Cover letters are the most straightforward part of the job search process. Your cover letter should compel the reader to view the attached resume. Unfortunately, many people treat the cover letter as a creative writing exercise. They try to make the cover letter unique, but instead they end up making themselves look odd or eccentric not usually viewed as positive attributes in the conservative world of health care. Avoid gimmicks. Keep in mind that the cover letter complements your resume; they work hand in hand to present you and your career goals in the most professional light.
Structure of the Cover Letter
This chapter will help you construct the three paragraph cover letter. Do not deviate from this structure. After you familiarize yourself with the three paragraph structure, you can customize each letter for the particular position in which you are interested. I have included examples of actual cover letters at the end of the chapter.
First Paragraph
The first paragraph of the cover letter should explain why you are writing. If, for example, you learned of the opening from a friend of the addressee, then you should mention that fact in the opening sentence. If you are responding to an ad you saw in a publication, then mention where you read the ad and specify the position that was advertised. In large organizations like hospitals and health care institutions, the opening sentence of your cover letter allows the reader to easily determine where to route your letter.
Second Paragraph
The second paragraph should detail your accomplishments, experience, or abilities and relate them to the job as you understand it. For example, if you are currently the assistant administrator of a facility and you are applying for a position as the COO of another facility, then you might note the many times when, in the administrator's absence, you were in charge of the day to day operations of the hospital. Or you might discuss your interaction with nursing services and your relationship with the physicians two very important aspects of the COO job. On the other hand, because of the limits of space, you would not detail how you reorganized the security department. You would concentrate on the higher level work and on those responsibilities that correspond to those of the COO.
Third Paragraph
The third paragraph should ask for two specific things: further consideration for this position and an interview. You should indicate your intent to follow up on your resume at a later date and actually do it. Following up shows genuine interest on your part and ensures that the right person has received your cover letter and resume.
One further item to consider including in the third paragraph is the salary level you seek. Different employment advisers have different views on this matter. Some recruiting experts argue that salary should be the very last subject that is introduced following the interview and certainly should not be mentioned in the cover letter. They argue that you should first get the hiring authority very interested in you before you discuss money because you will get a higher offer.
I disagree with this view. By mentioning salary, you avoid wasting your time and can focus on realistic prospects worth pursuing. Say, for example, you are still employed while you are conducting your job search. The time you can be away from your job is limited. You only have so many vacation and personal days. Imagine that you go through a one or two day first interview, then a second interview, and only then learn that the position pays much less than you had anticipated and there is no room for negotiation. Now don't you wish you had introduced the issue of salary at the onset? You need not say exactly what you currently earn, but it is advisable to indicate the salary range that you seek.
But suppose you request a salary that is much less than the range for the position. Will the employer call your bluff, and if so, are you risking leaving "money on the table" in your negotiations? Perhaps, but more often than not, the salary you seek is a squeeze the employer can make. Based on my extensive experience in executive recruiting, I can assure you that negotiations more often result in a salary range being raised than in the employee leaving money on the table.
Proofreading the Cover Letter
Once you have completed your cover letter, proofread it for content. Does it include the most relevant information for that particular position? Have you carefully considered and explained why you are a qualified candidate? Have you expressed your interest in further discussing that is, interviewing for, the position?
Now proofread it for quality. Have you corrected all grammatical mistakes, misspelled words, and typographical errors? In business correspondence, it is unconscionable for any letter to go out containing mistakes. At our office, as in most offices, some "smarty pants" will always circle a typo on circulating correspondence. Your business correspondence reflects your standards of professionalism. Print your cover letter on high quality bond paper with a conventional typeface. Proofread it one final time for errors.
In particular, it is important that you double check the spelling of the name, title, and address of the person to whom you are writing. People expect their names to be spelled correctly and may be offended when they are misspelled. I have received numerous cover letters addressed to the anonymous "Sir." As a health care executive involved in a serious job search, you can certainly research a position and find out the name of the correct person to whom you should address your letter. Attending to this detail demonstrates your genuine interest in the position.
Cover Letters to Search Consultants
When you are writing a cover letter to executive search consultants, there are some special considerations. You are asking them to help you in locating employers who might be interested in your background. It is appropriate to include your current salary and your salary expectations, as well as your geographic preferences, because they need to know more about you in order to represent your interests. Also, include the types of positions in which you are interested and any special considerations, such as a working spouse. If it is important that you be contacted at home instead of your office, you should also include this information in your cover letter.
