cover letter for criminal justice student

Resume Guide

Whether you are seeking a job, switching careers, or entering the workforce, a resume represents the initial step to obtaining an interview. It is often the first item a hiring manager sees, and you have mere seconds to set yourself apart. In addition to visual attractiveness, an effective criminal justice resume must persuasively convey your credentials, training, and experience. Because criminal justice careers are so diverse, your resume should be specific. Law enforcement officers can emphasize their physical fitness and knowledge of police protocols and governmental policies. Forensic anthropologists can showcase their research background, investigative skills, and attention to detail. This guide reveals how to create an application that showcases your unique expertise.

How to Write a Criminal Justice Resume

• Do Your Research: An effective criminal justice resume shows that you possess the designated skills, training, and experience. Analyze the job description carefully, noting required and preferred qualifications. Research the employer’s website and social media platforms, looking specifically for current goals and projects, and how you may assist. As you gain a better picture of the job and work environment, reflect on whether the position aligns with your professional goals.
• List Key Points: Jot down points that respond to specific qualifications. These may include a minimum number of years in the criminal justice field, a level of academic credential, and licensure or certification. Next, create an outline. To ensure you make the right impression, find ways to connect with the reader. Employers want candidates who demonstrate professional accomplishments and can transfer these successes into their new job. Finally, discuss your weaknesses honestly and how you actively work towards improvement.
• Format Your Resume: Expand the outline into complete sentences, organized under logical and straightforward headings. To get a hiring manager’s attention, keep it distinct and accessible. Do not use complicated templates and fancy fonts or coloration. One of the best ways to stand out is through a concise statement of your professional objectives.

Types of Resumes

A criminal justice resume represents a snapshot specific to the individual and desired position. Three main resume formats exist: reverse chronological, functional, and combination. Candidates should use the one that best highlights their professional credentials, work experience, and personal characteristics. However, these resume types, at best, provide a malleable framework. Criminologists should adapt these formats in ways that help them stand apart.

Reverse-Chronological

Combination, required vs. preferred qualifications.

The criminal justice field encompasses such occupations as police officers, private security professionals, cyber security analysts, and corporate loss prevention specialists. Job descriptions vary and include both required and preferred qualifications. The former represents skills, work experience, and academic and professional training a candidate needs to be considered. The latter consists of qualifications that benefit the position, but are not absolutely necessary. While applicants with preferred qualifications do not automatically earn a hire, they stand a better chance of obtaining an interview than candidates who only meet the required criteria.

Employers generally review applications holistically. Criminal justice professionals who do not possess preferred qualifications, or even all the required ones, should apply for a job if they believe they can impress in the cover letter and during interviews. The resume should include all required qualifications and as much of preferred criteria as possible while maintaining a concise form that highlights keywords valued by an applicant tracking system (ATS).

What Should I Include on a Criminal Justice Resume?

Education and training, criminal justice skills, licensure and certifications, awards, accomplishments, and affiliations, volunteer work, what should i put on my resume if i don’t have any criminal justice experience.

A statement of professional objective that details your individual aims and institutional goals is helpful

Recent college graduates or those who lack criminal justice work experience should construct a resume using the functional or combination format. This enables you to structurally focus on skills, education, and licensure/certification. However, minimizing employment means exposing a weakness that you should address in the cover letter. You can partially make up for this lack by demonstrating that you understand job criteria and also know and respect the employer. A statement of professional objective that details your individual aims and institutional goals is helpful.

Relevant work experience does not need to directly relate to the criminal justice field. As long as a prior position includes duties and accomplishments that transfer into the one in application, you can include it. For example, a professional seeking work as a police officer can include their security experience to demonstrate physical acumen, knowledge of organizational protocol, power of observation, and effective management of high-pressure situations. Volunteer positions also benefit you in this way and should receive their own section.

What Is A Resume-Reading Robot?

What is ats.

