reasons with concrete examples of why they would be the best candidate for the job.
Below is a sample cover letter to be enclosed with the applicant’s resume. It should be not more than one page, written in formal, business-style and sent by certified mail, so the applicant gets confirmation that it has been received. Two weeks after the HR director has received the letter, the applicant should call to follow-up the status of their application.
The applicant should convey through the letter that they are knowledgeable of the organization that will receive the application. This means that if a person is applying for several jobs at the same time, they need to personalize each cover letter. The letter should be directed to the hiring executive or human resources (HR) person for a personalized greeting that will help the letter stand out compared with letters directed To Whom it May Concern.
The aim of a good employment cover letter is to make the recipient look at the resume. This means the letter must not only contain pertinent information about the applicant’s qualifications, but should also contain some special point. This is not the place to list all the educational qualifications because those are presented in the resume. Cover letters also need to make a good presentation without spelling or grammatical errors. Either one of these could mean the letter is filed in the trash. Other things that may get a resume filed in the trash basket are:
• Overly long letters
• Generic letters that could go to any organization
• Template letters that have no personal touch
• Getting the organization’s name wrong
A good cover letter can mean the difference between getting a job or not. The HR person should be able to easily find the position for which the candidate is applying. The HR person may have many different jobs advertised and not take the time to read the resume and match it to a job. Some of the points that need to be clearly expressed in the letter are:
• Knowledge and understanding of the particular job
• Interest in working for that particular organization
• What the applicant can offer the organization
• Confidence that he or she is the right person for the job
• The applicant’s achievements and accomplishments
• How the candidate learned about the position
Are You the Best Candidate?
The applicant should not be shy in showcasing their talents in the field. They should mention specific skills and clearly present the reasons with concrete examples of why they would be the best candidate for the job.
Below is a sample cover letter to be enclosed with the applicant’s resume. It should be not more than one page, written in formal, business-style and sent by certified mail, so the applicant gets confirmation that it has been received. Two weeks after the HR director has received the letter, the applicant should call to follow-up the status of their application.
Sample 1 - Research Assistant Cover Letter
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email]
[Date]
[Administrator Name]
[Title]
[Organization Name]
[Address]
Dear Administrator:
I am submitting my resume in response to the recently advertised research assistant position at [Organization Name]. I believe that my training and experience closely match your requirements and my additional experience in planning and execution of annual programs and events will make me an asset to your organization.
Some key points that are relevant to this research assistant position include:
- I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from University of Miami.
- I have experience conducting statistical analyses and econometric modeling using Stata, Excel, and other software tools.
- My particular areas of expertise include conducting literature and data searches for ongoing research projects..
- I have proven myself to be a highly motivated research assistant with the ability to remain focused in high stress environments.
I am convinced that my commitment to meeting customers expectations and the ability to function as an integral part of a team would allow me to make a valuable contribution to the tradition of excellence at [Organization Name]. A challenging environment such as yours will give me the opportunity to make the best use of my skills and experience as a research assistant. I would welcome the opportunity to interview for this position and discuss how I can fulfill your requirements. Please contact me via phone or email to arrange a mutually convenient time and date for us to meet.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
List of enclosures (resume)
By Andre Bradley
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