Embarking on your journey as a physician assistant, you've polished your resume and started applying for jobs, only to realize a compelling cover letter is required, too. It's not just about rehashing your resume; your cover letter should showcase your proudest professional moment in a narrative flair—without resorting to tired cliches. Remember, the sweet spot is a single page: professional yet personal, and entirely about you at your best. Let's dive into crafting a cover letter that stands out.
- Writing the essential physician assistant cover letter sections: balancing your professionalism and personality;
- Mixing storytelling, your unique skill set, and your greatest achievement;
- Providing relevant (and interesting) information with your physician assistant cover letter, despite your lack of professional experience;
- Finding the perfect format for your[ physician assistant cover letter, using templates from industry experts.
Leverage the power of Enhancv's AI: upload your resume and our platform will map out how your physician assistant cover letter should look, in mere moments.
If the physician assistant isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Physician assistant cover letter example
HAZEL CLARK
San Jose, California
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Highlighting relevant previous experience: The cover letter emphasizes the applicant's successful tenure at an esteemed institution like Stanford University, showcasing her hands-on experience in the same field (educational program assessment) as the role she's applying for.
- Quantifying achievements with data: The applicant uses specific metrics such as the 25% increase in survey response rates and the 15% rise in graduation rates, which demonstrate her ability to achieve measurable results through data analysis and to convey the impact in a tangible way.
- Reflecting organizational values: The cover letter aligns the applicant's belief in the “transformative power of data-informed strategies” with the organization's ethos of employing data to shape educational futures, which shows that she understands and is a good fit for the organization's culture and values.
- Leadership and team collaboration: By mentioning the leadership role in creating institutional assessment protocols and improving student outcomes, she indicates her ability to manage and work as part of a team, a crucial skill for the role in question.
Designing your physician assistant cover letter: what is the best format
Let's start with the basics, your physician assistant cover letter should include your:
- Header
- Greeting
- Introduction
- Body paragraph
- Closing statement
- Signature (that's not a must)
Next, we'll move to the spacing of your physician assistant cover letter, and yes, it should be single-spaced (automatically formatted for you in our cover letter templates).
Don't go for a old-school font (e.g. Arial or Times New Roman), but instead, pick an ATS-favorite like Chivo, Volkhov, or Raleway, to stand out.
Our cover letter builder is also set up for you with the standard one-inch margin, all around the text.
Finally, ensure your physician assistant resume and cover letter are in the same font and are submitted in PDF (to keep the formatting in place).
P.S. The Applicant Tracker System (or ATS) won't be assessing your [job] cover letter, it's solely for the recruiters' eyes.
The top sections on a physician assistant cover letter
- Header: This should include the physician assistant's contact information, the date, and the employer's contact details, setting a professional tone and providing easy reference for the recruiter.
- Greeting: A personalized greeting to the hiring manager shows attention to detail and a genuine interest in the position, which is critical in a field that values patient-centered care.
- Introduction: A compelling introductory paragraph should highlight the candidate's passion for healthcare and their specific interest in the physician assistant role, capturing the recruiter's attention immediately.
- Body: The body should detail relevant clinical experiences, medical skills, and knowledge of patient care, demonstrating the physician assistant's qualifications and readiness to take on the responsibilities of the job.
- Closing: A strong closing section should reiterate the candidate's enthusiasm, include a call to action for an interview, and thank the recruiter for considering the application, all of which are important in showing professionalism and eagerness for the role.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
Clinical skills and medical knowledge: Recruiters look for candidates who are well-versed in medical terminology, diagnoses, and treatment plans specific to the patient demographics they will serve.
Experience with patient care: Prior hands-on experience with patients, showing the ability to conduct physical exams, take medical histories, and provide compassionate care, is highly sought after.
Proficiency with healthcare technology: The ability to use electronic health record (EHR) systems and other medical software is crucial as it streamlines patient care and documentation processes.
Team collaboration: Physician assistants must work closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare staff, so evidence of strong teamwork and communication skills is essential.
Adaptability and problem-solving: Recruiters value PAs who can adapt to different clinical environments and think on their feet to address unexpected challenges in patient care.
Commitment to continued education: Since medical knowledge continually evolves, a demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning through continuing medical education (CME) and staying current with medical advancements is important.
What matters most when tailoring your physician assistant cover letter salutation
Your physician assistant cover letter greeting should feel welcoming to recruiters.
Use their first name (e.g. "Dear Marshall" or "Dear Sara"), if you've previously been in touch with the hiring manager and are on a more friendly basis.
If this is the first time you're contacting the recruiters, start your physician assistant cover letter with:
- their last name (e.g. "Dear Ms. Ali" or "Dear Mr. Stevens") - look up who's the hiring manager for the role on social media or the company website;
- generalized greeting (e.g. "Dear HR Team") - just don't use "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],
- Dear Dr. [Last Name],
- Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Last Name],
- Dear [Job Title],
- Dear Hiring Committee,
- Dear [Department] Team,
Introducing your profile to catch recruiters' attention in no more than two sentences
The introduction of your physician assistant cover letter is a whole Catch 22 .
You have an allocated space of no more than just a paragraph (of up to two sentences). With your introduction, you have to stand out and show why you're the best candidate out there.
Set out on a journey with your physician assistant cover letter by focusing on why you're passionate about the job. Match your personal skills and interests to the role.
Another option for your physician assistant cover letter introduction is to show you're the ideal candidate. Write about how your achievements and skills are precisely what the company is looking for.
However you decide to start your physician assistant cover letter, always remember to write about the value you'd bring about. Making it both tangible (with your metrics of success) and highly sought out.
How to write an achievement-focused physician assistant cover letter body
We've got the intro and greeting covered. Now, comes the most definitive part of your physician assistant cover letter - the body.
In the next three to six paragraphs, you'd have to answer why should recruiters hire you.
What better way to do this than by storytelling?
And, no, you don't need a "Once upon a time" or "I started from the bottom and made it to the top" career-climbing format to tell a compelling narrative.
Instead, select up to three most relevant skills for the job and look back on your resume.
Find an achievement, that you're proud of, which has taught you these three job-crucial skills.
Quantify your accomplishment, using metrics, and be succinct in the way you describe it.
The ultimate aim would be to show recruiters how this particular success has built up your experience to become an invaluable candidate.
Final words: writing your physician assistant cover letter closing paragraph
The final paragraph of your physician assistant cover letter allows you that one final chance to make a great first impression.
Instead of going straight to the "sincerely yours" ending, you can back up your skills with a promise of:
- how you see yourself growing into the role;
- the unique skills you'd bring to the organization.
Whatever you choose, always be specific (and remember to uphold your promise, once you land the role).
If this option doesn't seem that appealing to you, close off your physician assistant cover letter with a follow-up request.
You could even provide your availability for interviews so that the recruiters would be able to easily arrange your first meeting.
Which story should you tell in your physician assistant cover letter when you have zero experience
Candidates, lacking professional experience in the field - this one is for you.
Your physician assistant cover letter is an exercise of integrity, honesty, and, above all, spinning a positive narrative around your strengths.
And what better way to capture recruiters' attention than with your most job-relevant achievement (this could be from your internship or volunteering experience)?
Make sure to back up your success with transferrable skills that are relevant to the job (e.g. how your year, studying abroad, has taught you to be more motivated and handle multicultural environments).
Another safe card you can bet on is your career dream: in the body of your physician assistant cover letter, go into the details of how your ambitions would help make the company you're applying for better.
Key takeaways
Creating your physician assistant cover letter should be a personalized experience for the role and the recruiter, where you:
- Format your cover letter using the same ATS-friendly font (e.g. Railway) as you did for your resume;
- Greet recruiters, using their name, and follow up with two sentences to introduce yourself, your interest in the role, and to stand out;
- Map out one key success from your career (or life) that has taught you job-crucial skills;
- Substitute your lack of experience with an achievement from your internships, degrees, or volunteering gigs;
- End with a promise for your potential or your availability for an interview.