Employers often receive hundreds of resumes in response to a single job posting. To save time, many organizations use an ATS. Like a hiring manager conducting a preliminary scan, the ATS ranks resumes by how many designated keywords they contain. Theoretically, this streamlined process filters resumes with generic filler content, a red flag for a candidate’s lack of qualifications. However, the ATS works through algorithms, which disadvantages candidates who do not explicitly employ the right terms and phrases. Writing an effective criminal justice resume necessitates an understanding of how to work within and overcome the ATS process.

Tips for Outsmarting an ATS

• Simple Headers: Use “Skills,” “Professional Experience,” “Education,” and other headings that often appear in keyword searches. Also include your location (city, state, and, if outside the U.S., country) because employers usually set up their ATS to vet applicants by location.
• Clean Format: The standard ATS cannot process complicated formatting, graphics, or unusual fonts. A simple and accessible layout, such as a plain text/ASCII format, works best. And in general, Tahoma, Verdana, and Arial at the 10.5 font size or above registers well with the ATS.
• Keywords/Phrases: You can discern keywords by analyzing the job description. In the criminal justice field, popular phrases include “situational assessment,” “crisis intervention,” and “operational guidelines.”
• Industry-Specific Jargon: ATS keywords are meant to reveal a candidate’s familitary and experience with the criminal justice field. The more specific your terms, the more effective your resume.

Resume-Writing Tips for Criminal Justice Professionals

Tailor your resume.

A police officer’s resume differs from a forensic investigator’s. Analyze the job description and research the employer’s institutional goals and philosophy to construct a resume that directly responds to their criteria.

Save Your Resume Under a Professional Name

Every step in the application process should emphasize your professionalism and uniqueness. Make it easy for the hiring manager to differentiate and retrieve your resume with a format such as “Firstlast_specialty_resume.doc.”

Make it Easy to Read

When constructing your criminal justice resume, prioritize accessibility over fancy fonts and multiple color schemes. While standing out is important, the most visually engaging resumes employ clean formatting that empowers the content.

Include a Cover Letter

A cover letter enables you to elaborate on valuable skills, accomplishments, and work experience through quantifiable details and anecdotal evidence. The document also lets you discuss weaknesses and how you plan to improve while on the job.

Keep it to One Page

Employers view bloated applications negatively. Unless you possess more than 10 years of work experience and qualifications directly relevant to the position, a resume should be one page. You should concisely and creatively employ only the most pertinent information.

Common Mistakes Criminal Justice Professionals Make on Their Resumes

Including personal information, including salary information, using nicknames, using an unprofessional email address, first-person pronouns, unprofessional voicemail.

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Critical Writing Program: Criminal Injustice (Spring 2024): Cover Letter Resources

• Getting started
• News and Opinion Sites
• Academic Sources
• Grey Literature
• Substantive News Sources
• What to Do When You Are Stuck
• Understanding a citation
• Examples of Quotation
• Examples of Paraphrase
• Chicago Manual of Style: Citing Images
• Researching the Op-Ed
• Researching Prospective Employers
• Resume Resources
• Cover Letter Resources

Cover Letter resources

• Cover Letter Writing Guide - Penn Career Services  - A writing guide on cover letters prepared by Penn Career Services that covers the purpose of cover letters, cover letter etiquette,  
• Job Search Letters - Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)  - These OWL resources will help you write job application letters, thank you and follow up letters, as well as effective acceptance and rejection letters. Also included are links to other OWL resources geared for entry-level and skilled labor positions.
• Microsoft Office Templates - Access a wide selection of MS Word templates with formatting for various styles of resumes and cover letters. 

