example of cover letter harvard

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The Best Cover Letter I Ever Received

• David Silverman

In my last post I talked about how to make your résumé more likely to catch the attention of a hiring manager. As a follow up, I’d like to discuss cover letters. Here’s my basic philosophy on them: don’t bother. That’s because the cover letters I see usually fall into one of three categories: The […]

In my last post I talked about how to make your résumé more likely to catch the attention of a hiring manager . As a follow up, I’d like to discuss cover letters. Here’s my basic philosophy on them: don’t bother.

• David Silverman has had ten careers so far, including entrepreneur, executive, and business writing professor. He is the author of Typo: The Last American Typesetter or How I Made and Lost 4 Million Dollars and of the April 2011 HBR article, Synthesis: Constructive Confessions .

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Resumes: What You Need to Know

The resume is an opportunity to market yourself to a prospective employer. It should be succinct, target an employer's needs, and distinguish you from your competitors. Before you get started, think about your strengths, weaknesses, personal preferences, and motivations. You should also consider the company's needs, who your competition might be, and your unique skill set. The best way to convince employers that you will add value is to show them that you've done it before.

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Our Alumni Resume Book connects you with organizations looking for talent. Visit 12twenty (our recruiting platform) and upload your resume to get started. You should complete your Profile in 12twenty by updating your Background tab which contains information about your career experience, skills, preferences and more. Ensuring your Background tab is complete and accurate will greatly improve your chance of being contacted by an organization. Looking to connect with fellow HBS alumni? Upload your resume to the Alumni Networking Resume Book to kick start those connections.

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• Receive an objective score on your resume based on recruiter criteria
• Review line-for-line targeted feedback on your resume
• Re-upload your resume up to 10 times to track improvement

Sign up using your HBS email address. Account requests are granted within 24 business hours. During holidays and winter break (December 24th – January 1st) turnaround time will be delayed until the CPD office reopens. Please note, we recommend you review your resume before considering it final.

Resumes: Sections, Templates & Examples

• Contact details - Let others know who you are and how to get in touch with you. In addition to your name, you should list your mailing address, phone number, and email address. It is expected to be found at the top of the page. No need to include it on additional pages.
• Professional history - Start with your most recent role and list in descending chronology. For each role, provide a sentence or two that describes the scope of your responsibility. Then in bullet format, provide accomplishment statements. To write an accomplishment statement, state the problem you encountered, the action you took and the result or impact of your actions. For example, "Led team in implementing a new general ledger package by providing expertise and encouragement, which contributed to a successful, on-time project completion."
• Education - Spell out your degree so it will stand out better. It is not necessary to include your GPA or GMAT score. Do not list courses. Do list any leadership roles or study abroad experiences.
• Summary/Profile - A great opportunity to tell the reader exactly what you want them to know. It should be 3-4 sentences in paragraph form following your contact information. Be careful not to load up on overused resume jargon and avoid listing previous jobs/education as it is redundant. Instead, focus on your branding statement, unique themes in your career path, and skills.
• Key skills - Listing your skills is a great way for the reader to quickly evaluate your skill set. List skills that are relevant to your next position. For each skill, you will need a proof statement in the form of an accomplishment stated in the professional experience section. A good way to set up this section is in 2 or 3 columns with 3-4 skills in each column. The heading could be "Key Areas of Expertise" or "Core Competencies".
• Personal/Interests - Only include if it helps tell your story.
• Additional roles - If you participate in organizations outside of your professional employment, you may list these in a separate section. Headings are typically "Volunteer Leadership Roles" or "Community Service".
• Licenses and Professional Certifications - If you possess a license or certification, these should be called out in a separate section.
• Objective - No longer in style. Do not include in your resume.
• References available upon request - No longer in style. Do not include in your resume.
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Chronological - This is the most commonly used layout. Recommended for a mostly consistent record of employment showing progression/growth from position to position. Not recommended for gaps in employment dates, those out of job market for some time, or changing careers.

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Streamlined Chronological - This layout also shows progression from one job to the next, but does not include extra sections such as Summary/Profile or Areas of Expertise. Recommended for recent alumni.

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Chronological/Functional Hybrid Resume - In this layout, you can highlight your employment history in a straight chronological manner, but also make it immediately clear you have filled a variety of roles that use different but related skill sets. This is useful to provide a few accomplishments in the beginning to show a theme. Each role would also have specific accomplishment statements.

