How to write a physician assistant cover letter?
[Click here to directly go to the complete Physician Assistance Cover Letter Sample]
A cover letter is the most underrated and overlooked component in the job application.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, physician assistant jobs are projected to grow 31 percent from 2019 to 2029. That is much faster than the average for all occupations.
The competition is fierce. Therefore it is crucial to stand out from the crowd. A well-crafted physician assistant cover letter can help you get the hiring manager's attention in one go.
The resume plays a crucial role in getting you an interview, but what if your resume doesn't even get read?
Attaching a physician assistant cover letter can highly increase your chances of getting shortlisted. Writing a cover letter definitely worth the efforts.
Not sure how to write a physician assistant cover letter or how to structure each detail? Do not fret. This guide will explain how to write a physician assistant cover letter step-by-step, which can earn you a job offer. Keep yourself hooked until the end.
Here's a quick summary of the tips you would gain from this guide:
- Doing a good research about the company is crucial before you start to write the physician assistant cover letter. That will help you set the right tone that fits the organization.
- Write your contact information correctly in the header of your physician assistant cover letter because that is the only source for the hiring manager to get in touch with you for the further hiring process.
- Focus on the most relevant skills, qualifications, and interests to the targeted job profile. Mention why you consider them to be your most preferred employer.
- Always end your final paragraph of your physician assistant with a call-to-action. Express your interest in a call or a meeting in person to discuss the opportunity further.
In this blog, we will learn:
- What is a physician assistant cover letter?
- What are the key elements for a physician assistant cover letter?
- How to write a physician Assistant Cover Letter?
- What are the do's and the don'ts for a physician assistant cover letter?
What Is a Physician Assistant Cover Letter?
A physician assistant is a patient care assistant who is an integral member of the health care team in many hospitals and clinical practices.
They are responsible for diagnosing illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and may serve as a patient's principal healthcare provider.
When searching for a physician assistant job, it is easy to fall into the trap of neglecting your cover letter and focusing exclusively on your resume.
Beyond a doubt, your resume is essential, but your cover letter helps you get the initial attention of employers. It determines the time an employer will spend on your physician assistant cover letter.
The coveted space of the physician assistant cover letter provides you with the opportunity to express your qualification, experience, and skills in a personal and unique way. Use your cover letter to communicate how you are different from most candidates.
It doesn't matter if you are a recent graduate or have years of experience working as a physician assistant. You must send a cover letter along with your resume to the hiring managers until it is specifically asked not to send one.
Cover Letter Tips to Write an Effective Physician Assistant Resume
- Explain why you are an excellent fit for the patient care assistant role. Express your excitement for the company and the job and how they align with your career goals.
- In not more than two paragraphs, state your accomplishments while addressing the job requirements that they gave on the job description. Focus on your most relevant experience, qualifications, and skills.
- When possible, quantify your accomplishments with facts and data. Avoid repeating the lines from your resume.
- Close your physician assistant resume by thanking the employer for their time and consideration. Request the hiring manager for a call or a meeting in person.
Physician Assistance Cover Letter Sample
Key Elements to Make Your Physician Assistant Cover Letter Effective
Research
Before you start to write a physician cover letter, researching the company and the job profile you are targeting will give you a strong foundation for the cover letters.
While reading the job description carefully is vital, you must also scrutinize their website, the seniors' Twitter feeds, and the profiles of their employees on LinkedIn.
Why is Research Necessary?
- The research will help you customize your cover letter as a generic one wouldn't do you any good
- It'll help you decide what tone fits the organization
- Good research will help you find the hiring manager's name to address in your physician assistant cover letter
- It will give you a good understanding of the culture of the organization you're applying to
Open Strong
Writing a generic sentence, "I'm applying for X job that I saw in Y place," is a complete waste of time. Instead, you must start your cover letter with a strong punch line that immediately catches the hiring manager's attention.
Express your interest and enthusiasm for the job profile and mention what you bring to the table by mentioning your interests and skills that align with the job description.
Let's look at an example illustrating the opening sentence for a patient care assistant cover letter sample.
"I'm a physician assistant professional with 7+ years of experience armed with a stellar track record of developing and managing patient treatments, and I am extremely interested in the profile of physician assistant professional at company X."
Focus on the Future
While a resume focuses on where you've been, the cover letter focuses on where you want to go. The resume emphasizes your past experiences, and the cover letter focuses on the future.
If you are looking or planning for a career change, the cover letter can prove to be very helpful to sell your transferable skills and bridge the gap between the past and the future.
You can use your cover letter to explain the shift you're making- perhaps from marketing to hospitality, or it can be anything.
Watch The Tone
Authenticity is crucial while you write a physician assistant cover letter. While you express your enthusiasm and interest in the company, make sure you don't go overboard with flattery. Or say anything that you don't mean.
