If you’re unsure how to write a letter of recommendation, start by telling the admissions committee something about the applicant that they’re unlikely to glean from a résumé or transcript.

But if you’re going on the faculty-job market for the first time — as a recent Ph.D. or an advanced doctoral student — now is also the time to start drafting, or fine-tuning, your cover letters.

A well-written cover letter unfolds like a story, unlike a resume which is structured like a list, so the cover letter is perfect for telling your sales story about why you’re perfect for the job.

Tired of texting? Send your loved ones some snail mail instead. Rachel Syme, author of "Syme's Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence," shares whimsical ways to start a letter-writing habit.