A postdoc asks— 

I have a question. I need to stay in San Francisco because of my partner’s job, and because of a bunch of financial and family obligations. Because of this, I’m pretty interested in a consulting role that would really help pay the bills, and I generally like to travel, so that’s a bonus. I saw your advice about writing a cover letter that explains why I want the job, but what should I say when those reasons are basically just the money? I’m not too interested in consulting work long-term, although I do think I’d be good at it. 

Oh yeah, it is way easier to write about your interest in a job where you like the content of the job! It is still important that your cover letter conveys that you’re excited to do the work of the job, even if that isn’t the real reason you want the job. I recommend thinking about everything you know about the role and picking out your favorite piece of it (even if that’s not something you are actually interested in making a career of), and then writing your cover letter as if the opportunity to do that piece is the reason you want the job. If you’re into the travel aspect of this consulting job, perhaps you can write about how you are excited for all of the opportunities to work with different people, in different places, and on different projects.  

Cover letters are understood as a marketing document for yourself- it's totally OK to leave off reasons that don’t sell you as a candidate. I think you’ll find most people around you are doing the same. 

-David Blancha, Assistant Director, Career Development Team for Researchers