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Cover Letter Writing

It is essential to send a cover letter with your resume to provide a recruiter with insight into your qualifications, experience, and motivation for seeking a position. The letter also conveys your personal communication style, tone, and professionalism. An effective employment letter should:

• Be targeted and personalized
• State why you are interested in the company
• Explain how you can fill a need
• Convey your enthusiasm about the opportunity
• Suggest next steps for communication and action

Guidelines & Examples

Investigate your target company. What is the company's "breaking news?" What drives their business? What are their greatest challenges and opportunities? How can you contribute? eBaker can help with your research.

Outline your objectives using relevant information that attracts the attention of the reader.

• Salutation Address the letter to a specific person. Capture the reader's attention and briefly introduce yourself. Mention the referral/company contact, if applicable. State the purpose of your letter.
• Body Describe relevant information you discovered about the company. Discuss the position offered or the position you are looking for. Detail how your skills will benefit the company.
• Closing Convey your enthusiasm. Anticipate response.

Pay close attention to sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation. Always print your letter to check for typographical errors. Have a friend, colleague, or family member review your letter whenever possible.

Cover letters are the place to briefly and directly address the gap in your career. For example, "I am returning to the workforce after a period of raising children." Then address your strengths, qualifications and goals. Emphasize your excitement and preparedness to re-enter the workforce now.

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Branding You

Resume writing tips  , creating visual impact.

A concise, visually appealing resume will make a stronger impression than a dense, text-laden document. Respect page margins and properly space the text. Learn to appreciate the value of "white space." Limit a resume to one or two pages but not one and ¼. Ensure content is balanced on both pages. A CV is typically longer because it includes additional sections such as publications and research.

Use Parallel Construction

Select a consistent order of information, format, and spacing. If one experience starts with a brief overview followed by bullet points, subsequent experiences should follow a similar form. Parallel construction—including the use of action verbs (pdf) (login required) to start all phrases—greatly enhances a resume's readability.

Always Proofread

Pay close attention to margin alignment, spelling, punctuation, and dates. Read your resume backward to check for typographical errors. (You will focus on individual words, rather than the meaning of the text.) Better yet, have a friend, colleague, or family member review your resume.

Use Action Verbs

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Improve Your Writing

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How to Write a Great Resume and Cover Letter

Linda Spencer offers helpful tips and resources to help you write your resumé and cover letter.

What makes a great résumé and cover letter? Linda Spencer, associate director and coordinator of career advising at Harvard Extension School, shares examples of a few strong résumés and explains what makes them stand out.

Perfect Your Marketing Documents

Spencer stresses it’s important to know that your résumé and cover letter are marketing documents. Also keep in mind that the average employer takes about seven seconds to review these documents. They’re not reading: they’re skimming. So you need to make it clear right off the bat how you can add value.

Strong résumés don’t have to be lengthy. One to two pages that feature your most top accomplishments works well.

Use Action Words and Customize Your Pitch

When highlighting your professional experience, use accomplishment statements rather than descriptions of your role. Start with an action verb. Then detail the impact that action had: Did you increase, decrease, modify, or change anything in your work? Finally, be sure to quantify the accomplishments. Data helps.

Your cover letter should be one page, highly customized to each position you’re applying for. It answers two questions: why are you the right fit for the position? And how will you add value to the organization?

While it’s important to have a strong résumé and cover letter, it’s also important to remember that the number one job search strategy is networking. You don’t want to simply be reactive, applying blindly to job postings. You want to conduct a series of informational meetings so that you build a network of people you can reach out to when it comes time to start your job search.

Any Extension student can attend first-come, first-served 15-minute call-ins (via phone or Skype) with Linda. See Career Services for more information.

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Harvard cover letter example

Cover letter header

Cover letter greeting, cover letter introduction, cover letter middle part (body), how to close a harvard cover letter (conclusion and sign-off).

It's the college that needs no introduction. Harvard is the world's most prestigious university, ranking in the top position in the Times Higher Education poll. It's kind of a big deal. So, if you have your sights set on gaining a job at the institute, you need to pull out all the stops.