• Skill Sumo Future Proof: How to Craft a Cover letter This video, from Academic Video, will teach you how to craft a cover letter.
• What to Include in the Resume and Cover Letter. From Sage Video, this online tutorial provides tips for developing your resume and for writing cover letters.
• << Previous: Resume Resources
• Last Updated: Feb 12, 2024 12:52 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.upenn.edu/c.php?g=1380538

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Criminal Justice Cover Letter

Last Updated On February 7, 2020 By Letter Writing Leave a Comment

A criminal justice cover letter is written by an interested applicant who meets the qualifications and experience in the job requirements, to the employer. Such a letter is written to apply for a position advertised by the employer or a position that is not advertised. 

This cover letter is important to ensure that the position is offered to a suitable candidate who meets the experience and qualifications for the job. A cover letter also helps the applicant to market themselves and explain their motivation for the job. The employer also uses the cover letter to identify who can step into the position and begin working right away.

Tips for writing a criminal justice cover letter

• Describe your expertise in law and justice
• Explain your understanding in legal procedures and regulations
• Give your experience in a similar position
• Highlight your academic qualifications in legal matters
• List skills that are relevant to this post
• Keep it short and comprehensive

Criminal Justice Cover Letter Template

If you don’t have an idea what to say in a cover letter, you can find the answer to this question from our criminal justice cover letter template. For more information, have a look at our free sample letters.

_____________

Date (date on which letter is written)

________________

Sub:_________________________________________

Dear _________________,

I write to apply for the criminal justice job opening at Kent County Courthouse recently advertised on ____________ . With my academic qualifications in ____________ and ____________ years of experience in handing legal matters, I believe I can make a suitable candidate for this position. I am inclined to support justice in Kent County through conducting investigations and finding sufficient evidence.

I have been working with ____________ for the last ____________ years. I have contributed to arresting perpetrators, finding evidence to warrant arrests, conducting investigations, examining crime scenes, and presenting evidence in the courtroom. In this period, I have closed over ten criminal cases and ensured that our clients have justice.

With my knowledge of criminal behavior, criminal psychology, forensic science, and criminal justice procedures, I will make a tremendous contribution to this position. In my work, I uphold integrity and professionalism. I also have good communication, teamwork, leadership, organization, and analytical skills.

I hope to meet and discuss my experience and skills relevant to this position.

Yours faithfully,

(__________________)

Criminal Justice Cover Letter Sample

To write a good cover letter, content and appearance are some of the essential things to consider. Have a look at a good example of a criminal justice cover letter that will help you market your expertise.

Andre Warner,

7175 South Academy Ave.

Paducah, KY 42001

United States

Date:____________ (Date on which letter is written)

Attn. Billie Mathews,

Kent County Courthouse

560 Federal Street

Dover, DE 19901

United Kingdom

Sub; Job application for a criminal justice job vacancy

Dear Attn. Mathews,

I write to express my interest in the criminal justice position with Kent County Courthouse, which was recently advertised on jobmug.com. With my four years’ experience in law enforcement and academic qualifications in criminology, I am confident that I meet the requirements of this position. I am motivated to promote justice in Kent County. 

While working with Twi Justice Company for four years, I have acquired experience in conducting investigations, examining crime scenes, and gathering evidence for court proceedings. Arresting perpetrators and presenting evidence for the arrest is also part of my duties. I have led over ten investigations and submitted support evidence to the criminal court to get justice for our clients.

 In my work, I uphold professionalism and integrity. I have good communication, persuasive, negotiation, and leadership skills which have enabled me to work well with teams. I would like to discuss further your expectations for this position.

Yours sincerely, 

Andre Warner

Criminal Justice Cover Letter Email

Emails are preferred to letters because they are a reliable and efficient way of communication. With the help of our criminal justice cover letter in an email format, you will be able to write an eye-catching cover letter.

I have four years’ experience in legal and justice matters and I hereby write to apply for the criminal justice job opening at Kent County Courthouse, a position advertised on jobmug.com. I have a degree in criminology and experience in handling criminal cases.

