Writing a physician assistant cover letter can feel like a tedious additional step when you’re applying for a new position. This is especially true when you’re not sure if they’re actually even necessary! Oftentimes, they’re listed as “optional,” or not even directly requested when you’re filling out an application.
Personally, I’m of the view that it’s always better to include one! Despite the time it takes, creating a cover letter is worth it because it increases your chances of hearing back. That’s because it gives the employer an opportunity to get to know you, beyond the confines of a resume. This detail can make all the difference in the world when it comes to landing an interview, rather than having your resume vanish into the ether of a company’s HR database.
To give you a leg up in the application process, I’m going to give you some tips on how to write a standout physician assistant cover letter. We’ll review what to include to make sure you get the hiring manager’s attention, plus a few other tricks that can help you land an interview.
We’ll get to all that momentarily, but let’s begin by answering an age-old question: just how long is a cover letter supposed to be?
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How to Write a Physician Assistant Cover Letter
A cover letter should be at most one page in length. It should highlight pertinent things about yourself, including your background, and also emphasize your passion for the position.
Do your research on the organization you’re applying to and also on the position itself. What sticks out to you? Why this position? What is their mission statement and how does it resonate with you? As we’ll see, this is all information you’ll want to include in your letter.
Now, let’s have a look at a cover letter template that shows you how your letter should be organized and what goes into each section:
”To Whom it May Concern:
My name is [insert name]. I am a physician associate [currently practicing in – location and specialty OR who recently graduated from – school]. I wanted to take this opportunity to express my excitement about this position and eagerness for the opportunity to work with your team at [facility name].”
The rest of your cover letter should cover the following questions:
1. Why do you want this position?
From here, I recommend going into another paragraph that highlights why you are eager for this specific position. Do you have ties to the organization from prior personal or professional experience? What makes this role stand out to you?
Recruiters will see that you did your research, which can speak volumes about your seriousness as an applicant. And importantly, if your passion stems from things like work-life balance, great hours, or expected pay, leave those out of your cover letter!
2. What can you offer the team?
After mentioning why you are interested in this specific role within this organization, spend a paragraph discussing what you can bring to the team. Whether it is your clinical background or characteristics as an employee, think of something (or some things) that make you stand out and mention them here briefly.
These should be things that are not on your resume, and the only reason the hiring manager will know about them is because you mention them in the cover letter.
3. What are your long-term goals?
It is also helpful to add some sort of long-term goal you have in mind when you’re talking about what you would add to the organization. Anything that emphasizes your desire to not just be a part of the team, but to add to it, is a great way to impress future employers. For example, I always encourage applicants to mention that they want to grow within the organization. This can be especially helpful for new graduates. Let the employer know the work put into training you will not be in vain.
4. Is there anything else you need to address from your resume?
Lastly, if you have anything you need to address from your resume, this is a good place to do it. For example, my husband and I recently moved to another state in order to be closer to family. When I applied for a new job in the state we were moving to, I was still a resident in our previous home state. So I mentioned briefly in my cover letter for the new job that we were moving. That way, when they saw my address was from out of state, they understood I was serious about the position.
Other good things to mention here would be your inspiration behind a change in specialties or a brief explanation of a gap in employment. Anything you would want someone reviewing your resume to know. This should be brief, as a conversation about any concerns could be brought up during an interview.
My Parting Advice
Remember, refrain from making your cover letter longer than one page! It should be a short summary of the above topics. It’s okay to leave them wanting more, that’s how you’ll get your interview invitation! While it can be tempting to keep writing once you get started (especially for a position you’re really passionate about), one page is a respectable, professional length.
And again, I know it takes a lot of work to craft a cover letter. If you’ve been in the job market and applying to multiple jobs, you may find yourself wanting to skip this step or rush through it. If it looks like you rushed the letter, you were likely better off without one. The last thing you want to do is send a bad cover letter as it’ll tank your chances of landing an interview. So please read through it to ensure it flows well and is free of any typos before you submit it!
All-in-all, a cover letter is a must. Can you get a job without one? Of course. But for a position you’re really serious about, this is a step you must take when you’re submitting your application! Employers will notice you wrote one and it’ll undoubtedly make you stand out, especially from other applicants with similar qualifications.
Good luck on your job search, and be sure to reach out if you have any questions!
Further Reading
For more (free!) content to help you through the PA job search, check out these other posts on the Blueprint blog:
