I am interested in joining your editorial team for the purpose of editing academic papers, and I have a keen interest in working with English as a second language (ESL) submissions.  Now, with that very clear agenda laid upon your feet, I'll go ahead and describe my background and reasoning for this interest.

I am a graduate student focusing on obtaining a Ph.D. in the field of Analytical Chemistry.  I am in the last throes of my graduate program, and through informed contemplation and experience, have decided that I want to establish myself in a career of editing.  Rather than waiting until I obtain my degree, I am prepared to enter this career now.  Despite the urgency I just expressed, this is far from a rushed conclusion, and I will attempt to elaborate on my certainty by relaying my past experience with editorial foreplay.

My academic pursuit experienced a two-year intermission between undergraduate and graduate degrees, wherein I had the opportunity to apply myself and explore the industrial side of chemistry.  My supervisor was an editor of a journal, and during my time with the company (specifically 2006), I took on the extraneous task of editing articles for my supervisor.  Primarily, these were academic articles in various fields of scientific research written by ESL speakers.  This only continued because I found that I really enjoyed the process of improving and explaining the language while simultaneously exploring other scientific areas intellectually (my very specific field at the time had already reached a level of monotony that ceased to stimulate me).  The only compensation I received from this was personal enrichment, and on occasion, an author credit.

This editorial arrangement continued during my graduate studies, and additionally, I found that I had appointed myself as the official editor of our research group.  It wasn't until a few years into it that I realized editing was a viable, long-term career path.  I began to utilize my experience and acquaintances to offer my services on a more professional level.  Though I have now popped my financial cherry, this has all been conducted in a rather casual manner.  My intentions now are to operate in a more structured and supervised environment, and by doing so, offer and hone my assets and expertise.  Thus, I merely wish I have conveyed enough of my talent, ambition, enthusiasm, and via my Curriculum Vitae, qualifications to impel you to consider me for an opening on your editorial team.

If you would like a copy of my CV and references, please feel free to request it upon follow-up.  I have to admit the Credential/Contact form is a little unclear.