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Don’t State the Obvious

By Karen Kelsky | January 16, 2015

There is a kind of line in job documents that is technically blameless, but is so generic, so very much “stating the obvious” that it also completely pointless.  This kind of line fills space while doing nothing to distinguish you in any way.

The rule here is: If Anyone Can Say It, It’s Not Helping You.

Here are a few examples:

  • The ultimate aim of my classroom strategies is to help students gain useful skills and knowledge.
  •  My courses present writing as a means of communication and a tool for developing thought.
  • As a recipient of the grant, I will have the opportunity to apply my expertise in short-term projects and longer-term projects, expanding my learning capabilities and diversifying my network.
  • By presenting my current and future research in the departmental symposium, I would be able to put my work in dialogue with fellows in various departments, and to collaborate with researchers in disciplines other than my own.
  •  I can teach a variety of courses in the department.
  • Your department offers many opportunities for collaboration.

In each case, there is literally no academic who could not write the sentence!

Study your job documents and make sure that every line tells something about YOU, not about “Generic Job-Seeker X.”

Similar Posts:

  • “I Plan to Take Full Advantage of My Acquired Skills!”
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  • How To Identify Yourself as a Diversity Hire
  • How To Get Your Department to Pay for Productivity Support
  • Introducing TPII Staff: Dr. Maggie Levantovskaya

Filed Under: How To Build Your Tenure File, How to Interview, How To Write Academic Job Cover Letters, Major Job Market Mistakes, Negotiating Offers, Postdoc Issues, Strategizing Your Success in Academia, What Not To Wear, Writing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tammy says

    February 2, 2015 at 10:51 am

    Hi Karen. As a phd candidate, should I ask to use my university’s letterhead for the cover letter or a blank document?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 2, 2015 at 12:33 pm

      Your university’s letterhead.

      Reply
      • sirzer says

        March 19, 2015 at 5:41 pm

        What about those who are independent researchers?

        Reply

Trackbacks

  1. “I Plan to Take Full Advantage of My Acquired Skills!” | The Professor Is In says:
    February 7, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    […] is a close kin to the problem of last week’s post:  stating the obvious.  But here, it’s “bragging the obvious.”  Don’t brag about engaging in […]

    Reply
  2. The Job Search is Not a Striptease | The Professor Is In says:
    October 4, 2015 at 12:00 am

    […] the way, this is a close cousin to both stating the obvious, and making claims so painfully general as to be meaningless.  Please read and study these posts […]

    Reply

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