Your Harvard cover letter doesn’t simply depend on your booksmarts. It's about more than the qualifications you have — although they absolutely matter too. Yes, this is a chance to tell your personal story and win the reader over with your dreams and resilience.

This guide, along with the corresponding Harvard cover letter, is designed to show you create the most effective application possible by:

• Choosing the best cover letter format and including each of the required sections
• Writing with powerful action verbs and examples of your achievements
• Sharing your own journey to convince an admissions officer of your desire to succeed
• Avoiding mistakes often made on cover letter samples.

Resume.io is a resource for job seekers at every stage of their careers. You can find even more insight and valuable writing tips for your desired field of study in our 180+ free cover letter examples.

If you’re looking for more cover letter help as a student, check out these related education cover letter examples:

• Scholarship cover letter example
• University cover letter sample
• Internship cover letter sample
• Student cover letter example
• Graduate cover letter example

Best format for a Harvard cover letter

As with any cover letter, your Harvard one should contain sections that make it easy for the reader to find the information they are looking for. Here are the essential components of your Harvard cover letter sample:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting / salutation
• The cover letter intro
• The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
• The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)

By this point in your high school career, you’ve no doubt written a number of English essays. You’ll likely find that the parts of a cover letter are much the same – the intro is your hook, for example, and the body is the place to present the strongest evidence of your achievements. 

This structure helps your letter flow from one section to another and keeps an admissions officer interested in what you have to say. Unlike a normal cover letter which discusses much of the experience on your resume, a Harvard cover letter should tell a personal story without needing much detail about your high school clubs or leadership roles (unless that’s part of the story you want to tell, of course!)

Below is a Harvard cover letter example to help you get started in writing your own.

Dear Professor Lockwood,

MY Ph.D. advisor, Professor Caroline Buchanan has suggested I write to enquire about the possibly of conducting my postdoctoral research at your Harvard faculty. I am currently completing my Ph.D. in mathematical sciences and as you have the same academic background as Professor Buchanan, I am interested to explore the possibilities.

My focus on applied mathematics and data science has driven the direction of my academic research and having published 30+ papers and corporate case studies, I am seeking a position with an eminent mathematical mind to help shape my future work. As a keen programmer, I am particularly interested in the intersection of coding and mathematics and how A.I. led programming is able to simplify the manipulation of data.

I can demonstrate that my projects are accessible to undergraduate researchers, and I have considerable experience of working in diverse teams, encompassing both academic and corporate research.

During my Ph.D. studies, I taught undergraduate courses, including calculus and advanced algebra. I would welcome the opportunity to continue this at Harvard and have a track record of improving learner outcomes. My tutoring students enjoyed a 100% pass rate and I have 28 letters of recommendation to share. Modules that I would particularly enjoy teaching include: Precalculus, Calculus, Fundamental Maths, Linear Algebra, Probability and Algebraic Structures.

Enclosed with this letter, please find my CV, research and teaching documents and a selection of recommendation letters. I will be visiting Harvard for the machine learning symposium in February and would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss my application.

Yours sincerely,

Taylor Laughton

The header of your cover letter serves two important roles: the first is to label the document with your name and contact information so the admissions officer knows exactly whose letter they are reading. The second is to create a bit of visual formatting that catches the admissions officers attention and helps them remember your cover letter a bit better than all the others. 

You may be submitting your letter in an online application or another format that doesn’t allow for a header. If that’s the case, make sure your name, phone number, email and other relevant details are included in the appropriate boxes so that there’s never a question of how to contact you.

You can see an attractive and functional header on our Harvard cover letter example.

The aim of the cover letter header: Include the most relevant contact details and create an attractive page layout to make your cover letter sample stand out from the rest.

The cover letter greeting is how you address the person (or people) who will be reading your cover letter. In many other situations, you’d be instructed to address your letter to the name of the recipient in order to make a personal connection and show interest. In the case of Harvard, however, you’ll likely need a more general greeting. 

In certain circumstances, your Harvard cover letter sample won’t need a greeting at all. If you’re asked to paste your letter into a box with limited word count, forgo the greeting to maximize writing space. 

The aim of the cover letter greeting: Use a general greeting that’s appropriate for a Harvard cover letter in order to set a friendly and respectful tone.

Here’s the greeting from our Harvard cover letter example.

