Doctor cover letter example & writing guide

When someone is ill, they know the best person to see is their physician. As a doctor, you might treat all kinds of diseases and injuries with ease, while writing a cover letter that highlights your skills and expertise might seem like a prescription for anxiety. 

Just like making a medical diagnosis, creating a compelling cover letter requires a thorough examination of your career. Your goal is to provide the reader with a clear readout of who you are as a medical professional.

In this cover letter guide, along with the corresponding doctor cover letter example, we’ll look at exactly how to draft a cover letter that can get you interviews, including: 

• What should your doctor cover letter include? 

• What can you write in the introduction of the cover letter

• What information can you give in the body of the cover letter

• How to write a cover letter closing 

What should your doctor cover letter include?   

Just like an X-ray, your doctor cover letter should easily show the reader the key information they need to see to reach a diagnosis. A typical cover letter contains several different sections, starting with a header that provides your contact information and the details of the organization where you are applying for a position. Then, you’ll follow up with a cordial greeting. We give more examples and tips on how to create your header In our article on how to address a cover letter. Other things your cover letter should include are an introduction, a body, and a closing; think of it as the head, body, legs, and feet of your cover letter. Don’t worry, we’ll perform a detailed examination of each of these sections in this article.

What can you write in the introduction of your cover letter?

The introduction of your cover letter is like a shot in the arm that gets the reader's attention. It highlights your top skills and area of expertise, just like underlining something in a patient’s chart.

You don’t have to bother with routine small talk. Get right to the point of your letter. Then you can wow the reader with your “highlight reel,” such as awards for clinical excellence, research or publications, or an anecdote about your ability to accurately diagnose a wide range of conditions. If you know someone at the organization, or have a referral, mention it towards the beginning of the cover letter. Your main objective for the introduction is for the reader to get a clear picture of your qualifications and previous success in similar roles, and encourage them to keep reading.

What should be mentioned in the cover letter body for a doctor vacancy?  

The body of the doctor cover letter is the “guts” of your cover letter, where you’ll expand on your education, skills, and what makes you the best of the best, also known as your Unique Selling Points (USP).

A good way to accomplish this is to divide it into three sections:

1. Why you? Give an overview of your skills, specialties, and expertise, including education, internships/residencies, and relevant work experience. Highlight your MD or any additional degrees, special certifications, or fellowships, using them as a segue into your work history. Incorporate quantifiable achievements in all three sections of your cover letter. If you were in charge of training medical students, or found a way to increase diagnostic efficiencies, for example, include them here. Did you have a 100% success rate with emergency procedures such as resuscitation and intubation? Great! That’s your USP. Hospitals want to hire doctors who get positive results. The cover letter is your chance to show what you can do. 

2. Why here? What interests you about this medical center or practice? Have you always wanted to work for a large city hospital or been looking to move into a small, independent practice? Is there something about this medical organization that motivates you? Do their goals and commitment to patient care line up with yours? Remember though, that while you can compliment the organization, let them know how you’d be an asset to their medical staff.

3. Why now? Why is this position a good move for you now? Is this part of your career path to becoming a medical director? Is this a new role as a specialist that will help you become a department chief? You want to briefly touch on your career goals, your career path, and how all of your work and experience makes you a great fit for the position at this exact moment in time. 

Need more? Get additional in-depth advice in our blog: What should you write in a cover letter body

How to write a cover letter closing

The final lines of your doctor cover letter are designed to motivate the hiring manager to contact you. You should utilize brevity in your closing, and keep it to no more than two sentences. And make sure to thank them for their time. But did you know that “sticking the landing” can increase your chances of getting an interview? Here’s how:

• Connect your talent to the position. Connect how your experience and particular skills will make you a superior addition to their team: “I am eager to contribute to your team by providing compassionate, evidence-based care and supporting the continuous improvement of healthcare delivery.”

• Include a Call to Action. Inspire the reader to take the next step in the interview process: “Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss how my experience and skills can benefit your team. I am available at your convenience for an interview, and I look forward to hearing from you.”

Make sure you finish strong. Learn more here: How to close a cover letter.

If you need some more inspiration for creating an effective cover letter, check out career.io’s expert-tested Cover Letter Builder with templates that allow you to tailor the design, structure, and formatting in just a few clicks, creating a cover letter quickly and easily.