Crafting a compelling physical therapist assistant cover letter can often be a daunting task, especially if you're in the midst of the job application process and just realized the importance of this document. It's not just about rehashing your resume; your cover letter should spotlight a singular, standout achievement and share the story behind it. Striking that perfect balance between professionalism and personality – without falling into the trap of tired clichés – can be challenging. Plus, keeping it under one page adds to the pressure. Let's walk through how to create a cover letter that's as effective and dynamic as you are.
- Writing the essential physical therapist assistant cover letter sections: balancing your professionalism and personality;
- Mixing storytelling, your unique skill set, and your greatest achievement;
- Providing relevant (and interesting) information with your physical therapist assistant cover letter, despite your lack of professional experience;
- Finding the perfect format for your[ physical therapist assistant cover letter, using templates from industry experts.
Leverage the power of Enhancv's AI: upload your resume and our platform will map out how your physical therapist assistant cover letter should look, in mere moments.
If the physical therapist assistant isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Physical Therapist Assistant cover letter example
Andrew Clark
Denver, Colorado
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Aligning personal experience with the institution's mission demonstrates a shared vision and personal investment in the role, making the candidate a potentially good fit for the team culture.
- Providing a specific example of a past success, such as the case with the multi-ligament knee reconstruction, showcases the candidate’s ability to handle complex cases and deliver superior patient outcomes.
- Emphasizing specialized training and a skill set, namely advanced orthopedic techniques and manual therapy, underlines the candidate’s expertise and suggests a readiness to contribute value from the onset.
- Expressing eagerness to apply proven skills in a new environment and inviting an opportunity for an interview demonstrates initiative and a proactive approach to professional advancement.
Standard formatting for your physical therapist assistant cover letter
Structure your physical therapist assistant cover letter, following industry-leading advice, to include:
- Header - with your name, the role you're applying for, the date, and contact details;
- Greeting - make sure it's personalized to the organization;
- Introduction paragraph - no more than two sentences;
- Body paragraph - answering why you're the best candidate for the role;
- Closing paragraph - ending with a promise or a call to action;
- Signature - now that's optional.
Set up your physical therapist assistant cover letter for success with our templates that are all single-spaced and have a one-inch margin all around.
Use the same font for your physical therapist assistant cover as the one in your resume(remember to select a modern, Applicant Tracker System or ATS favorites, like Raleway, Volkhov, or Chivo instead of the worn-out Times New Roman).
Speaking of the ATS, did you know that it doesn't scan or assess your cover letter? This document is solely for the recruiters.
Our builder allows you to export your physical therapist assistant cover letter in the best format out there: that is, PDF (this format keeps your information intact).
The top sections on a physical therapist assistant cover letter
- Header: Include your name, address, email, phone number, and the date, which helps the recruiter to easily identify and contact you for follow-up regarding the Physical Therapist Assistant position.
- Greeting: Begin with a professional salutation addressing the hiring manager or recruiter by name if known, fostering a personal connection for the role you're applying for.
- Introduction: Introduce yourself and briefly state your intent to apply for the Physical Therapist Assistant position, highlighting your enthusiasm and relevant credentials that make you a fitting candidate.
- Body: Detail your experience in physical therapy practices, specific patient care techniques you are proficient in, and any accomplishments in previous roles that are pertinent to being a successful Physical Therapist Assistant.
- Closing: Conclude with a strong closing statement that reiterates your interest in the position, thanks the reader for considering your application, and suggests the next steps or your availability for an interview.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Hands-on patient care experience: Demonstrates practical knowledge and the ability to apply therapeutic techniques under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
- Strong communication skills: Essential for educating patients about their treatments, listening to their concerns, and reporting patient progress to the physical therapist.
- Attention to detail: Necessary for accurately documenting patient progress and ensuring compliance with treatment plans.
- Physical stamina and dexterity: Physical therapist assistants often need to support, lift, or assist patients during therapy sessions, which requires good physical condition and coordination.
