Sample Networking Letter

Your Address
Date

Name, Title if known
Organization Name
Address
City, State, ZIP

Dear Mr./Ms. So-and-So:

I am currently a student at Wesleyan University and I obtained your name through the Career Resource Center. I am interested in exploring the field of education, specifically teaching, in a private school and am writing to you because of your position teaching English at [Any School, USA]. If possible, I would like to arrange a time to meet with you to talk about your post-Wesleyan experiences and about the field of teaching in general.

I am currently a senior and am majoring in History. I have experience as a Teaching Assistant for the History Department, write occasional articles for the Argus, do a variety of community service work with children and have spent many summers working for a camp in Vermont. I have no direct teaching experience; however, through my on- and off-campus involvement, I have worked individually with a variety of people and am intrigued by the learning process that each of them goes through.

Others have often suggested that I should work with children, and teaching seems to be an appropriate fit for me. I know that I can work in a private school without certification; however, I have many questions about what it is like day-to-day on the job, how to present my strengths so that my lack of teaching experience won't prevent me from being hired and, generally, what to think about should I begin a job search in this field.

I will call you next week to follow up on this letter and I hope it will be possible to arrange a time to further discuss my interest in teaching. I appreciate that your time is valuable and I would be grateful for any advice you may have for me. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Name

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