With my work at Twi Justice Company, I have gained experience in examining crime scenes, conducting investigations, utilizing technology to look for evidence, and presenting the evidence in court. I also arrest perpetrators and present evidence that warranted the arrest. I have led investigations in over ten criminal cases to find evidence that will bring justice for our clients.

In my work, I uphold integrity and professionalism. Additionally, I have a good understanding of criminal psychology, forensic science, criminal justice procedures, and criminal behavior. With communication, teamwork, organization, analytical, and leadership skills, I am confident in contributing to your work in legal and justice matters. I hope to extend my professional experience and skills to promote justice and ensure compliance with legal procedures.

Kindly find my resume attached with more information on my accomplishments, experience, and skills. I would be glad to discuss how my skills and experience can benefit Kent County.

Best regards,

When writing a criminal justice cover letter, one should pay more attention to their experience in the field. This is the major concern for most employers in the criminal justice industry. You should also demonstrate an understanding of justice matters and legal procedures. Ensure that your cover letter is well structured, has a logical flow and is captivating to read. Don’t forget to proofread when you are through.

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Criminologist Cover Letter Examples & Writing Tips

Use these Criminologist cover letter examples and writing tips to help you write a powerful cover letter that will separate you from the competition.

Table Of Contents

• Criminologist Example 1
• Criminologist Example 2
• Criminologist Example 3
• Cover Letter Writing Tips

Criminologists study the nature, extent, cause, and control of crime. They use this information to develop theories about crime and to help law enforcement agencies solve crimes.

To land a job as a criminologist, you need to have a strong academic background and extensive experience in the field. In addition, you must be able to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner.

Use these examples and tips to write a criminologist cover letter that will help you stand out from the competition.

Criminologist Cover Letter Example 1

I am excited to be applying for the Criminologist position at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I have a Master’s degree in Criminology and more than five years of experience working in the criminal justice system. I am passionate about using my skills and knowledge to help solve crimes and protect the public.

I have worked in a variety of roles in the criminal justice system, including as a Crime Scene Investigator, a Probation Officer, and most recently as a Detective. In each of these roles, I have gained valuable experience in conducting investigations, interviewing suspects and witnesses, and preparing reports. I am also proficient in using various software programs used by law enforcement, including but not limited to, MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

I am a highly motivated individual who is always looking for new ways to improve my skills and knowledge. I am excited about the opportunity to join the FBI and use my skills and experience to help protect the public. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss this opportunity further.

Criminologist Cover Letter Example 2

I am writing to apply for the Criminologist position that was recently advertised on your website. I am confident that I have the skills and qualifications that you are looking for, and I am eager to put my experience to work for your company.

I have been working as a Criminologist for the past three years and have gained a wealth of experience in the field. I have a deep understanding of the criminal justice system and the latest trends in criminology. I am also well-versed in the latest research and theories in the field.

I am a highly effective communicator and have a proven track record of working well with others. I have strong interpersonal skills and I am able to build relationships with clients, colleagues, and other professionals. I am also able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.

I am confident that I can be a valuable asset to your company and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this further with you. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Criminologist Cover Letter Example 3

I am writing to express my interest in the criminologist position that you have posted. I believe that my education and experience make me an excellent candidate for this position.

I have a Master of Science degree in Criminology from the University of Michigan, where I also earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. My graduate studies focused on the relationship between crime and social structure, as well as the role of criminal justice institutions in society. I also completed coursework in statistics and research methods.

My undergraduate studies focused on the sociology of deviance, which has been a valuable background for my work in criminology. I have always been interested in how people become criminals, and how they are treated by society after they commit crimes. This interest led me to study criminology, which is the scientific study of crime and its causes.

I have worked as a research assistant at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research since graduating with my master’s degree last year. My duties included conducting surveys and analyzing data for various projects. I was also responsible for managing the data collected by other researchers.

I am confident that my skills in research and analysis would be an asset to your department. I am also very comfortable working with computers, which is necessary for most criminological research. Finally, I am very interested in the field of criminology, and I enjoy learning about new developments in the field.

