Writing A Great Cover Letter
How do you write a great cover letter if you are new to Locum Tenens work? This is a great example of the components:
In the first paragraph, state why you are considering Locum Tenens -- what are your objectives? (i.e. broadening your experience, personal flexibility, way to gain exposure to a variety of settings before choosing a full time position)
In the next paragraphs provide a review of past experiences in a traditional setting. Relate them to the specific requirements for the position posted.
Ask for the order. Remember, with AdvancedPractice.com you will be talking first to a recruiter who represents the hiring client. Use the closing paragraph to ask the recruiter to call you so that you get a chance to tell more of your story in a live conversation.
Wondering What a Great Cover Letter Looks Like?
Here's one sample we believe does an effective job...
Dear AdvancedPractice.com Recruiter:
After many years of working directly with patients in diverse healthcare settings I am seeking an opportunity to expand my experience as a nurse practitioner. For this reason, I was excited to learn of your current opportunity for a nurse practitioner. I would like very much to be strongly considered as a candidate for this position. Ideally, this position will allow me the opportunity to utilize my experience gained as a nurse practitioner/assistant medical director in a rehabilitation/long term care setting and as a nurse practitioner in a family practice/urgent care practice.
In the capacity of Nurse Practitioner/Assistant Medical Director, I assessed the health status and coordinated holistic care for residents/patients from diverse populations with a variety of healthcare needs and issues. Additionally, I provided for the health and educational needs of the residents/patients and the educational needs of the responsible parties/family members and the facility staff. I have gained a wealth of experience in the role of Nurse Practitioner/Assistant Medical Director, specifically in the areas of patient assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation and education.
In the capacity of Nurse Practitioner in the family practice/urgent care practice, I provided healthcare for a broad range of patients. I provided healthcare for clients of all ages. I practiced the art providing equitable, effective care to those with insurance to help finance their healthcare needs -- as well as those without. I provided primary healthcare including prevention and management of acute and chronic disease. I also provided urgent care including minor procedures such as suturing, ordering and interpreting basic diagnostic exams including laboratory tests, EKG's and basic x rays.
For your consideration, I have attached my resume for your review. I am confident that my experience and personable disposition will be an asset to the organization you represent. Realizing the limitations of the written page, I would welcome the opportunity to participate in a personal interview to answer any of your questions and better present my qualifications. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Preparing a resume for online posting and job boards
In today's job search, your resume needs to be well-suited to be stored in a database. Many recruiting firms and job boards utilize resume parsers. The parser dissects the CV/resume into the searchable fields in the database. After parsing, the recruiter can easily perform searches on fields such as your geographic preferences, your certifications and credentials -- if you have constructed your resume in such a manner that the parser grabs the right information.
This is especially important in locum tenens recruiting as our assignments change rapidly -- often in response to an urgent or immediate need by the Doctor's office or hospital -- so it is critical for a recruiter to find you based upon precise criteria and do so quickly.
What is the best formatting? If you are not sure about your existing resume, email AdvancedPractice.com and one of our Recruiting Associates will send you a choice of templates that are easy to follow. Match yours against these recommended formats -- if they are wildly different we would suggest you consider changing before submitting.
Here are the highlights of what you should consider when building your CV or resume:
Put your contact information at the very top of the page.
Label everything. i.e. if you are including your credentials, place a subhead in the resume that says CREDENTIALS and then, underneath as a subhead to that, type your credentials (as a list).
The parser matches the subhead in the resume with the available fields in the database. Use common language for these sub titles: i.e. Work Experience, Credentials, Certifications, Education and Professional Awards.
Include a summary paragraph that indicates your unique strengths. Remember, you are likely being compared against several other providers. This one paragraph should tell the recruiter why you are the best to present to his client.
Stick to one or two fonts (maximum). More than that actually makes your resume difficult to read. Don't use exotic fonts because it is likely the recruiter won't have these on his/her computer and the substitution font may not produce attractive results.
Be conscious of keywords. Sprinkle your CV or resume liberally with the words that you believe a recruiter might use when searching the database (i.e. "psych physician's assistant" or "family PA". This will help assure that the recruiter does pull your resume when he/she searches the database.
Many parsers do not read .pdf files. Send a Word document or .txt version of your resume rather than a .pdf. If you have used elaborate fonts or formatting you can ask the recruiter later if he will send a .pdf on to his/her client.
It goes without saying that you should proofread (or have someone read for you) before sending. Number your pages.
General rule of thumb is to try to keep your resume to two pages. Obviously if you have 30 years of experience this may be difficult.
Use concise language...that means leave off the adjectives and use action words instead. Cite tangible accomplishments which demonstrate how you excelled in your previous positions. (Pick the one or two per position that stand out).
Follow and Connect:
