subject: Nursing Cover Letters By Email: Things to Remember [print this page] Nursing Cover Letters By Email: Things to Remember
While the Internet is a great tool, allowing us to connect almost instantly with anyone in the world, it does have its drawbacks. For one, it tends to be impersonal meaning that employers who are hiring feel less of a connection with a potential hire. Secondly, the use of e-mail for some reason has made us much more informal in what should always be formal communication. So, if you are planning on sending a nursing cover letter and resume by e-mail, you will want to follow these key points:Nurse with laptop computer
Always Follow Instructions
Just like any job, one that you apply for through e-mail or online will have instructions. Do not deviate from them; consider this your first employment test. Failure to follow instructions now will almost certainly mean that you never get called by a potential hiring nurse manager. So if they want your resume in the e-mail and not as an attachment, do this. If they want it as a text-only file, do this. You get the picture.
Test First
Just in case your e-mail reacts strangely to formatting, it is a good idea to send yourself a test e-mail before you forward it to anyone else. How do you do this? Easy, simply put your e-mail address in the "To" or "Recipient" box and press "Send." Simple. You might also sending your cover letter or nursing resume to a friend, too, to make sure it shows up properly in someone else's email inbox.
Get to the Point, Quick
One of the reasons why nursing employers like receiving job applications by email is that it is quick to hit the "delete" button and be done with those non-perfect candidates. This means they may have an even shorter attention span than normal. So make sure you capture their attention within the first few lines. The subject line is a great way to start off on a good note. Try "Experienced Nurse for Charge Nurse Position" or "Eager Nursing Student Wants to Work for You!" Within the nursing cover letter, don't beat around the bush. Tell the hiring manager what you are applying for, why you want the job, what makes you the perfect candidate, and end on a polite note. That's it.
Provide Next Steps
Too many cover letters start out strong, and then end on a wimpy "please call me" or equivalent. Stand strong! If you are perfect for the job then say what you want such as "You can reach me at [phone number] so we can discuss this job opportunity further" or even "I will be contacting you next week to talk about the [position] opening in more detail." The more confidence you portray in your cover letter, the more an employer will consider you qualifications. Don't be over-confident, but show your enthusiasm.
A final note Make sure you proofread before hitting the send button! Spelling errors = "Delete" key in many cases.
