Cover Letter Basics

Congratulations...you did it...High School, Undergrad, Med School, an internship, residency, and some even did a fellowship! Phew!! Now what? Now you need a job! While word of mouth, job boards, and recruiters are all available, you're not quite done. You can't just send your CV and hope you get called. Well, you could, but that's silly! Think about it...your CV is sterile...it's black and white. There's no pizzazz, no fanfare. There's nothing separating you from every other physician who applies. Not yet, anyway. That's where your cover letter comes in to play. This blog provides you some basic guidelines to get you started. A well-written cover letter will make a huge difference in being considered for a position. Let's get started...


There are three basic rules to follow for a cover letter

• Keep it short
• Three or four paragraphs, one page, single sided
• Make it clear
• Cover the basics

First, Match your "Header" on your Cover Letter to the one on your CV

• Make sure your contact information is listed accurately
• Be sure to list your current address, email address and a phone number
• If your current address is different than your permanent address, list both
• Your email address should be a personal one
• Specify what type of phone...home, cell, etc...

Font selection

• Sans Serif, such as Arial (the style of this blog)
• Size 14 or 16 for the Header; 10 or 12 for the Body

Pay attention to details

• Spelling and grammar
• Your a physician, details matter...both in practice and your cover letter

Now that the "basics" are covered, let's look at the letter itself...

Think about what the reader needs

• Avoid generalities, be specific
• What did they say they need in the ad/job description you saw?

Highlight special expertise

• Include subspecialty expertise and additional training
• New procedures or techniques and quantity performed
• In other words, what sets you apart from all the other physicians applying?

Why do you want to be there

• What is your compelling reason to be where they are?
• Do you have family ties there
• Did you grow up in the area
• Did you train there

Close the letter

• Call to action
• This is it...do you really want to hear from them? Ask them to contact you!
• Be sure to mention both an email address and a phone number, cell preferred.

Remember, your cover letter is a first impression. A poorly written cover letter is a negative first impression. If you're not sure about the quality of your cover letter, seek assistance. Ask an attending to review it. Review cover letters with other residents or fellows. You can always reach out to me, too. I'm happy to provide some assistance. Physicians are welcome to connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cswab