How to craft a great nature scientist cover letter
Nature scientists study the inner workings of our natural world, from how plants interact to the inter-species relationships between animals. To earn a job as a nature scientist, you need an awesomely-written cover letter that highlights your passion for and experience in the field.
In this guide, we cover 5 simple steps for you to follow to write a great nature scientist cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about:
- Creating your nature scientist cover letter header and headline
- Personalizing your nature science cover letter for specific employers
- Writing a great introduction for your nature scientist cover letter
- Highlighting your key skills and accomplishments as a nature scientist
- Concluding your nature scientist cover letter correctly
1. Create an effective nature scientist cover letter header and headline
Creating a good-looking cover letter header and cover letter headline is the first key step in the cover letter writing process.
These elements help give your letter visual appeal and a better sense of organization.
Starting with your header, this should include:
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information
- A formal address of the employer
Here is an example of a well-formatted nature scientist cover letter header
Jack Doe, Nature Scientist
(123) 456-7890 | jackdoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jack-doe
To: Blue Nature & Ocean Research Center
Nature Science Department
1234 Street Address
Charleston, SC 29401
Following your header is your cover letter headline.
Think of this as similar to an article or blog title — it should be concise and attention-grabbing, all while accurately portraying the content found within your letter.
When writing a headline, you should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, and a powerful adjective or verb.
Here is an example of a great headline from a nature scientist’s cover letter
My Top 3 Successes as a Nature Scientist & How I Can Achieve Similar Feats at Your Research Center
2. Personalize your nature science cover letter for specific employers
Anytime you write a nature science cover letter, it is important to include personalized details that are highly specific to each employer you reach out to.
Personalizing a cover letter in this way requires you to research the employer thoroughly, searching for key information about the employer’s values, current projects or research they are conducting, and more.
Moreover, you should take the time while researching to discover who handles hiring at the employer’s business. Then, you can create a personalized greeting that addresses this person by name.
Here are 3 examples of personalized nature scientist cover letter greetings
- Dear Head Scientist Joe King,
- Dear Dr. Joe King,
- Dear Dr. Joe King & the Nature Science Department,
3. Write a great introduction for your nature scientist cover letter
After you have the personalized notes ready at your side to reference in your letter, you can begin writing your cover letter introduction.
This introduction should include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and specializations
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible) — professional mutual acquaintances can help build rapport and trust with an employer right away
Here is an example of a well-written introduction for a nature scientist cover letter
Dear Dr. Joe King & the Nature Science Department,
I am a nature scientist with 9 years of specialized experience studying the migration patterns of whales. Given your research center’s current focus on marine life, I believe I am a valuable addition to your team and express my great enthusiasm for this opportunity. My mentor, Mr. John Green, is on your center’s board of directors and strongly recommended I apply.
4. Highlighting your key skills and accomplishments as a nature scientist
With your introduction out of the way, you can now dive into a deeper exploration of your top skills and accomplishments as a nature scientist.
To showcase these qualifications properly, you should include details that are highly relevant, contextual, and — whenever possible — quantifiable.
Here are 6 nature science skills to describe in a cover letter
- Nature science specializations (botany, biology, etc.)
- Conducting experiments
- Writing research reports
- Presenting research and experimental findings
- Submitting research for peer-review
- Collaborating with other science professionals
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a nature science cover letter
As a nature scientist at [Former Employer], one of my vital roles was to lead a research team in investigating an invasive species of plant found in the American South. My team and I were able to not only identify the source of this species but also an effective means for getting the plant’s invasion under control, reducing the growth of this plant in the region by 85%.
5. Conclude your nature scientist cover letter correctly
To finish off your nature scientist cover letter strong, you need a great conclusion that persuades the employer to contact you promptly.
This conclusion should contain:
- A reiteration of your enthusiasm for the position
- An explanation of how and when you can be best contacted
- Your plans to follow up, including when and how
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of an effective conclusion from a nature scientist’s cover letter
I am eager to learn more about this opportunity and your department, and I hope to hear from you within the next week regarding this position. You may call me at any time between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at (123) 456-7890 or email me at jackdoe@email.com on weekends. If I have not heard from you by next Wednesday morning, I plan to follow up via phone call at that time.
Many Respects,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
