Cover Letter

To whom it may concern,

On January 4th 2022 I quit my job as a nuclear reactor operator. I’d taken the job after graduating with my bachelor’s in chemical engineering and while the subject matter was interesting, I found the actual day to day work to be miserable. Looking back, I realized the times I felt most engaged were when I was programming, be it in my college’s Matlab course or with my hobby projects. So I went back to school to pursue a master’s in computer science.

This is where you find me now, preparing to graduate in May 2024 and start a new chapter of my life. This experience has shown me how much of a difference it makes when the work you do truly compliments your skills and interests. As a student I feel more confident and engaged in what I’m learning, and as a professional I feel more curious and motivated in my craft. It’s the difference between being skilled enough to develop software, and being intrinsically motivated to keep getting better at it nonetheless.

Anybody can write a program, but it takes discipline and practice to write robust and main- tainable software. My goal is to show you I have these skills and would be a valuable addition to your team. I’d like to draw special attention to the mix of education, practice, and professionalism my application demonstrates. My master’s degree and experience as a TA show I have a solid theoretical knowledge base. My hobby projects show I have experience writing real programs outside a classroom setting. And my internship and past career show I can work on a team to make a meaningful impact in your organization.

I’d love to go into more detail about my experiences over the last few years and how I can be an asset to your team. Please feel free to reach me by email at contact@kyleclapper.dev. I’d also encourage you to take a look at my Github and LinkedIn profiles.

Thank you for your care and consideration.

Kyle Clapper