How to Make Your Nursing Cover Letter Stand Above the Rest
by Megan Dunn, Contributor
Your nursing cover letter can make or break the entire job application process. Understanding how to stand out from the crowd helps you get moved to the "maybe" pile and score an interview.
Discover some tips for penning a winning cover letter for nursing applications, and then visit TravelNursing.com to find exciting travel nursing positions all over the country you can apply for.
Include a specific salutation in your nursing cover letter
Sara Clark works in human resources in healthcare and says general salutations won't necessarily get a stellar resume ignored, but they also don't win any points. "It's not that hard to find a name," she says, "and it shows you're committed and invested. Dear Ms. Clark impresses me more than Dear Sir or Madame."
When you're applying directly to a job posting, read it carefully to find any information on how to address your resume and cover letter. And if you're sending your resume cold (meaning you aren't applying to a specific job), call the facility and ask for the name of the hiring manager for the department you're interested in.
Tailor your nursing cover letter for each opportunity
Don't use the same cover letter for every resume you send —a general nursing cover letter that simply states your resume is attached, you're interested in the opportunity and you're grateful for consideration won't stand out because it wastes time stating the obvious.You do want to be polite, but you should also remember that the person reading your nursing resume cover letter is probably busy and may have dozens or hundreds of resumes to review. Show that you value their time by providing something worthwhile in your cover letter, such as specifics about how you can help them. If you're not sure where to start, check out some nursing cover letter examples via Resume Genius.
Use your nursing resume cover letter to highlight important resume facts
Finally, highlight one or two of the most important facts from your resume in your nursing cover letter, expounding on them slightly or putting them in context of the job you're applying to. Aaron Moore, a travel nurse expert, points out that travel nursing looks great on your resume because it means you have references from places all over the country. If you've worked in elite facilities or with the latest technology, that's worth highlighting in your nursing cover letter, because it piques employer interest and gets them to take a more detailed look at your resume.