Laboratory technician cover letter

Laboratory Technician Cover Letter (With Examples)

If you include a cover letter with your resume — and you should — it acts as your first contact with your potential employer. It is your very first impression. So make it a lasting one.

A strong cover letter can help to propel you to the top of the interview list. Keep in mind, though, that a poorly written or unprofessional cover letter will likely result in your resume being tossed in the “no” pile.

You want to include a cover letter with your resume. Not only does it help to paint a more clear picture of the qualifications and experience you bring, but it will also garner more attention from the hiring manager.

A cover letter shows that you are interested in this position and you are willing to put in the extra effort to get the job. Hiring managers will give more attention to resumes that include a cover letter.

Parts of a Lab Technician Cover Letter

A cover letter alone will grab the attention of the hiring manager. But it is a well-crafted cover letter that will get you the interview.

Once the cover letter has grabbed the attention of your potential employer, you want to keep that attention. Hiring managers will spend hours reviewing dozens, if not hundreds, of applications every single day. They know what they are looking for in a cover letter. You want to include the key elements in your cover letter and format it properly.

1. Header. Every cover letter should follow a standard business letter format. It is, at its core, a standard business letter. All business letters, and so all cover letters, will begin with a header.

   You need to include your contact information, the date, and the employer’s contact information. Your contact information should include:

   • Your full name

   • Your current address (optional)

   • Your phone number

   • Your email address

   • Your LinkedIn, website, or online portfolio (optional)

2. Greeting. Find the name of the hiring manager. You want to put in the effort to address your cover letter to the correct person. If you do need to address your cover letter to an unknown recipient, there is a standard protocol.

   You are usually able to find the hiring manager’s information on the company website, but you can also check LinkedIn or call the office to ask.

3. Opening paragraph. This is your first impression, your introduction. Include the specific job title you are applying for as well as your best qualifications related to the job description.

   If you were referred to this job by a current employee, you may want to mention that here as well. Your goal here is to grab the attention of the hiring manager and entice them to read on.

4. Second paragraph. This begins the body of your cover letter. Once you’ve introduced yourself as an ideal candidate in your opening paragraph, you want to focus on your qualifications and experience.

   Your resume displays your hard skills and relevant work experience; a cover letter provides you with an opportunity to expand on that information. They won’t just see your hard skills and soft skills. Here they can glean your motivations and your attitude and whether or not you’ll fit with the company culture.

   You should include relevant information that ties directly into the job you are applying for. Use the job listing to determine which qualifications to include and be sure to use keywords from the description in your letter.

5. Third paragraph. This paragraph is often considered optional. If you choose to include a second body paragraph, it should focus on your values and goals and how they align with the company’s mission.

   This is your chance to show that you’ve done your homework on this company. You want the hiring manager to see that you’re not just applying to all relevant positions but are interested in working in this job at this company.

6. Closing lines. The closing paragraph is where you include your call-to-action. Don’t rehash everything you’ve mentioned so far, but summarize your interest and best qualification and ask for the interview. You also want to thank the hiring manager for their time.

7. Sign-off. This is a business letter and, as such, your closing signature should be professional. “Sincerely”, “Best regards”, “Respectfully”, or “Thank you” are considered standard.

Lab Technician Cover Letter Opening

The opening lines of your cover letter should state your intention and convey your value and enthusiasm for this company/position. You can use flattery, an impressive accomplishment of your own, or just express your passion. So long as you are being genuine, it belongs in the opening paragraph.

Those first few lines are your very first opportunity to leave an impression on the hiring manager. You want to use them to grab their attention and stop them from tossing your resume back into the pile.

Lab Technician Cover Letter Body

As someone going into the sciences, you are likely familiar with the structure of an academic paper. As with any academic paper, the body is your argument. In the case of your cover letter, you are arguing that you are the ideal candidate for this position.

You want to tell them to look at your resume and schedule an interview. Use your qualifications, values, and goals to make your argument. Don’t just mention the skills you possess, show how you have put them into action.

Some will use this section of their cover letter to list out their accomplishments as they pertain to the job description. You will often see these in a bulleted list under the second paragraph.

Lab Technician Cover Letter Closing Lines

Use the closing lines of your cover letter to summarize, say thanks, and ask for the interview. Don’t simply reuse and recycle the facts and phrases you used in your resume and the rest of your cover letter. This should be a reiteration, not a repetition.

Thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration during this process, which is likely a long and monotonous one. Then, politely request an interview by including a call-to-action that will move the process forward.

Instead of saying “interview me”, you should be a little more subtle. Phrases like “I look forward to speaking with you about this position” or “Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions regarding my application” get your point across without screaming or demanding “interview me”.

Example of a Lab Technician Cover Letter

Tips for Writing a Lab Technician Cover Letter

With a job as technical and skill-specific as a laboratory technician, you want to be sure that you are consulting the job description when putting your resume and cover letter together.

The skillset they are requiring will be very specific to both the position and the company, so be aware of exactly what they are looking for and be sure to speak to it in your application pieces.

The job description may list only hard skills and not touch as much on the soft skills that would be beneficial for a lab tech. So, even if the job listing does not mention the following skills, you should do your best to highlight them:

• Numerical skills

• Teamwork skills

• Attention to detail

• Organizational skills

• Communication skills

• Customer service skills

• Dexterity

• Analytical skills