subject: 5 Things to Include in a Nursing Cover Letter [print this page] 5 Things to Include in a Nursing Cover Letter
When sending nursing cover letters and resumes, there are some things you'll want to include. Here are the top 5 things.
Address an Actual Person
When you begin a letter with "Dear Sir or Madam:" or "To Whom it May Concern," it sounds so impersonal! So, even if the name isn't included on the job posting, try to find out who is in charge of hiring by placing a quick phone call. If all else fails, you can include the title and company, such as "To the Human Resource Manager of Cook County Hospital," but make sure you are getting it right so your nursing resume and cover letter doesn't end up on the mail room floor.
Be Clear About What You Want
Major hospitals may have several, or even dozens of positions open at any one time, and you want to make Human Resources' job as easy as possible. Reference the job title, date of posting, and the medium (name of newspaper, web site address, etc.) in your cover letter. If you received a personal referral, this is good to include too. Follow up with a sentence or two about why you want the job, and why you think you will be a good fit. Nursing is a team effort, so be sure to show you will be a good addition to the team.
Make it Personalized and Relevant
Whether you are applying for 3 jobs or 30, your nursing cover letter should be as specific as possible to each job. No one likes impersonal cover letters, as it doesn't show off your relevant skills or show that you are ready to put in some extra effort to get the job. Before you send out a cover letter, ask yourself whether it is illustrating your best side in relation to the job. If you have to spend 10 minutes tweaking it to ensure it maximizes your skills, then it only increases your chances of getting hired into a coveted nursing job.
Keep it Short and Sweet
While you want to cover off all the major points of a cover letter, you need to keep it brief. Nurse managers and human resources staff don't spend a lot of time reading cover letters, and may even skip over long or wordier nursing job cover letters. Aim for concise sentences, keep paragraphs brief (2-3 sentences), and don't say anything that isn't absolutely necessary (like your passion for scrapbooking).
Provide Good Contact Information
While this may seem like a no-brainer, many people include contact information without thinking about whether they will be around to answer the phone. So, it is best to provide alternatives, such as a cell phone or e-mail address where they can reach you. You want to be there when the phone rings to schedule that interview, don't you?
Final thoughts: End politely, spell-check several times, and keep a positive attitude!
