Are you struggling to write the perfect humanities student cover letter? You've come to the right place! We've gathered all the best tips, examples and templates that will guide you through the whole process step by step. Without further ado, let's begin!
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Keep reading to learn all about:
- Creating your cover letter header as a humanities student
- Writing a personalized greeting for your humanities student cover letter
- Crafting an impressive introduction on your humanities student cover letter
- Showing off your top skills and accomplishments as a humanities student
- Concluding your humanities student cover letter concisely
- Accessing top resources for job-seeking humanities students
1. How to create an effective cover letter header as a humanities student
A cover letter header is the first key element to focus on creating for your humanities student cover letter. Headers include vital information about who you are and how to get in touch with you, such as:
- Your name and professional title (for students, you can either list your ideal entry-level career title or simply write “humanities student” to let the employer know you are still in school)
- Your contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)
- The name of the company, internship, or program you are applying to
Here is an example of a well-formatted humanities student cover letter
Angel Marie, Humanities Student
(123) 456-7890 | angelmarie@email.com | linkedin.com/in/angel-marie
To: Baylor University
Humanities Department
1234 Street Address
Waco, Texas
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2. How to write a personalized greeting for your humanities student cover letter
With your header completed, your next task is to write a greeting for your cover letter.
To impress employers and other professionals who may read your letter, the key is to personalize the greeting and content as much as possible. This means tailoring your letter with information you have found via researching the company before applying.
For the greeting of your cover letter, you should ideally address a specific person who is most likely to read your letter. This may be a company owner, a hiring manager, or a departmental head.
Here are 3 examples of personalized humanities student cover letter greetings
- Dear Humanities Department Head John Smith,
- Dear Dr. John Smith,
- Dear Mr. John Smith,
Pro Tip: If a person has a title such as “Dr.”, this is generally what you want to use if addressing them within an academic setting.
3. How to craft an impressive introduction on your humanities student cover letter
As a humanities student, you know how crucial it is to make a great first impression.
On a cover letter, that first impression is achieved through an introductory paragraph. This introduction should include all of the most relevant and notable details about yourself, including:
- A brief overview of your academic and professional history (years of experience, job responsibilities, etc.)
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying
- Any relevant accomplishments or awards that make you stand out as an applicant (as a student, you may not have an extensive work history. Showing your potential via accomplishments is a great way to showcase your skills to an employer from the very beginning of your letter.)
Here is an example of a strong introduction from a humanities student cover letter
Dear Dr. John Smith,
I write to you today with great excitement for the opportunity to be considered for a professor’s assistantship. Having studied humanities within the Honors Program at the university for three years, I have built strong professional and academic relationships with many faculty within the humanities department. If given the role of professor’s assistant, I am certain I can provide the department with the support needed for an exceptional semester.
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4. How to show off your top skills and accomplishments as a humanities student
Once you have hooked the employer’s attention with your introduction, you can begin writing a more in-depth overview of your skills, accomplishments, and other qualifications.
As you write this portion of your cover letter, it is important to ensure the details you include are:
- Accurate: Whenever you describe skills or accomplishments in a cover letter, don’t over-embellish or exaggerate the details. While this may help get you in the door for an interview, it will ultimately come back to haunt you should the employer ask further questions.
- Relevant: As a humanities student, you likely study many different aspects of the field and possess a wide range of skills. When writing a cover letter, you want to make sure to keep things concise. Thus, you should focus only on the most relevant skills and accomplishments you have.
- Quantifiable: If possible, try to include information that is quantifiable, such as statistics to go along with specific accomplishments. For instance, if you previously worked as a lab assistant, you could include a quantifiable figure about how you improved lab efficiency for other students.
Here are 6 examples of humanities student skills to include in a cover letter
- Research and research analysis
- Writing and communication
- Leadership skills (describe your exact style of leadership)
- Critical thinking
- Developing presentations
- Creativity
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a humanities student cover letter
As a humanities student at Monroe University, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and have met the academic standards of the Honors Program for three consecutive years. Resulting from my dedication to my school work, I earned a Humanities Department Award for student academics.
5. Concluding your humanities student cover letter concisely
The final component of your humanities student cover letter is a well-written conclusion.
Your conclusion should be short and to the point, while still working to further persuade the employer to get in contact with you. Key information to state in your conclusion includes:
- When and how an employer can best contact you
- When you hope to hear from the employer
- When you plan to follow up with the employer
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a concise conclusion from a humanities student cover letter
I am deeply appreciative of the time you have taken to review my cover letter and application. You may best reach me Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at angelmarie@email.com or at (123) 456-7890. I hope to hear from you by next Tuesday and plan to follow up that afternoon regarding the status of my application.
Sincerely Yours,
[Applicant Name]
6. Top resources for job-seeking humanities students
Looking for a job when you don't have a lot of practical work experience yet can be intimidating. But you need to start somewhere! And the sooner you start looking, the sooner you'll actually succeed. You can start with the following resources:
- Industry-specific job boards: Explore platforms like EuroBrussels, Academic Jobs EU, HigherEdJobs or jobs.chronicle.com that offer job listings, career advice, and professional development resources for academics and humanities professionals.
- Career Development Centers: Utilize your university's career services center for resume critiques, mock interviews, and job search support specific to humanities fields.
- Professional Associations: Depending on your field, you can join organizations like the Modern Language Association (MLA), the Royal Historical Society (RHS), the Association of Art Historians (AAH) or the International Comparative Literature Association (ICLA) to access further resources, networking events and industry publications.
- Alumni Networks: Connect with alumni working in humanities-related fields through LinkedIn or university alumni associations for advice, mentorship, and job leads.
- Continuing Education: Platforms like Coursera, edX, Udemy and FutureLearn offer online courses in humanities, some of which are provided by universities worldwide.
- Internships: If you're a student looking for internships, visit websites such as the United Nations Internship Programme, the European Union Internship Programme or the British Council to find one that interests you.
Searching for the right job is a marathon, not a sprint. Sometimes, it can take months until you receive an invitation to a job interview. The best thing you can do to prepare yourself for this, is to have your resume and cover letter ready!
Humanities Student Cover Letter FAQ
Focus on highlighting relevant academic achievements, projects, internships, and extracurricular activities that demonstrate your critical thinking, research, writing, and communication skills.
Aim for a concise cover letter that is no longer than one page. Focus on providing a brief introduction, highlighting your most relevant experiences and skills, and explaining why you're interested in the position and organization.
It's not necessary to include recommendations in your cover letter. Instead, focus on showcasing your own strengths and qualifications. You can mention references are available upon request.
Focus on transferable skills gained from coursework, projects, internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities that are applicable to the job. Emphasize your ability to adapt, learn quickly, and apply your academic knowledge to practical situations.
It's a good practice to follow up after submitting your application, especially if you haven't heard back within a reasonable timeframe. A polite email or phone call can demonstrate your interest and proactive approach to the job opportunity.
