Laboratory assistant cover letter

Laboratory Assistant Cover Letter (With Examples)

As you’re crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s on your resume (figuratively speaking) and getting ready to submit your job application, stop and think about including a cover letter as well, even if it’s listed as optional.

Cover letters used to be a standard for just about any job application, but only about half of employers ask for one in today’s market. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t submit a cover letter anyway.

If most of your competition chooses not to bother with a cover letter, leaving only a handful of candidates who take the time to write one, that simple act alone can say a lot about your work ethic and whether you’re willing to put the extra time and effort into the job.

And of those other applicants who did submit one, many of them will likely make the mistake of copying and pasting a generic template. If you’re a lab assistant hoping to earn a call back from the hiring manager at your dream job, a strong cover letter can help you stand out from the crowd. Luckily, we’ve put together resources and templates to help.

Parts of a Laboratory Assistant Cover Letter

Lab assistants are primarily responsible for performing the tests and procedures ordered by healthcare providers and physicians.

Other responsibilities include keeping inventory, ordering lab supplies, cleaning and restocking the facility, preparing experiments, processing specimens, and aiding technologists and scientists with lab tests and research. It’s often a fast-paced environment.

You can expect steep competition for this line of work. The position of a lab assistant is considered to be a high-paying entry-level job and can be especially appealing to current and former employees in other professions within the medical field, such as former EMTs. With that in mind, you need to make sure your cover letter stands out from the crowd.

Whether the cover letter is intended for an entry-level position, internship, civil service, promotion, or career change, the critical parts to a standard cover letter are:

1. Your contact information

2. The organization’s information

3. Dear [Manager Name],

4. First paragraph: intent and opening hook

5. Second paragraph: main body with key skills and accomplishments in relation to the job requirements

6. Third paragraph: closing lines with a compelling call to action

7. Best regards, followed by name and title

A cover letter should be properly formatted and fit neatly on a single page. If you need help making sure your cover letter looks professional, browse free cover letter templates for a bit of layout inspiration.

Laboratory Assistant Cover Letter Opening

Include the basic contact information for both you and the company to which you are applying at the top of the letter so a hiring manager can easily contact you. If possible, address your cover letter to the hiring manager by name. If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name, use a gender-neutral greeting such as “Dear [Company Name] Recruitment Manager.”

You shouldn’t start your letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern” because:

1. It’s unoriginal, which isn’t a good first impression to make.

2. The generic greeting may cause a hiring manager to suspect that you might be sending a mass cover letter to multiple companies without taking the time to personalize each one.

Although a neutral “Dear Hiring Manager” or similar phrase is acceptable in lieu of a name, mentioning the company and/or department makes it a little more personalized.

The beginning of your cover letter serves the critical function of being the attention-grabber. Once you have announced your application to the position, follow with an impactful accomplishment.

If possible, quantify your achievement with statistics, percentages, or dollar amounts, as numbers are especially eye-catching and will likely earn your letter some attention.

Note that instead of relying on market buzzwords and empty, generic claims, the applicant used specific growth measurements in her examples. This is a proven technique that immediately distinguishes a personalized cover letter from a basic template and effectively captures a recruitment manager’s attention.

Medical Technologist Cover Letter Body

If your attention-grabber did its job, the hiring manager will be eager to keep reading and see what else you offer. As you move into the body of the letter, you need to prove that you’re the ideal candidate for the position. The cover letter body should explain:

1. Why you want this job

2. The skills that qualify you for the specific requirements of the job

3. Why you are the perfect fit for the position

A common pitfall at this point of the process is to start listing off all of your general skills and accomplishments, even if they aren’t truly relevant to the position. Avoid that rookie mistake.

If you make it to the interview phase, the hiring manager will likely request, “Walk me through your resume,” and then you’ll have plenty of opportunities to talk about your general skills.

Instead, your main objective is to show that you have done your research, understand the requirements of the position, and then directly correlate your skills to the company’s exact needs.

Note that the applicant has broken down her exact qualifications to meet every requirement of the job position in a concise, easy-to-read format.

Laboratory Assistant Cover Letter Closing Lines

The ending may seem much less relevant than the rest of the letter, but now isn’t the time to drop the ball and lose all of your momentum. You need to leave a lasting impression if you want that phone to ring for an interview.

That being said, keep in mind that your space is limited, and you shouldn’t drag out your closing remarks. Keep it concise yet impactful. Wrap up your letter with a quick recap and optimistic closing to remind the hiring manager why you are the perfect candidate for the job.

Note that the applicant neatly tied everything together with a brief summary demonstrating her knowledge, enthusiasm, and desire for the company’s success instead of simply leaving her pitch with a quick “Thanks for your time.”

Example of a Laboratory Assistant Cover Letter

Putting all the parts together illustrates how the ideal cover letter should start with an attention-grabber right off the bat and keep that same level of energy and competency throughout the entire pitch.

Tips for a Laboratory Assistant Cover Letter

• Be sure there aren’t any typos or errors. Have friends and family look over it — the more eyes, the better. Accuracy and attention to detail are two essential traits since the responsibility of accurate testing is so important.

  If you didn’t bother to proofread your cover letter, why would an employer trust you to be meticulous about a patient’s test results?

• Choose your words with intent. Technical jargon can demonstrate that you know what you’re talking about, but keep in mind that a recruitment manager may not work in the same department and know the lingo if you’re trying to flex your vocabulary. Try to be knowledgeable but still relatable.

  Also, use confident language. Instead of using timid words and phrases like “might have” or “possibly” to undermine your skills, choose absolute phrases like “I do have” or “I am confident that.”

• Put numbers to the facts to make a bigger impact. For example, instead of saying, “I helped my previous company grow its annual revenue,” provide a specific number: “I facilitated an annual 38% growth increase.”

• List any relevant work experience to build your credibility, including experiential education and relevant coursework, if you don’t have much on-the-job experience yet. In certain circumstances, it’s okay to have a resume longer than one page.

Final Thoughts

With so much competition in the workforce, especially in a post-COVID quarantine economy, any extra measures you can take to make a good impression and stand out from the crowd are going to be helpful.

Putting care and thought into your cover letter instead of blowing it off or submitting a bland, generic template can make a big difference. At the very least, it shows that you’re serious.

Don’t dread writing a cover letter; think of it as an opportunity. If you follow the proven formula, use powerful techniques to showcase your qualifications, and take it step by step, it will all come together. Your strong pitch may bring you one step closer to your dream job.