- Empathy and compassion: Patients are often in pain or frustrated with their physical limitations, so showing empathy is key to providing effective care and support.
- Understanding of safety and compliance: Knowledge of healthcare regulations and the ability to maintain a safe and clean working environment to protect both patients and staff from potential hazards.
Kick off your physical therapist assistant cover letter: the salutation or greeting
When writing your physical therapist assistant cover letter, remember that you're not writing for some complex AI or robot, but for actual human beings.
And recruiters, while on the lookout to understand your experience, would enjoy seeing a cover letter that is tailored to the role and addresses them. Personally.
So, if you haven't done so, invest some time in finding out who's the hiring manager for the role you're applying to. A good place to start would be LinkedIn and the corporate website.
Alternatively, you could also get in touch with the company to find out more information about the role and the name of the recruiter.
If you haven't met the hiring manager, yet, your physical therapist assistant cover letter salutation should be on a last-name basis (e.g. "Dear Mr. Donaldson" or "Dear Ms. Estephan").
A good old, "Dear HR Professional" (or something along those lines) could work as your last resort if you're struggling to find out the recruiter's name.
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Clinic or Company Name] Team,
- Dear Dr. [Last Name],
- Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name],
- Dear Director [Last Name],
- Dear Human Resources Director,
First introductions in your physical therapist assistant cover letter
Within your physical therapist assistant cover letter introduction, genuinely state what you like about the organization.
Research the latest company projects, honorary awards, company updates, etc.
Write up to two sentences to let recruiters know what impresses you about the company,
This would help you to set a good tone for the rest of the communication.
How to write an achievement-focused physical therapist assistant cover letter body
We've got the intro and greeting covered. Now, comes the most definitive part of your physical therapist assistant cover letter - the body.
In the next three to six paragraphs, you'd have to answer why should recruiters hire you.
What better way to do this than by storytelling?
And, no, you don't need a "Once upon a time" or "I started from the bottom and made it to the top" career-climbing format to tell a compelling narrative.
Instead, select up to three most relevant skills for the job and look back on your resume.
Find an achievement, that you're proud of, which has taught you these three job-crucial skills.
Quantify your accomplishment, using metrics, and be succinct in the way you describe it.
The ultimate aim would be to show recruiters how this particular success has built up your experience to become an invaluable candidate.
Ending your physical therapist assistant cover letter to avoid "Sincerely yours"
Yes, this sort of closing statement may work best before your signature.
But you want to give recruiters something more with your physical therapist assistant cover letter ending.
Some professionals choose to go down the path of promises. In a single sentence, they map out what they'd bring about to the role (whether that's a particular technical skill set or personal traits).
Others, decide to be more concrete by thanking recruiters for their time and prompting for their next interview.
Whatever path you choose, remember to always be polite and respectful of the opportunity you've had. Good manners go a long way.
The zero experience physical therapist assistant cover letter: shifting the focus to your unique value
Don't worry if you have no conventional professional experience. Within your whole experience, there's plenty more you can write about in your physical therapist assistant cover letter.
Take, for example, your biggest achievement or award - dedicate your cover letter body to describe it and the job-relevant skills you've learned.
Your professional ambitions could also take center stage. Describe what you plan on achieving in the next five to ten years and the efforts you're making towards your dreams.
Key takeaways
Turning your physical therapist assistant cover letter into a success is all about staying authentic to yourself and relevant to the job:
- Be creative with your physical therapist assistant cover letter introduction by stating something you enjoy about the company (that is genuine) or about your skill set (to get the recruiters' interested);
- Use single spacing and have a one-inch margin wrapping all around the content of your physical therapist assistant cover letter;
- Select just one past achievement from your career or life to tell a story of how you've obtained job-crucial skills and how they'd be beneficial to the role;
- The finishing paragraph of your physical therapist assistant cover letter doesn't necessarily have to be a signature but could be a promise of what you plan to achieve in the role;
- Instead of focusing on your lack of experience, spotlight your transferable skills, one relevant achievement, and career dreams.