I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss my qualifications in person. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Criminologist Cover Letter Writing Tips

1. highlight your skills.

When writing a cover letter for a criminologist position, it’s important to highlight your skills and experience. Some of the best ways to do this include:

• Listing the different criminology theories you are familiar with.
• Detailing the research methods you are comfortable using.
• Describing the types of data you are able to analyze.
• Outlining the different software programs you are able to use.

2. Customize your cover letter

Just as you would for any other job application, it’s important to tailor your cover letter specifically for the criminologist role you are applying for. This means highlighting the skills and experience that make you the best candidate for the job.

For example, if the job listing mentions that the ideal candidate has experience in conducting interviews, be sure to mention any interviews you have conducted in the past. If the company is looking for someone with experience in data analysis, be sure to list the different types of data you have analyzed in the past.

3. Showcase your passion for criminology

In your cover letter, it’s important to show hiring managers that you have a passion for criminology. One way to do this is by explaining why you became interested in the field of criminology in the first place. You can also talk about your goals for your career in criminology, and how you plan to use your skills and experience to make a positive impact in the field.

4. Proofread your cover letter

Just like with any other job application, it’s important to proofread your cover letter for mistakes. This is your chance to make a good first impression, so make sure everything is perfect before submitting your application.

Biological Technician Cover Letter Examples & Writing Tips

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Cover Letters

E. common cover letter mistakes.

• Vide o and Slides from the CDO program “ Cover Letters That Do The Job” and handouts: Job Postings & Tips and Sample PIPS Cover Letters .

Your cover letter is as important as your resume because it is often read first and plays a vital role in your quest for an interview. A cover letter is not a transmittal letter, and you may be surprised at how time-consuming it is to craft a good one. A cover letter has a purpose, which is to let an employer know why they should bother reading your resume and why they should meet you. It also serves as an example of your written work product; thus it should be clear, brief, and written in a business letter style, without any typographical errors.

1. Cover letters for unsolicited applications come in three main types:

• Personal Letter. These are the most effective cover letters and are sent to people you have met or with whom you have a mutual acquaintance. These letters should all start with the sentence: “_______ recommended that I contact you.” As this type of letter is most likely to get a response, if you have any possibility of establishing this sort of connection to a prospective employer in advance of sending your letter, you should try your best to do so.
• Targeted Letters. Next best thing. Targeted letters are based on research of the employer, and are individually tailored. Your letter should incorporate the information learned through your research to show the employer that you have skills they will be able to put to use.
• Mass Mailers. Least desirable. These are generic except for the name and address of the employer, and have a very low success rate of getting interviews.

2. When you respond to a job listing, you will usually be requested to submit a cover letter as part of your application. In this case, use the job description and requested qualifications as a guide. While not simply imitating the language of the listing, your letter should demonstrate that you have what the employer is looking for.

3. A few employers at OCI request that students bring a cover letter to the initial interview. This is essentially to require students to think about why they want to work for this employer, but it makes for a letter which deviates from the usual “please consider me for an interview” approach. See below for suggestions on OCI cover letters.

Cover letters should follow standard business letter format, as to spacing, salutation, etc. If you are not sure of the fine points, consult a business correspondence reference source. Avoid abbreviations, contractions and shortcuts (such as a slash instead of “or”), although if there is an accepted short form of the name of the organization you are writing to (e.g., ACLU or Coblentz) it is acceptable to use it in the text of your letter. Your telephone number and email address should appear somewhere in the letter, either at the top with your address, or in the closing paragraph, when you ask them to contact you. Note that your resume is “enclosed,” not “attached” (which means clipped or stapled).