The introduction is the hook of your Harvard cover letter. This is the place to draw a reader into the story you have to tell and to give them a reason to read until the very end. The introduction is generally the first paragraph of your cover letter sample. Set the scene, give the details of the characters and offer a sense of what the admissions officer will discover in the rest of your cover letter.

The aim of the cover letter introduction: Begin your cover letter with an interesting set-up that hints at the rest of the letter and encourages the reader to continue.

Check out the introduction from our Harvard cover letter example below.

The body of your cover letter gives you all the space you need to expand on your story and convince the admissions officer that you’re the best choice for one of Harvard’s limited positions. In the body section, you’ll need to explain how the experiences you’re writing about changed you and made you the person you are today.

The aim of the cover letter body: Share more details about your story that explain your outlook and attitude today.

Use the body from our Harvard cover letter example as a model for your own.

Your Harvard cover letter should make a point and wrap up into an easily-digestible conclusion. Generally-speaking, your conclusion should reflect your outlook on the world or describe the ways in which you’d be an asset to Harvard (without directly pleading for a spot.) 

Unless you’ve included a greeting, there’s generally no need to sign-off. Your cover letter should be complete at the final line of the conclusion.

The aim of the cover letter conclusion: Share the moral of the story and end with your final thoughts that show what type of professional you’d be at Harvard.

Here’s the conclusion from our Harvard cover letter example.

Writing psychology: how to tell your story

In order to succeed in writing a Harvard cover letter sample, you’ll first need to reflect on your own life and look for interesting stories to share. Here are some questions to consider:

• What experiences have I had that were particularly memorable?
• Have I lived through any situations that are unusual for people my age?
• Who or what has influenced me the most in life?
• Where do I get my drive and inspiration?
• What are my strongest personality traits and where do they come from?
• What are some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned at this stage in my life?

There are no right or wrong topics for a Harvard cover letter, but make sure to choose one that you are truly passionate about. By weaving a narrative throughout your cover letter and focusing on your authentic experiences and tone of voice, you can be sure the admissions officer will feel your passion and desire to be part of their university.

You are so much more than your grades. While you might have worked years to perfect them, a great GPA doesn’t guarantee a role at Harvard. Many of the applicants you’re up against have also done their best. The cover letter sample can go a long way in making you stand out from other candidates who are also at the top of their class.

Basic mistakes in a Harvard application letter (and how to avoid them)

• Cliches and generic information: The reader has read it all, so it’s important to give them something that stands out. Cover letters about hard work, athletic achievements or tragedies will need to be revised carefully so that they don’t come across as too generic.
• Poor tone: Your tone should be authentic without ever sacrificing professionalism. You don’t need to beg for a shot, but you should also be careful to avoid coming across as entitled or demanding.
• Spelling and grammar mistakes: When the competition is this fierce, any little typo or grammar mistake can be a big deal. Avoid these issues by using spell check and asking a trusted mentor to proofread.
• Formatting issues: If you need to upload a cover letter sample as its own file, you’ll want to make sure that your layout and design is as attractive as possible. A free cover letter template can help you do this quickly.

Key takeaways

• A Harvard cover letter is one of the most important documents to help you get a position at this prestigious institution.
• As seen in our cover letter example, having clear and organized sections makes it easier for the reader to understand your letter.
• Most Harvard cover letters will share a personal story about the applicant and explain what they’ve learned or how it affected them.
• Avoid cliche topics like sports victories, tragedies or difficult coursework and look for unique moments in your life to expand upon.

Free professionally designed templates

Cover Letter for a job

• Name the exact position. Reference the requisition number if available.
• State why you are interested in the position.
• Show how you think you and the organization are a good match.
• Make it clear that you expect to hear back.
• Keep the cover letter to 1 page , with an optional second page for a list of publications/presentations or a list of references.
• Make sure the cover letter has no spelling or grammatical mistakes.

Ideally, a cover letter is the cherry on top of a long process of networking and research about the job opportunity. In the best case scenario:

• you know exactly who will read the letter,
• you know what they are excited to see in candidates, and
• you are acquainted with the person who will be reading your letter (or you know someone who knows that person) so that the reader knows to pay special attention to your letter.

