Crafting a cover letter to get yourself noticed by a healthcare employer is never an easy task. However, it’s your best chance of getting your foot in the door of an employer that may or may not have thought about hiring you based on your resume. Cover letters get personal; employers want to see who you are through them. When you’re conducting a healthcare job search it’s important to put together one that tells the prospective employer who you are and what you’ve achieved in the field to date. Create a stellar cover letter by knowing the difference between what information you should and shouldn’t put inside it.

The DO’s

• Get to the Point Quickly

The purpose of a cover letter should be clearly stated in the first paragraph. There is no need for small talk; it’s just a waste of space.  A cover letter with flowery prose detailing the job seeker’s passion for the nursing field will most likely be overlooked. Most employers want to know what a nurse has done and what else they can do and nothing more. 

• Customize the Letter for the Organization

Do a little research to discover exactly what a potential employer is looking for and then focus on demonstrating how that can be provided in the cover letter. Information gleaned from employer websites and publications can be used for this purpose.  Nurses should include a small amount of trivial information that lets HR know the nurse has done his or her homework. This information should be brief in nature. 

• Make a Positive Impression

Invest some time in creating a cover letter to personalize and share relevant personal information. Tell a unique story and avoid any clichés.  It’s okay to list positive accomplishments, but little white lies regarding education or work experience are easily uncovered. Stick to the facts and nothing more. 

• Follow Up 

Employers are busy. One of the best ways to snag a job is to follow up after sending in a cover letter and resume. In fact, most new hires are those that take the initiative to follow up with potential employers after sending in a resume. 

The DON’T’s

• Don’t Include Irrelevant Information 

Bragging about irrelevant information or job experience is not impressive if the experience has nothing to do with the job. Leave everything out, except for information that is absolutely necessary. Don’t mention connections to a prominent individual or make other statements about knowing the head of the department. It will help to know someone who can pull strings, but this should not appear in the cover letter. 

• Avoid Bragging or Conflicts 

Don’t exaggerate or use too many “I’s” when writing a cover letter. Additionally, a cover letter should never conflict with the resume. Keep stories straight and to the point.  Nurses want potential employers to think they are great. They don’t want to be thought of as stuck up or snooty. Nurses should use great care when sharing their accomplishments. 

• Provide salary information when it is not requested
• Make spelling errors and typos
• Handwrite a cover letter

First impressions count in the job search, and that’s why a dynamite cover letter can mean the difference between success and failure. Make sure to follow these steps and make your cover letter stand out.