Quick.....dos and don'ts for a "letter of intent!!"

[KarenB]

Hi!

I just graduated on Saturday and I am writing my first letter of intent for a sixth grade teaching position!!!

I need some advise please!

How long should this be?
Do I add why I would be a good candidate for this position?
Do I include any personal information that would benefit me?
Do I simply state that I am applying for the position??
Can I add that my certificate is pending on PA Dept of Education since I just graduated?
Is there anything that I should NOT write?

AAhhhhhhh!!!!

Thanks SO very much!!
Karen

 

[December99]

Do you have a career center that you can go to for advice? Perhaps at the place you graduated from. Generally they are very good about helping with cover letters, resumes, etc. We have a career area specifically for those reasons at our university. I can't offer any advice because I haven't had to do a letter of intent but generally you should have it no longer than two pages - a page to a page and a half seems to be good (just taking that from some applications we've gotten over the past couple of months).

Here's a link that might help you a bit - it doesn't say how long they should be but it gives an outline of what should be in the letter....

http://www.stuaff.niu.edu/cppc/handout/CoverLetter.pdf

 

[KarenB]

Thanks December99!

I went to the University Career Developement site and didn't find much to answer my questions. Your example helped and I found another site that gave me some good ideas. My biggest question is to whether or not to mention that this is a middle school position and I have two middle schoolers at home---they have really taught me how to deal in a positive manner with this age group. I don't want to get too off task in the letter though.

I'll keep searching while I am waiting for my updated transcripts!

Karen