Your cover letter and resume are the first parts of your job application that will be evaluated. Your cover letter may be the only part anyone reads. If the hiring manager (or selection committee or whatever) doesn’t like what they see in your cover letter, your application might go directly into the “no” pile. You need to quickly assure your reader that the rest of your application is worth looking at.

If you make it over this first hurdle, the cover letter can serve as an overview for your resume. The cover letter and resume are closely related in terms of their purpose and tone, so you might also want to read our guide to writing a resume .

Analyze Your Audience

Get a feeling for the personality of your target employer or organization. Read the job posting and the rest of the employer’s website carefully. A group that describes itself as “a young and dynamic startup” will be looking for a different applicant than “an established industry leader”. Customize the formality and content of your application to match the employer’s self-image. The more you know about your potential employer, the stronger your cover letter can be.

We have demonstrated how to analyze a job posting in the Authentic Annotated Example (AAE) section. We have provided an example job posting, and highlighted the key traits the employer desires to see in an ideal candidate.

Write a different cover letter for every application

A cover letter should show a match between you and the position for which you are applying. To be a fit for a position, you need to also be a fit for the organization. Do your homework! What goals and opportunities excite you about the organization? What makes it a good place for you to work and advance your career? Which of your skills and accomplishments match those requested in the job posting?

You’ll be a more exciting candidate if you demonstrate that you understand and are enthusiastic about the organization’s mission. Find specific words or phrases that the organization uses to describe its own values (e.g, “transforming the landscape of renewable energy,” “fast-moving and dynamic”). Echo these ideas in your letter. Highlight experiences and interests of yours that correspond to these values.

In the AAE section, we have provided an example cover letter that was tailored to the example job posting, and was written to demonstrate how the candidate matches the employer’s desired traits.

Structure of a Cover Letter

Cover letters follow a very specific structure which helps the reader quickly ascertain the candidate’s contact information, interest, and qualifications. Most readers have well-defined expectations for a cover letter. They are reading many cover letters at once and want to quickly decide if you go in the “yes” or “no” pile. A cover letter is not a place for creative structure or excessive flair. See the example structure of a cover letter, below.

Letterhead . Give your name and contact information. List the date and the organization to which you are sending the cover letter.

• Don’t make your name too big. This isn’t a Steven King novel.
• Your telephone number and email are enough. Use your professional or collegiate email address. Include your address if you are local and you think they are looking for local job candidates.

Salutation . Greet the reader of the cover letter.

• If you are addressing a specific person, make sure to spell their name correctly.
• If you don’t know to whom to address the cover letter, use a generic greeting such as, “To Whom it May Concern,” “Dear Sir or Madam,” etc.

Brief Introduction . Name the position. Include job numbers or job posting locations. This paragraph is one or maybe two sentences. Explain why the position interests you, in the context of previous work or education, or other skills that demonstrate your familiarity with the topic.

• “I am writing to express interest in position X…”
• “I am interested in the position because…”

Make it clear that you know what this job will entail. Reference specific examples, such as mentioning certain protocols, software tools, or soft skills such as project management.

Scientific Achievements . Briefly list the organizations and advisors with whom you received your degrees. Describe your overall training.

• “I earned my Ph.D. in ______ at University X…”

Motivation and Impact . Show why you and this organization are a good match for each other.

• “I think I would be a great match for this position because…”
• Why do they need you and exactly you? List specific examples of what you can add to the position

Wrap Up . Make it clear that you expect to hear back.

• “I look forward to hearing your response.”
• Also make sure to thank them for their consideration of your application.

Make concrete claims

Back up any claims about your abilities or qualifications with concrete accomplishments. If possible, quantify your accomplishments. For example, to show that you have “independence and an innovative research spirit”, describe the scope and outcomes of research projects you’ve led or carried out on your own.

Start a conversation

Your cover letter is designed to get you an interview, and successful interviews usually turn into conversations. Start the conversation early. Be humble and curious. A claim like “I know I’m a perfect match because XYZ ” can make you sound naive: how would you know that this is true? A claim like “I’m excited to explore this opportunity because XYZ ” is more professional and more likely to initiate a conversation.

Make no mistakes

A single spelling or grammar error can be enough to make a recruiter think you’re sloppy. Don’t let a little mistake keep you from this job.

