๐. ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ: Whenever you see a PhD position ad, it also mentions the point of contact. For example, the name of the professor in case of a PhD/postdoc position. Specifically, address this person e.g., Dear Prof. Peter.
๐. ๐๐ฎ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ญ: Everything makes more sense when itโs in numbers. Therefore, quantify wherever possible. Moreover, focus on the outcome instead of the process. For example, instead of saying that I have research experience in data science, you should say my 2-year experience working in data science has resulted in 3 research papers.
๐. ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐: Ask yourself this question why would someone read 500 words letter? What will compel him/her to read this whole letter? Give a smooth and soft flow to your letter. Help the reader to easily go from one sentence to another.
๐. ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐: People are mostly quite busy. They donโt have time to read lengthy letters nor do they have time to read very complex writing. Keep it to one page and write in simple straight language. Do not use a sentence longer than 2 lines.
๐. ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ญ: Why you are writing this letter? Mention the purpose right away. โI am writing to express my interest in the Ph.D. position available at your research labโ is a decent line to start with.
๐. ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐: Keep your letter very positive. Do not complain or blame anyone or anything. Mention how your skill and experience fit the advertised position. Do not mention that you deserve the position because something bad happened or that you were at some disadvantage in the past.
๐. ๐๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ: Make sure your letter is free from typos and grammar errors. You can easily remove such errors using online software tools such as Grammarly.
๐. ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐: Your resume is only about you. A cover letter is where you link your profile with that of the advertised position. This way itโs both about you and the advertised position. Focus on demonstrating this link instead of only focusing on your profile.