How to build an effective social sciences student cover letter

The social sciences take a deep dive into human culture and civilization, studying everything from politics to interpersonal relationships. Students studying the social sciences need an effectively written cover letter to land their dream job, internship, or another position in the field.

In this guide, we cover five vital steps for writing an effective social sciences student cover letter. Read on to learn all about:

How to create a well-formatted header for your cover letter
Why tailoring your social sciences student cover letter is crucial
Key details to include in your social sciences student cover letter intro
Ways to describe your skills and achievements as a social sciences student
How to conclude your social sciences student cover letter concisely

1. How to create a well-formatted header for your social sciences cover letter

Before you begin writing the actual body text of your cover letter, your first key step is to create a well-formatted cover letter header.

A cover letter header is a highly important element on any cover letter, as it contains crucial information about who you are and how the employer can contact you.

In your header, you should include:

Your name and professional title (in the case of a student, you may not yet have a professional title. To solve this problem, you can use your ideal job title, followed by the word “Student” to indicate to the employer that you are still completing your degree.)
Your professional contact information
The name of the company or organization you are applying to

Here is an example of a well-formatted social sciences student cover letter header

Madison Memphis, Social Sciences Student
(123) 456-7890 | madmemphis@email.com | linkedin.com/in/madison-memphis

To: Houston Cultural Center
Social Sciences Department
1234 Street Address
Houston, TX

2. How to tailor your social sciences student cover letter

Tailoring a cover letter to a specific job or employer is crucial, no matter what field you work in.

For a social sciences student, tailoring a cover letter is a great way to make your cover letter stand out from competing applicants. To achieve this, you must first research the employer beforehand, looking for key details such as:

Major projects or programs the company is involved in
The company’s overall goals and values
The person at the company responsible for hiring and interviewing

This last detail can be used to create a personalized greeting that addresses this specific person by name. By using this type of greeting, you let the reader know immediately that your letter is tailored.

Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings

Dear Head Social Scientist Jane Humphries,
Dear Mrs. Jane Humphries,
Dear Dr. Jane Humphries,

Pro Tip: In instances where a person has a title such as “Dr.,” it is generally a good idea to use this title when addressing them as a sign of respect.

3. Key details to include in your social sciences student cover letter intro

With your tailoring research complete, you can now begin writing your cover letter introduction.

Since you have already listed your name and contact information in your header, you can skip over these details and jump straight into your most impressive qualifications.

A strong introduction on a social sciences student cover letter should include:

A brief summary of your academic and professional history (in many cases, a student may not have a long work history just yet — this makes academic experiences that are comparable to work experiences invaluable to include in your cover letter)
A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying
Any specialized areas of expertise you possess in the field of social sciences

Here is an example of a well-written introduction from a social sciences student cover letter

Dear Dr. Jane Humphries,

I am a fourth-year student at Brown University seeking an entry-level role at your social sciences organization. With a specialization in child psychology, I believe I am a great fit for your organization and can provide many meaningful contributions to your ongoing research into local populations of homeless youth.

4. Ways to describe your skills and achievements as a social sciences student

After finishing your introduction, your next step is to write the body paragraphs of your cover letter.

There should be approximately 2 to 4 body paragraphs in your cover letter that discuss the specifics of your most relevant skills, accomplishments, and other qualifications.

To describe these qualifications, aim to use simple sentences that are easy for the employer to skim over. You can also utilize bullet points to add extra visual organization to your letter.

Here are 6 examples of skills to describe in a social sciences student cover letter

Clear verbal and written communication
Excellent collaboration and teamwork
Leadership and independence
Compassion
Research and data collection methods
Critical thinking

Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a social sciences student cover letter

During my time at Brown University, I have served for three years as the President of the Social Sciences and Psychology club. Within this club, we offer tutoring services in partnership with departmental professors that have led to a 45% improvement in overall test scores for social sciences students.

5. How to conclude your social sciences student cover letter concisely

Last but not least, you need to write a concise conclusion that encourages the employer to contact you.

In this conclusion, make sure to include:

An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
How and when you can best be contacted
How and when you plan to follow-up
A formal sign-off

Here is an example of a concise conclusion from a social sciences student cover letter

Thank you for taking the time to review my cover letter and application. I hope to hear from you within the next week regarding this position and am available to meet any day of the week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. As I am eager to learn more about this opportunity, I plan to follow up via phone call next Wednesday morning if I have not yet heard from you.

Kind Regards,

[Applicant Name]

Published on March 1, 2023

Julia Gergelova

Resume Writer

Julia is a professional writer, translator and graphic designer. She holds degrees in translation and interpretation, and has international work experience from a number of different countries in Europe as well as China and Panama. Julia formerly taught academic writing and as a graphic designer contributed to outlets such as The Business of Business. She has a passion for lifelong learning and good coffee.