A good rule of thumb is putting yourself in the hiring managers' shoes and writing your physician assistant cover letter. Good research can help you understand the kind of language you should use in your cover letter to set the right tone.
Of course, it can be hard to determine your tone in your cover letter. You can ask someone to review the sample cover letter. Proofread your physician assistant cover letter before sending the final draft to the hiring manager.
How to Write a Physician Assistant Cover Letter?
The Header
Include the following details in your physician assistant cover letter:
- Your Full Name
- Job Title
- Phone Number
- Professional Email Id
- Location
Hiration Pro Tip: You can also add a link to your LinkedIn, GitHub, Twitter, etc. if you think they can add value to your cover letter.
The Salutation
Address your physician assistant cover letter with the name of the hiring manager. Avoid generic greetings such as "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam".
Using a generic salutation will imply that you have not taken the effort to do your research. If you can't find the hiring manager's name to address, look for the options you can use instead.
If you can't, find the name of the hiring manager, use the name of the department you are applying for. In this case, you can use some variation of "Dear Hospitality Hiring Manager Team." You can also use "Dear Hiring Manager."
If you do have a name, but you are not sure of the person's gender, include both the first name and the last name in your salutation, without a title that reveals gender:
- Dear Jamie Doe
- Dear John Smith
- Dear Sydney Brown
The First Paragraph
Keep your first paragraph short and brief. In a three to four sentences, cover the following points:
- What profile are you applying for with the name of the company?
- Express your interest in working with the company.
- Give compelling reasons why you fit the role.
- If someone refers you, mention their name.
The Second Paragraph
In the second paragraph of your physician cover letter, focus on the skills and experiences most relevant to the targeted profile. Convince the reader that you are the perfect fit for the role.
- Mention your significant key achievement and how they can be beneficial for the company you are applying to.
- Exhibit your capability in terms of specific positions/roles/responsibilities and so on.
- Focus more on the skills and throw in a few numbers to create a more powerful impact.
- Write short and crisp sentences. Avoid writing too much about any roles or a key achievement you are most proud of and wrap up things quickly.
The Third Paragraph
In your third paragraph, exhibit that you have done a thorough research about the company. Mention a few key points as to why you consider them to be your most preferred employer.
Therefore, you mustn't send a generic cover letter for every company you apply to. Personalize your physician assistant cover letter before sending one.\
The Fourth Paragraph
The two points you must consider writing in your final paragraph:
Thank the reader for their time and consideration.
Let the employer know that you look forward to an interview. Request them directly for a call or a meeting in person.
Sign-Off
Close your cover letter with a formal closing like "Sincerely" or "Regards."
Write your full name below and let the employer know that you have attached your resume along with your physician assistant cover letter.
The Do's And The Don'ts Of a Physician Assistant Cover Letter
Do's :
- Address your physician assistant cover letter to the concerned hiring manager rather than using a generic salutation.
- End your cover letter with a call to action. Express your interest to proceed to the next step of the hiring process.
- Use a good layout that is easy to read. Keeping enough white space and using a readable font size is crucial while writing your physician assistant cover letter.
- Demonstrate skills and experiences that are relevant to the targeted job profile and the company.
- Thank the reader and express interest in discussing the role in more detail. End the physician assistant cover letter with a professional sign-off and your full name.
- Use short and impactful sentences elaborating on your accomplishments and its results. Results are what grabs the attention. Make sure that you are concise while listing your experiences.
Don'ts :
- Don't lose your physician assistant job with the first sentence of your cover letter. A mere 15 seconds is spared for your resume and cover letter. Therefore, it is crucial to open strong to grab the reader's attention.
- Do not ever send a generic cover letter. Sending a generic cover letter often turns the employers off.
- Do not begin your patient care assistant cover letter with the overdone standard - "I'm applying for the profile X I saw on the website Y." Rather, address how you can benefit the company.
- Don't apply for a job in any company you are not interested. It will only waste your time.
- Do not exceed the limit of one page for your physician assistant cover letter.
- Don't let the typos and spelling mistakes ruin your chances of getting the job. Proofread your resume and cover letter before sending it.
Key Takeaways
- Always send a customized physician cover letter for different organizations you apply to. A generic one can be spotted a mile away.
- Address your cover letter with the hiring manager's name. Do not use a generic salutation such as "To Whom It May Concern."
- Always open your cover letter strong. In the first few sentences, your physician assistant cover letter should be able to grab the reader's attention.
- applicant tracking system
- Read the job description carefully to input relevant keywords in your physician assistant cover letter to pass the Applicant Tracking System(ATS).
- Thank the reader for their time and consideration and express your enthusiasm to learn about the opportunity further.
- Always proofread your physician assistant cover letter before sending the final draft for the job application.