If you are not sure to whom you should send your letter, it is always acceptable to write to the executive director of a nonprofit, or the hiring partner or head of recruiting at a firm; they can forward your application to the appropriate person within the organization. If at all possible, write to an individual by name, not to “Director” or “Recruiting Coordinator.” Firm and organization web sites are very useful in finding this information (and for confirming correct spellings and the like); it may be more difficult to find the name of an individual addressee for government job opportunities. If you do not have the name of an individual, the salutation should be “Dear Sir or Madam” (not “To Whom It May Concern”). Of course if you are responding to a job posting, address your letter exactly as instructed.

As for the appropriate salutation, traditionally, it is “Dear [Mr./Ms.] [Last Name].  However, we understand that this prevailing business norm may not be inclusive of individuals who do not use either of those titles (for example, because they identify as gender nonconforming). One alternative, “Dear [First Name] [Last Name]”, avoids presuming how the recipient may identify, but it is not without some risk.  

If you use this approach, a recipient less attuned to thinking about gender inclusivity (and accustomed to seeing only “Dear [Mr./Ms] [Last Name]”) may wrongly conclude that you were unfamiliar with professional etiquette or that you used a mail merge template and did not bother to customize it.  While awareness around these issues is increasing, we believe that, unfortunately, it is still not a small number of recruiting representatives and attorneys who might draw the wrong conclusion.

One way to navigate this tricky situation might be to see if the recipient has an online presence (e.g., on the firm website or LinkedIn) that might give you a strong clue as to how they would like to be addressed.  Otherwise, you will need to make your own judgment as to whether recipients are more likely to recognize your inclusivity or to view the greeting as awkward or erroneous.

In our office, we are also working to help employers become familiar with gender-inclusive approaches like “Dear [First Name] [Last Name],” but like any process of education, this will take time. In the meantime, our primary goal is to make sure that all Berkeley Law students are fully informed as you navigate legal job markets. We are always available to discuss individually what approach would be the best fit for you.

First Paragraph. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing. Introduce yourself as a law student (including the year you are in) or a graduate of Berkeley Law and specify what it is you are seeking: a summer job, an associate position, a clerkship, part-time work during the school year, etc.

The goal of this paragraph is to give the reader a reason to want to finish reading the letter. If you don’t have a personal connection to cite, try to establish a nexus between yourself and the employer, such as knowledge of their practice, an established commitment to or interest in their work, a connection to their city, or something else which conveys that you are not just writing to them as part of a mass mailing for any job in any location. (If that in fact is what you are doing, try not to be too obvious about it. An employer wants to think that you sought him or her out purposely rather than randomly.)

Body Paragraph(s). This is the section in which you “sell” your experience and qualifications to the employer. Your goal here is to answer the question, “Why should the employer meet you?”

Call attention to something which substantiates your interest in this particular employer. It could be coursework in their specialty, the recommendation of a professor in their area of practice, undergraduate residency in their city, or any other indication of your interest. Try also to show how your experiences will translate into skills which will be useful to this particular employer. Highlight relevant qualifications which are not on your resume, such as coursework, research, or a prior connection to the organization or the issues they work on. If you have general legal skills such as negotiation, litigation, client counseling, interviewing, mock trials, etc., you may want to include them. As much as possible, try to convey understanding of, and enthusiasm for, the aims of the organization.

Employers do not expect first-year students to have highly-developed legal skills to offer. Therefore, for first-year students writing to private firms, this section can be a single, short paragraph, unless you have a strong background in a relevant area. However, even inexperienced first-year students writing to public interest/sector organizations should make an effort to describe skills and interests that are relevant to the employer.

It is appropriate and not uncommon for a public interest cover letter to be somewhat more detailed or personal than a private sector cover letter. Of course, it is still very important to be concise, but it is acceptable for the letter to be a full page if your experience dictates. In a public interest cover letter, it is important both to highlight your demonstrated commitment to the mission/work/client base of the organization through your own relevant work or life experience, and to illustrate your relevant skills. Take another look at your resume for items that show your interest, commitment and skills. Even if you do not have experience in the specific area in which an organization works, it is still important to emphasize your demonstrated commitment to the public interest, and to draw connections between that general commitment and the specific work of the organization. As it is important not to merely regurgitate your resume, consider including a story that illustrates you are interested or qualified in the position.

