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Do I need a cover letter for a lab technician job?

If this is you, debating whether to not you should write a cover letter for a lab technician job, the answer is yes.

Unless the recruiters have instructed not to include a cover letter in their job listing, sending a well-written lab technician cover letter can help you stand out from the pool of candidates.

According to a study conducted by SageJournals, 56% of employers want applicants to attach a cover letter with their resume.

Besides, your lab technician cover letter can give the recruiters an insightful understanding of your potential and value as an employee, thereby boosting your chances of getting shortlisted.

Read on if you want to learn how to write an impactful lab technician cover letter to go with your resume.

You will get an understanding of the following questions related to the lab technician cover letter:

• What is a lab technician cover letter?
• How do you I write a cover letter for a Lab Technician?
• Why should you personalize your lab technician cover letter?
• How to write a cover letter for lab assistant with no experience?
• What mistakes should you avoid while writing your lab technician cover letter?

What is a Lab Technician Cover Letter?

A lab technician cover letter is a document that supports your lab technician resume.

Since your resume can’t provide thorough details about your career trajectory, your lab technician cover letter does the job for you.

If you have referrals, employment gaps, incomplete education, or if you lack professional experience, you can provide suitable reasons for the same through your lab technician cover letter.

Another purpose of your lab technician cover letter is to help you describe how your skills and experience align with the job’s requirements, making you a perfect fit for the position.

Yes, this means that your lab technician cover letter has to be personalized and written with a particular employer in mind. Otherwise, your cover letter will not make the desired impact on the recruiters.

Also read: How to write a great cover letter?

How to Write a Laboratory Technician Cover Letter

Whether you’re writing a chemical laboratory technician cover letter or a cover letter for a medical lab technician, the standard procedure and format for writing an impressive cover letter remain the same.

First things first, you must choose a lab technician cover letter format that meets the following points:

• 1” margin on all sides of the letter
• 1 or 1.15 line spacing
• Double spaces between paragraphs
• 10-12 points font size
• Use fonts like Times New Roman, Calibri, etc. with no special characters

Since the format you choose makes the for first impression of your lab technician cover letter, it has to be easy to read, appealing, and professional.

Now, coming to the cover letter sections, here is a breakdown of what an ideal lab technician cover letter has to include:

Lab Technician Cover Letter Header

The header of your lab technician resume must include the following details:

• Your full name in 14-16 points font size
• A functional phone number
• An email address
• Current location including city & state
• A link to your online portfolio/website
• Your current designation

Personalized Address and Salutation

Recruiters don’t spend a lot of time reading resumes and cover letters. So, the best way to grab their attention right off the bat is by addressing your laboratory technician's cover letter with the hiring manager’s name.

There are two main benefits of following this practice:

• As stated earlier, it catches the recruiters’ attention
• And it reflects your genuine interest in working for their company/clinic

Ask yourself, if you were the employer, would you be more likely to read a cover letter that has been addressed to you or a letter that has been addressed as “To whom it may concern”?

The former, right?

That’s why it is important to write a personalized address in your lab technician cover letter.

As for the salutation, if the hiring manager is a female, practice writing “Ms.” instead of “Mrs.” or “Miss” to avoid unwanted confusion.

If they have a professional title like Dr. or Prof., use those instead.

Take a look at the following example of a personalized lab technician cover letter address and salutation:

Also Read: How to Address a Cover Letter?

Introductory Paragraph

The first paragraph of your lab technician cover letter should serve as an introduction to your professional self and the years of experience you have.

Highlight your most notable achievements and skills which are in line with the recruiters’ requirements.

If you have a referral, you can mention the same in this paragraph and ensure that this paragraph doesn’t exceed 4-5 lines.

Also read: How to begin your cover letter?

The Main Context

The body of your lab technician cover letter needs to talk about your experience, skills, and achievements that showcase you as the best candidate for the position.

Include achievement figures and numbers whenever possible to reflect your proven track record of potential.

Use the duties listed in the job listing as a reference to tailor your lab technician cover letter body.

For example, if the job listing has included “performing quality control tests on product samples” as one of the responsibilities, make sure that you talk about your experience in performing the same task.

This way, it will be easier for the employer to envision you as a suitable candidate.

The Third Paragraph

In this paragraph, your focus should be on telling the recruiter how you relate to them and why you want to work for them.

Is it their work culture? Is it the outstanding work they’ve done so far in the industry?

Whatever your reasons are for wanting to work for the particular employer, state those. (excluding monetary or personal reasons like moving to a new city, etc.)

If you don’t have enough information about the employer, consider researching about the same.

State how you resonate with them and how your qualifications and your aligned vision make you the perfect candidate for the job.

Wrap up Your Lab Technician Cover Letter

Close your lab technician cover letter with a Call to Action (CTA) urging the recruiter to schedule an interview.

Instead of writing a generic ending like “Thank you for your consideration”, consider writing something along the following lines:

“Enclosed for your consideration is my resume. I’d appreciate the opportunity to further discuss my suitability and qualifications with you incall or in person. I’ll be available at 000-0000-000.”

You can then sign off your lab technician cover letter with a suitable salutation like “Sincerely” or “Thanking you”, followed by your name.

Also read: What are the top interview Q&As for lab technicians?

Writing a Lab Technician Cover Letter for New Graduates

Whether you're a fresh graduate or are simply switching careers, writing a lab technician cover letter can boost your candidacy.

How so?

Since you lack experience in the field, a lab technician cover letter can help you lay more emphasis on your knowledge and skills and probably make up for the lack of experience.

Also, given the fact that even though 56% of employers want applicants to attach a cover letter to the resume, not many candidates go the extra mile to write a thoughtful cover letter.

Hence, writing a lab technician cover letter can help you stand out from the pool of applicants and win you some brownie points.

As for the guidelines on writing a lab technician cover letter with no experience, the fundamentals remain the same.

The only change you need to make is to write about your academic achievements, certifications, volunteer experience, projects, etc. as opposed to professional work experience.

You must focus on showcasing your knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm to use the same for adding value to the institution.

Also read: How to write a cover letter as a college student?

Don'ts of a Lab Technician Cover Letter

In addition to the guidelines provided so far, you must also be wary of not making the following mistakes while writing a compelling lab technician cover letter:

• Making grammatical errors and spelling mistakes
• Getting the hiring manager's name wrong or addressing your lab technician cover letter to the wrong person
• Making false claims about your skills and achievements in your lab technician cover letter
• Writing bulky or lengthy paragraphs
• Mentioning your salary requirements in your lab technician cover letter
• Stating personal reasons for applying to the job

Also read: How to write a cover letter for your resume?

Lab Technician Cover Letter Sample

Also read: How to write a job-winning medical technologist resume?

Takeaway Points

• Send a cover letter for lab technician jobs along with your resume unless the recruiters instruct you not to send one.
• A lab technician cover letter can help you clarify and validate points mentioned in your resume during job applications.
• You must choose a suitable format for your lab technician cover letter to enhance the readability of your letter.
• Personalize your lab technician cover letter address and salutation with the hiring manager’s name.
• Ensure that your lab technician cover letter highlights your skills and experience that showcases your ability to meet the recruiters’ requirements.
• Include achievement figures and refer to the job listing to tailor the context of your lab technician cover letter.
• The final paragraph of your lab technician cover letter must state your (professional) reasons for wanting to work for the employer.
• Close your lab technician cover letter with a call to action and a suitable salutation.