If you’ve found a specific person to whom to address your letter, be absolutely sure you’ve spelled their name correctly. A misspelled name comes across as annoying and unprofessional.

This content was adapted from from an article originally created by the  MIT Biological Engineering Communication Lab .

Resources and Annotated Examples

Annotated example 1.

Example Job Posting 49 KB

Annotated Example 2

Example Cover Letter 447 KB

Harvard Cover Letter Example

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Download this Harvard cover letter sample for free in Word format

This Harvard cover letter example is ready to download for free in Word format. Use this cover letter to illustrate your story to the recruiters and instantly grab a position in your dream institution. Add it to your application for a better overall image of your professional self. Get it today!

• File format:  Word (Microsoft)
• File size:  79 KB
• Ready-to-use:  fast, easy, and free

Harvard, renowned as one of the most prestigious universities in the world , needs no introduction. Whether delivering high-quality education or recruiting well-qualified faculty, the institution consistently sets the bar high. Therefore, if you’ve been eyeing a position here, presenting the best version of yourself in your Harvard cover letter is crucial.

A Harvard cover letter distinguishes itself from letters crafted for other positions. It goes beyond merely focusing on qualifications, adopting a specific pattern that translates your personal story into a compelling narrative . In this process, there’s no right or wrong strategy to consider; all you have to do is stick with the narration you are most passionate about.

Read on to this article till the end to know all about the best format to follow for crafting a persuasive cover letter for a position at Harvard. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the process.

Full Name Address Phone Number Email Address

Recruiter’s full name title department.

To: Recruiter’s Title and Full Name

Dear Mr./Ms./Mx. Hiring Manager Last Name,

I am writing to express my sincere interest in the Ph.D. Research Faculty in Astrophysics at Harvard University, as advertised on the University’s portal. With a passion for discovering the mysteries of the cosmos, I am confident in my ability to contribute significantly to the vibrant intellectual community at Harvard’s Astrophysics Faculty.

My academic journey has been enriching and transformative, culminating in completing my Master’s degree in Astrophysics. This experience honed my research skills and fostered my commitment to advancing knowledge in Galactic Dynamics.

Among my notable achievements include the publication of a research paper titled “Exploring the Dynamics of Galactic Bulges” in The Astrophysical Journal. This further exemplifies my ability to synthesize and present complex ideas with clarity and precision.

Furthermore, my commitment to academic excellence extends beyond the academic premises. I have organized and participated in international conferences on Galactic Dynamics, demonstrating leadership and a proactive approach to academic and professional development on a professional level.

I am confident that my passion for Astrophysics and my proven track record of academic excellence make me an ideal candidate for the Ph.D. research faculty in Astrophysics at Harvard.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to further discussing my candidacy with the Admissions Committee.

Sincerely, Jane Doe

6 Steps to Craft a Persuasive Harvard Cover Letter

To maintain its esteemed reputation, Harvard strongly practices meticulous care while recruiting its faculty. Typically, individuals who employ creative strategies to showcase their achievements are preferred over those who merely paraphrase their qualifications. If you are someone who also aspires to grab that attractive position at Harvard , then follow the below steps:

1. Begin your Harvard cover letter with a formal header and salutation

In crafting a professional document such as a Harvard cover letter, beginning with a formal header and a specific salutation is important. This section would be the first thing noticed by the recruiters, so it needs to be accurate and to the point.

For a well-crafted header and salutation, adhere to the following pattern:

• Candidate’s Personal Information: Position your full name, address, phone number, and email address at the top of your Harvard cover letter. Ensure that this information is not only accurate but also readily accessible.
• Hiring Management Information: Directly beneath your contact details, provide the recipient’s information, including their name, title, and address or department.
• Personalized Salutations: Before delving into the introductory body of your cover letter, connect with the employer through personalized salutations. For this purpose, you can use terms like “ Dear, ” followed by the recruiter’s job title and full name.

You can skim the job description to find information about the hiring management or recruiter. If you are still unsure about the recipient’s personal information, you can say, “ Dear Hiring Team .”

2. Compose a catchy introductory paragraph

With your header and salutation in place, it’s time to dive into your Harvard cover letter with a captivating introduction . This brief yet compelling paragraph acts as the gateway to your letter. Additionally, you can use this section to express your enthusiasm for the position and set the tone for what follows.

