A cover letter is an opportunity to connect the dots between your resume and the job requirements.

Here are the answers to 8 common cover letter FAQ’s.

1. Must I submit a cover letter with my job application?

The short answer is YES!

Review the submission instructions. If they specify NOT to submit a cover letter, then don’t.

If the instructions say it’s optional, upload one.

If there’s no clear place to upload a cover letter, and no specific instruction NOT to upload one, I suggest combining the cover letter and resume into one PDF document. Make sure your resume is first in the document.

2. Do employers read cover letters?

Some will and some won’t.

For those who will, a cover letter gives them a taste of your personality, written communication skills, and brings attention to something they may have missed on your resume.

For those who won’t read it, the cover letter shows you’re interested enough to make the effort to write one.

3. How does a cover letter strengthen my application?

A cover letter gives you the opportunity to go into more depth on those experiences and skills that make you a strong candidate for the job. This is especially important for physicians going from clinical to non-clinical roles, where you will need to connect the dots of how your clinical skills transfer into the non-clinical role.

It’s also an opportunity to convey your sincere interest and enthusiasm for the role.

If you were referred by someone in the company, you include their name in the cover letter.

4. Can I create one generic cover letter and reuse it for all my applications?

You can create a baseline cover letter, but adapt it to each job application, just like you would a resume.

4. What is the suggested format?

The cover letter follows the format of a formal letter. Use a formal font like Times New Roman.

Use a professional and positive tone.

Be as concise as possible.

5. What is the optimal length?

One page.

6. To whom do I address the cover letter?

The cover letter is typically addressed to the hiring manager.

Try to avoid, “Dear hiring manager, ” or “To whom it may concern.” Instead, do your best to find the name of the hiring manager. You can do this by searching LinkedIn for the person who would be supervising the role you’re applying for, or emailing the job poster, or asking someone you know who works for the company.

If you cannot find their name, then use, “Dear hiring manager,” or if you’re applying for academic leadership positions, you can address it, “To the selection committee.”

7. Can you give an example of the structure of a cover letter?

Your name and contact information.

Company name and contact information.

Dear [name of hiring manager],

Introductory paragraph
Introduce yourself briefly (don’t repeat what’s in your resume), then state why you’re applying in 1-2 sentences. Show your enthusiasm!

First, Second, third paragraphs
This is your opportunity to give more detail of your specific skills, experiences, and technical knowledge that show you’re a good fit for the role.

For example, in a paragraph highlighting, “effective team leadership,” a sentence might read, “I lead a team of nurses, trainees, and associated health practitioners to make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions in patients on the internal medicine wards.”

(pro-tip: Pick 2-3 of the required skills and experiences from the job requirements and use those as headings to each paragraph).

Last paragraph
Summarize your sincere interest in this position and state your willingness to be contacted.

Sincerely,
[your name]

8. What must I avoid in a cover letter?

The obvious: avoid grammatical and spelling errors.

For many non-clinical jobs, attention to detail is an important skill. Run your resume through a spelling and grammar check.

There you have it!

A cover letter is an opportunity to connect the dots between your resume and the job you’re applying for, give more detail about how you’re a good fit for the position, show your sincere enthusiasm, and your willingness to make the effort to outline your competitive candidacy.