How To Get Your Dream Fellowship

Applying to fellowships can be competitive, but don’t get discouraged. There are so many fellowships for professionals in all stages of their career. If you are trying to get a fellowship this summer you should start applying now. Many deadlines for summer fellowships are in January and February. As someone who did two fellowships in a year, I have advice for professionals looking for fellowship opportunities.

Make sure to apply for fellowships that align with your career goals. For example, I was a fellow for Sierra Magazine from January to July 2022 because I love magazine writing. My fellowship at Sierra Magazine was the most uplifting and engrossing professional experience I’ve ever had.

The editor-in-chief fostered a psychologically safe work environment, something I had never felt before as a Black, queer, and neurodivergent person. Since then, I’ve written for several prominent publications and been offered a lot of professional opportunities. I highly recommend that readers consider applying for fellowships. So, are you going to apply? Here are a few tips.

Make A List of Fellowships

Before starting any applications make a list of your dream fellowships. Do a deep dive online to learn more about remote, hybrid, and in-person fellowships. Most fellowships have requirements. Read them thoroughly to make sure you are an appropriate applicant.

Create a google doc with a list of fellowships with links to their applications. Go through your LinkedIn connections and see if anyone you know works at the companies you are applying to. Having someone send a letter on your behalf can make a huge difference, especially if you’re applying alongside hundreds of applicants.

Write A Solid Cover Letter

After you compile a list and check your network on Linkedin, you should draft a cover letter. Your cover letter should address the hiring manager. The top of your cover letter should include the name of the person hiring, their title at work, and the name of the company they work for. And don’t forget to include the date. Also, never address someone in a cover letter without using their name. Many early career professionals make the mistake of saying “dear hiring manager.”

A better approach is to track down the person hiring and address them directly. Refrain from saying the word dear and say hi (insert name of hiring manager). Make sure you always end a cover letter by saying “thank you for taking the time to read this, I look forward to hearing from you.” That is a frequently used sentence in professional settings, especially via email. When you are done crafting a cover letter, have a mentor or former colleague read it. And do not shy away from applying to a diverse array of fellowships if you have several interests.

Have Someone Review Your Application

This is the most important part of applying to fellowships. Once you’ve touched up your resume and written a cover letter, someone else should take a look. Maybe it had a few grammatical errors. Or you might have left out some of your accolades and achievements. Before you show anyone else, go through your resume, cover letter, and answers to questions to remove any typos.

Also, make sure to have someone in your field review your application. After you have reread your application identify 2-3 people who would be willing to review it. Ask someone who knows you well or has been in a professional setting with you so that they can add any information about your career that you didn’t include.

Once you’ve had at least one person review your application, upload your resume and cover letter. If there are mandatory questions in the application write responses in a google doc so they are saved. Make sure to really be your authentic self in your responses. You don’t want to change yourself to work at a company. You will be unhappy if the company culture doesn’t align with your values. And now you know how to go about getting your dream fellowship. No matter how many rejections you get, keep applying. It only takes one yes to change the trajectory of your career.