The "motivation"/cover letter for a postdoc application
According to Prof. Dr. Hubert Detmer of the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers, the cover letter, known in Germany as the "motivation letter", is the most essential element of the postdoc application. Ideally around two-pages in length, the letter should actively highlight why the candidate is interested in conducting scientific work in that particular field of research and why it should be done at the institution doing the hiring – and why the applicant is the most-suited candidate for the position. At the end of the letter, the applicant should also articulate a vision that is consistent with the corresponding department of the research institution. That vision should outline the research priorities the prospective postdoc would like to pursue if hired for the listed position.
It is also advantageous to tap into one’s network within the department to learn more about the potential employer in advance. Even a phone call to the contact person listed in the job posting can be immensely helpful in terms of obtaining more detailed information about the area of research.
The cover letter should be forward-looking and not just a list of past experiences. The main skills acquired can be covered in a few sentences, with references back to the CV.
Academic curriculum vitae for a postdoc application
Along with the stages of an applicant’s professional career and their specific academic career, including the degrees completed, the most relevant information in the CV of a postdoctoral application are the publications to date and teaching experience amassed in the relevant field. If the lists of publications, teaching and lectures given seem too long for the CV, they can be included as a separate attachment.
It is also important for applicants to include soft skills and other abilities and experience. These can include things like foreign-language skills and professional stays abroad, IT skills, experience in leading working groups or in academic self-administration – participation in examination or selection (appointment) committees, for example. Presentations given at conferences or congresses should also be included in the curriculum vitae. If they do not explicitly demonstrate the applicant’s suitability, then hobbies, leisure activities, etc. are inappropriate in a CV for a postdoc application.
Further documents for a postdoc application
In general, an applicant’s postdoctoral application should emphasise suitability for the specifics listed in the job posting. The attachment of university diplomas and doctorate degree is generally obligatory.
Even if not explicitly listed in the call for applicants, sending in additional documents can be beneficial, provided they contain information that is meaningful to the application. A letter of recommendation is only required in some cases, but early in an academic career, it is good to submit such recommendations from doctoral advisers or thesis supervisors, even if it isn’t a prerequisite.
If teaching is part of a postdoc’s duties, it is perfectly reasonable to include a brief teaching plan, even if this is not explicitly required. This should show, more extensively than in the curriculum vitae, the applicant’s past teaching achievements and include evaluations or evidence of advanced teacher training. The applicant can also briefly outline how they might approach the teaching duties described in the call for applications.
