May 2, 2012

Five Things to Consider Before and After Writing a Cover Letter

BEFORE:
1. Specificity
Research the practice to which you are applying. Address the doctors, staff, or hiring authority by name. If possible, at some point in your letter you could even mention what you know about this particular practice’s environment that appeals to you professionally as a potential employee.

2. Confidence
Who are you and why are you writing a cover letter to this practice? State what you are looking for and what you can immediately bring to the table.

3. Sell your experience
Briefly touch on experiences with specialty clinics, conferences, lectures, research, externships, residencies, school organizations, professional organizations, certifications, teaching, or continued education. You may even want to mention your undergraduate degree or a previous work experience, if they are relevant to the position for which you are applying.

4. What’s in it for you?
Not only do you want to show the practice what’s in it for them, but you also want to illustrate how this practice will benefit you as a professional in your field. What do these goals say about your work ethic and personality?

5. Sell your virtues
Throughout your letter, you want to clearly explain why it would benefit the practice to hire you. Express your passion for your field by highlighting traits and skills you posses that make you an invaluable asset to the organization. For example, what skills do you have with communication, business, or management?

AFTER:
1. Consistency
In just a few short paragraphs, you are trying to convince a company that you are the best choice for a potential hire. Disperse your virtues throughout the letter as they are relevant to your experiences and future goals. Consistency in purpose will balance your letter and make it easier, more enjoyable to read, and more impressive.

2. Concise wording
Brevity is the key, as it will allow you to more easily insinuate self-confidence and purpose within your letter. Avoid clichés and redundancy in your wording, and try to use fresh verbs and adjectives.

3. Contact information
In your closing paragraph, include a sentiment regarding your availability and the different methods of contact, which should include a phone number and email address. Detailing your specific times and methods of availability denotes professionalism and a sincere interest in speaking further with your potential employer.

4. Clean, simple formatting
Break up your paragraphs so that each one addresses one or two points and contains no more than five sentences. Look up proper formatting for formal letters so that you know where to put dates, names, addresses, or contact information.

5. Correct grammar and spelling
The editing process may be daunting, but proof-reading is essential for an impressive cover letter. When you’ve spent so much time writing, it can be invaluable to get a fresh perspective from a friend, peer, or family member; new eyes may be able to spot a mistake that you’ve overlooked and small technical errors could break your chances for an otherwise well-deserved interview

News/Insights

Advance your Dental Career by Working with a Recruiter For Job Seekers

Advance your Dental Career by Working with a Recruiter

Sep 3, 2024

Get the edge you need to not just land a job, but to advance your dental career! The job market in 2024 is on fire, and demand for talented dentists and dental specialist is ...

Dental Residents – How to Find a Job Coming Out of your AEGD or GPR Uncategorized

Dental Residents – How to Find a Job Coming Out of your AEGD or GPR

Jan 3, 2014

Congratulations! After spending your whole life in school and residency you can finally see the end in sight. Now it is time to start putting all that education to use but fin...

Grow Your Practice in the Upcoming Year with a Business Plan Uncategorized

Grow Your Practice in the Upcoming Year with a Business Plan

Nov 14, 2012

The theme of my articles around this time of year always revolves around planning and goal setting. Like it or not, we are just 45 days away from the end of 2012. It’s in th...

Will My New Associate Be Here in 6 Months? Uncategorized

Will My New Associate Be Here in 6 Months?

Oct 11, 2012

As recruiters, we are frequently asked, “What is your success rate?”We took a look at the placement history of more than 1,200 placements we've made between our two niches...

Longer Tenures Create Opportunities for Workers and Challenges for Employers Uncategorized

Longer Tenures Create Opportunities for Workers and Challenges for Employers

Oct 8, 2012

It’s become gospel in recent years that workers jump from job to job to job. Some reports say that the average person entering the workforce today will go through as many as...

Snapping on the Job Uncategorized

Snapping on the Job

Sep 19, 2012

I know what you are thinking; this blog is geared at the eye care field, not our postal service.  You are correct, of course.  But the “snapping” that I am refer...

Jobs Recovery Increasingly Uneven as Talent Gap Widens Uncategorized

Jobs Recovery Increasingly Uneven as Talent Gap Widens

Sep 7, 2012

In June, total job openings in the U.S. grew to 3.76 million, according to the Labor Department, the highest level since the summer of 2008. In the past 36 months, job opening...

Moving This Summer? Uncategorized

Moving This Summer?

Jun 13, 2012

Now that summer is upon us, you may be preparing to move - and one of the most significant challenges is likely the relocation of children. Our friends at FAS ...

Three Years After Recession a Long-Tail Emerges Uncategorized

Three Years After Recession a Long-Tail Emerges

Jun 1, 2012

As Tolstoy famously said, “The strongest of all warriors are these two – time and patience.” On the tail end of fighting through the longest recession in the memories of...

Thank You Note Uncategorized

Thank You Note

May 17, 2012

Post Interview Tip:It’s simple, quick, leaves a lasting impression and makes a significant difference in who gets an offer of employment. Research indicates that only 20% o...