Here, you can discuss the domain you are applying for and highlight how your unique skills align with Harvard’s values and mission. For instance, you can say, “ I am writing to express my profound enthusiasm for the Assistant Professor of Economics position at Harvard University, as advertised on Harvard’s career portal. “

3. Narrate your personal story persuasively

To create a persuasive Harvard cover letter, narrating your personal story effectively is crucial. This step involves crafting a compelling tale, highlighting your professional journey and showcasing your unique experiences and accomplishments.

Furthermore, Harvard values individuals who bring a unique perspective and contribute to the academic community. Here’s how you can achieve this:

• Start with Impact: Begin your narrative with a powerful opening that immediately grabs attention. A good example would be, “ Innovating educational outreach strategies at XYZ Institute, I transformed student engagement, laying the foundation for my impactful academic journey. “
• Align Your Capabilities with Harvard Values : Demonstrate a clear understanding of what makes Harvard unique and express how you can contribute to its continued excellence. For example, you can say, “ My dedication to fostering inclusive learning environments mirrors Harvard’s commitment to diversity, enhancing the academic community .”
• Express Passion and Commitment: Convey your passion for your field and genuine commitment to contributing positively to the institution. You can add, “ Passionate about environmental sustainability, my commitment to driving positive change aligns seamlessly with Harvard’s mission for global impact. “

Also read: 5 Tips for Improving Your Professional Life

4. Showcase your competence through achievements to the management

Your achievements are the heart of your Harvard cover letter. Therefore, to leave a long-lasting impression on the hiring team, you must highlight your achievements effectively. To effectively spotlight your competence in this section, you can:

• Quantify Success : Apply metrics to underscore your achievements. You can mention, “While at ABC institution, I boosted enrolment by 25%, securing $1M in research funding, and co-authored 3 impactful academic publications.”
• Relevance is the Key : Tailor achievements to the specific Harvard role and department. Showcase how past successes precisely align with the expectations and goals of the current position.
• Highlight Innovations: If you’ve introduced inventive strategies or programs in previous roles, shine a light on them. Harvard values those who bring fresh perspectives and contribute to academic progress.
• Illustrate Leadership Abilities : Emphasize leadership skills if you’ve led teams, projects, or initiatives. A credible example would be, “Throughout my professional journey, I led cross-functional teams, spearheading projects that enhanced departmental efficiency and promoted a leadership-driven culture.”

5. End your Harvard cover letter with a formal closing

As you conclude your Harvard cover letter, leave a lasting impression with a formal closing . Make sure to express gratitude for considering your cover letter and reaffirm your interest in the position. This will make you appear a responsible candidate who is excited to join the institution.

Before signing off, your cover letter for Harvard includes an inviting CTA. You can say something like, “ Feel free to reach me out through my phone number (Phone Number) or via email (Email Address) to arrange an interview at your convenience. ” Finally, close the cover letter with “ Sincerely ,” followed by your full name.

6. Proofread your cover letter for Harvard before submitting

Before sending off your meticulously crafted cover letter, it’s imperative to conduct a thorough proofreading. This step ensures your document is error-free and presents you in the best possible light.

Start by carefully reviewing your cover letter for spelling or grammar errors , preferably by reading it aloud. Additionally, to catch mistakes that slipped through, have your Harvard cover letter reviewed by a mentor or colleague.

Finally, confirm that the font and formatting are consistent throughout the cover letter. Your cover letter is an official document and should be well-organized according to the esteemed standards of Harvard.

Harvard Cover Letter FAQs

How long should my cover letter be.

A Harvard cover letter should be concise, typically one page long and must contain 250-300 words . The content of this letter should highlight key achievements that align with Harvard’s values, expressing genuine enthusiasm for the position.

What things should I avoid including on my cover letter?

Being a formal document, your Harvard cover letter must be crafted using a consistent formal tone and relevant information . Here are the things to avoid on your cover letter for Harvard:

• Irrelevant personal information
• Generic statements
• Excessive details
• Negative Language

How do I download this free Harvard cover letter template?

To download this free Harvard cover letter sample , follow the simple steps below:

• Scroll to the top right corner of the page to find the download box.
• Choose the compatible Word format with your device.
• Click on the download button.
• Once the template is downloaded, begin customizing it to suit your needs.

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