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How to write a paraprofessional cover letter?

Also known as assistant teachers or paraeducators, paraprofessionals work alongside licensed teachers to assist them with classroom activities and curricula in educational institutions.

They can be employed in various childcare institutions like private and public elementary schools, including institutions for children with special needs.

If you want to kickstart your career in the teaching field, this role is a great position to start.

However, simply sending in your paraprofessional resume is not enough to bag this position.

To increase your chances of getting shortlisted, you must include a well-written paraprofessional cover letter for supporting your application.

Read on to get clarity on the following FAQs related to a paraprofessional cover letter:

• Why do you need a paraprofessional cover letter?
• How should you format a cover letter for a paraprofessional position?
• How do I write a cover letter for a paraprofessional job?
• What is the proper way to end a paraprofessional cover letter?

Why Do You Need a Cover Letter for Paraeducator Positions?

Only 35% of applicants send a cover letter with their resumes even though 83% of recruiters consider cover letters while making their hiring decisions.

So, what does this mean for you?

If you put in the extra effort to draft a compelling paraprofessional cover letter, you can easily get ahead of candidates who don’t consider doing the same.

Your paraprofessional cover letter can provide a more insightful glimpse of your candidacy and illustrate how your skills align with the recruiters’ requirements.

That is why you need a paraprofessional cover letter to double your chances of getting shortlisted.

The only time when you don’t need one is when the recruiters have specifically asked applicants not to send a cover letter in the job listing.

Also read: How to write a brilliant paraprofessional resume?

Paraprofessional Cover Letter Format

Now, the first thing that the recruiters will notice when they see your paraprofessional cover letter is its format and presentation.

Given that recruiters don’t spend a lot of time reading resumes and cover letters, your cover letter must be formatted well enough to catch the recruiters’ attention.

However, this doesn’t mean that you must use loud colors or fonts with special characters in your paraprofessional cover letter.

The format you choose must simply enhance the readability of your letter and give it a professional look.

Listed below are some guidelines you can follow to format your paraprofessional cover letter:

• Ensure to leave 1” margins on all sides
• Avoid attaching a photo to your paraprofessional cover letter
• Only use subtle accents and colors in your letter (in the header and personal information section)
• Use easy-to-read fonts like Times New Roman, Helvetica, Calibri, Ariel, etc.
• To maintain uniformity, use the same font and accent colors in your paraprofessional cover letter and resume
• The font size should range between 10-12 points depending on the font style you choose
• Save your paraprofessional cover letter in PDF format
• Maintain a 1.5 line spacing
• Keep your cover letter concise and crisp with no more than 2-3 short paragraphs

Also read: How to choose a cover letter font?

How to Write a Paraprofessional Resume Cover Letter?

Writing the best paraprofessional cover letter is possible only if you are clear about the fundamentals of the process.

The small details are key to helping your cover letter stand out to the recruiters.

The following are some basic guidelines that will help you write a brilliant paraprofessional cover letter:

Create an Appropriate Header

One of the common mistakes that applicants make is writing “cover letter” as the document's header.

The recruiters already know that it is a cover letter for a paraprofessional. What they aren’t familiar with, is your name and personal details.

Therefore, it makes sense to write your full name as the header of your paraprofessional cover letter followed by your contact details.

Your personal details must include your contact number, email address, current location, LinkedIn profile URL, and profile title.

Also read: How to start a cover letter?

Personalize Your Paraprofessional Cover Letter

There is no guarantee that the recruiter will read your paraprofessional cover letter.

Plus, if the letter is addressed in a generic way like “To whom it may concern”, the chances of the cover letter ending up in the trash can is very high.

If you don’t want your paraprofessional cover letter to meet the same fate, you need to personalize it by addressing the letter with the hiring manager’s name.

You must do some research about the company by visiting their official website, LinkedIn pages, etc., to find the hiring manager’s name.

Doing so will not only grab the recruiters’ attention but will also present you as a serious candidate who has done their homework.

Use the Correct Salutation

Avoid using salutations like “Dear Sir/Madam” or “Good morning/Good afternoon”.

You can’t be sure when the recruiter is going to read your cover letter, so it makes no sense to use time-based greetings.

And since you’ve already taken the time to find the hiring manager’s name, personalize the salutation using their last name.

For instance, if the hiring manager’s name is David Eyres, your salutation must be:

Dear Mr. Eyres

If the hiring manager is a female, ensure to use Ms. instead of Mrs. or Miss, and if the HR has a professional title like Dr. or Prof. use that instead.

Align Your Skills With the Recruiters’ Requirements

Your resume already serves as a reference for your skills and experiences.

You must therefore focus on illustrating how your skills and experiences align with the recruiters’ requirements through your paraprofessional cover letter.

You need to tailor its content according to the job description provided in the listing.

Analyze the listing to identify the key requirements and then talk about skills and experiences that demonstrate your ability to meet the same.

For instance, if scheduling curriculum programs are listed as one of the requirements, you must talk about similar experiences in your paraprofessional cover letter.

Show that You Know About the Institution

Leverage the research you did about the institution to show your genuine interest in working for them in the last paragraph of your paraprofessional cover letter.

For instance, you can talk about how their goals, vision, or their dedication to providing quality education to young children inspires you.

This way, you can impress the recruiters with your familiarity with their work and showcase your enthusiasm to join their team.

Wrap Up with a CTA

Before you end your paraprofessional cover letter, you must instigate the recruiters to give you a call back for an interview.

You can do so by wrapping up your cover letter with a strong Call To Action (CTA).

Avoid writing common lines like “Thank you for your time”. Instead, you can write something like:

“I’d appreciate the opportunity to further discuss my suitability and qualifications with you through a phone call or in person. I am available at 000-0000-0000.”

Also read: What are the top 4 tips to write a great cover letter?

Paraprofessional Cover Letter Sample

Also read: What are some examples of profile-based cover letters?

Key Takeaways from the Blog

• Also known as assistant teachers or paraeducators, paraprofessionals work alongside licensed teachers to assist them with classroom activities and curricula in educational institutions.
• Paraprofessional cover letters provide an insightful glimpse of your candidacy and illustrate how your skills are aligned with the recruiters’ requirements.
• Choose a cover letter format that enhances the readability of your paraprofessional letter and gives it a professional look.
• To maintain uniformity, use the same font and accent colors in your paraprofessional cover letter and resume.
• Write your full name as the header of your paraprofessional cover letter followed by your contact details.
• Personalize your paraprofessional cover letter by addressing it with the hiring manager’s name.
• If the hiring manager is a female, ensure to use Ms. instead of Mrs. or Miss, and if the HR has a professional title like Dr. or Prof. use that instead.
• Tailor your cover letter content according to the job description provided in the listing.
• Show your interest in the role by talking about the institution’s goals or vision and end your paraprofessional cover letter with a call to action.

If you want to make an impressive paraprofessional cover letter in minutes, use Hiration’s AI-powered Cover Letter Builder and write to us at support@hiration.com if you have any questions.