If your application raises questions that are readily answered, such as availability after the Bar exam, judicial clerkship plans, etc., the letter can address those; other issues may be better deferred to the interview stage. Consult a CDO attorney-counselor if you’re not sure whether to include something in your cover letter.

Final Paragraph. In your last paragraph, thank them for their consideration, and say you hope to hear from them soon. For out-of-town employers, indicate when you plan to be in their geographic area and state your availability for an interview. Be sure to include your phone number and email in this paragraph unless you use a letterhead style that includes them at the top of the page. If you state that you will call the employer to follow up on your application, be sure you do so.

If you are bringing a cover letter to an on-campus interview (which you should do only if the employer requests you to), the content will be a bit different. You don’t need to introduce yourself, as you will be there in person, and you won’t request an interview at the closing. But you can thank the employer for interviewing you and say that you welcome the opportunity to learn more about the employer and to discuss the possibility of working for them. The important thing is to show why you are interested in this particular employer, and how you think your background makes you a good match for them.

The mistakes most commonly found in student cover letters are:

• Restating your resume. “ I graduated from the University of Oregon in 2005, with a B.A., cum laude, in Political Science, then worked as a substitute teacher in an urban high school before starting law school in the fall of 2008 .” Don’t waste space with facts that are readily gleaned from your resume! Instead, you could say (briefly) how your work experience led you to pursue a legal career in an area practiced by the employer.
• Focusing on what you stand to gain from the job . “ I am particularly interested in your firm’s excellent training program for summer associates, and in gaining exposure to a variety of different practice areas.” Remember, employers only grant interviews to candidates who offer something of potential use to the employer. Try to say how your skills and enthusiasm will help the employer serve its clients, or otherwise further its aims.
• Being too informal or familiar. “I’m thrilled by the possibility of working with you this summer, and would love to meet with you in person/by phone to chat about what the options might be.” Enthusiasm is good, but it must be presented professionally.

Other cover letter mistakes include: being defensive or apologetic; appearing arrogant or entitled, and being too long and wordy. Unsupported statements of your qualities (“I am highly motivated and a quick study”) do not help your case. Generic reasons for your interest in the employer (e.g., its “excellent reputation”) tend to demonstrate your lack of specific knowledge. Of course typos and inaccuracies, such as misspelled names, or (please!) stating an interest in a practice area that the firm doesn’t have, are automatic application-killers.

Our cover letter template  provides suggestions only; please do not feel excessively constrained by its approach. Your letter should, of course, be original work that reflects your unique background and the job you are aiming at.

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Criminal Justice Instructor Cover Letter Example

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Criminal Justice Instructor Cover Letter Example (Full Text Version)

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in the opportunity available within your organization. Currently, I am employed as a part-time Criminal Justice Instructor at the University of Sunnybank where I teach Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Ethics to undergraduate students. My responsibilities include planning and delivering high-quality instruction in both physical and virtual settings, as well as administering and evaluating assessments. I utilize a variety of teaching methods, incorporating experiential learning opportunities and case studies to address specific topics.

In addition to my teaching experience, I am pursuing a Doctorate in Criminology and hold a Master of Criminology. I actively seek to enhance my knowledge through participation in workshops, conferences, and courses.

I pride myself on creating a flexible, supportive, and dynamic learning environment that encourages student engagement and critical thinking. I am particularly pleased with the high pass rate my classes have achieved.

As I near completion of my doctorate, I am eager to transition into a full-time role that will allow me to continue delivering stimulating courses to aspiring criminology professionals. I have attached my curriculum vitae for your review and consideration.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the possibility of discussing this opportunity further.

Milan Šaržík, CPRW

Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

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