How to craft an impressive social scientist cover letter
Social scientists take a professional in-depth look at the inner workings of our society, from politics and economics to family dynamics and interpersonal human interactions. To earn a position as a social scientist you need an expertly-written cover letter that impresses employers.
In this guide, we teach you 5 key steps for writing an impressive social scientist cover letter. Read on to learn all about how to:
- Format your social scientist cover letter header and headline
- Tailor the content of your social scientist cover letter
- Craft a compelling introduction for your social scientist cover letter
- Showcase your top skills and achievements as a social scientist
- End your social scientist cover letter with an effective conclusion
1. Format your social scientist cover letter header and headline
The first step to focus on when writing a social scientist cover letter is to create a well-formatted cover letter header and cover letter headline.
A header always comes first and contains essential identifying information, such as your name, professional title, and professional contact details.
Additionally, a header should include a formal address of an employer.
Here is an example of a well-formatted social scientist cover letter header
Jane Jackson, Social Scientist
(123) 456-7890 | janejackson@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jane-jackson
To: National Security Agency
1234 Street Address
Fort Meade, MD 20755
With your header completer and in place, your next focus is to write your headline.
A headline is a title statement used to grab the employer’s attention with relevant keywords, powerful adjectives and/or verbs, and a clearly outlined main point for your letter.
Here is an example of a well-written headline from a social scientist’s cover letter
My 3 Key Skills as a Social Scientist & How I Plan to Apply Them for Your Institution’s Benefit
2. Tailor the content of your social scientist cover letter
As you write your social scientist cover letter, it is important to find ways to weave in specific details about the employer you are writing to. Referencing the employer in this way will help you to impress them and show you have great attention to detail.
To do this, you are going to have to read up on the employer and their company beforehand. Important details to look for can include current projects the company is involved in, company values, or an employee motto or oath.
Additionally, you should look into who at the company is responsible for hiring processes and write a personalized greeting that addresses this person by their name.
Here are 3 examples of personalized social scientist cover letter greetings
- Dear Head Scientist Mary Miller,
- Dear Dr. Mary Miller,
- Dear Mrs. Mary Miller,
3. Craft a compelling introduction for your social scientist cover letter
A compelling introduction is a crucially important element in your social scientist cover letter, as it will help to keep the employer interested and willing to read further.
To make your social scientist cover letter compelling, you should include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and years of experience
- A concise summary of your specialized areas of expertise
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
Here is an example of a compelling introduction from a social scientist cover letter
Dear Head Scientist Mary Miller,
I am a social scientist with 5+ years of specialized experience studying impoverished neighborhoods in Appalachian communities. In my time studying Appalachia, I have developed numerous positive relationships with the communities in this region. Given your company’s intention to begin a new research project in Appalachia, I believe the experience and connections I bring to the table are highly valuable to your company.
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4. Showcase your top skills and achievements as a social scientist
Once your introduction is complete and sounds the way you want it to, you can move on to describing your top skills and achievements as a social scientist.
As you describe these qualifications, try to include details that are as specific, relevant, and quantifiable as possible. For example, rather than simply stating you have collaboration skills, describe a work experience that required you to collaborate and how you did so effectively.
Here are 6 social scientist skills to describe in a cover letter
- Community relationship building
- Conducting public surveys
- Gathering, storing, and analyzing research data
- Presenting research findings
- Proper documentation of experiments
- Critical evaluation
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a social scientist’s cover letter
As a social scientist at [Former Employer], it was my responsibility to research diversity equality in the local neighborhood. After completing a year-long study and presenting it to the town council, I was able to begin the development of a new community organization that increased job opportunities for diverse and minority communities by 45%.
5. End your social scientist cover letter with an effective conclusion
The final step in the cover letter writing process is to write an effective conclusion.
For a conclusion to be effective, it needs to convince the employer to contact you quickly and reiterate your enthusiasm for the position.
A formal conclusion should also always include a professional sign-off.
Here is an example of an effective conclusion from a social scientist’s cover letter
I extend my thanks for taking the time to read my letter and express my great excitement about being considered for this position. I eagerly await your response and am available to meet or speak Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You may best reach me at (123) 456-7890.
Kind Regards,
[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.
