Physical therapist cover letter

Physical Therapist Cover Letter (With Examples)

When you’re applying for a job as a physical therapist, submitting a strong resume and cover letter is vital if you want a job offer.

Hiring managers will look at your resume to see if you check the boxes as far as experience goes, but your cover letter is what will set you apart from other candidates who likely also check those boxes.

In your letter, you can paint a picture of how your skills, experiences, and personality all work together to make you the perfect candidate for this particular position.

This only works if you write a unique letter for each position you apply to, but some elements should be in each one you compose.

Parts of a Physical Therapist Cover Letter

1. Your contact information

2. The date

3. The recipient’s information

4. Salutation

5. Opening paragraph

6. Body paragraphs

7. Closing lines

Physical Therapist Cover Letter Opening

Your cover letter should only be one page long, so it’s important to use every bit of space you have to sell yourself to the hiring manager. This includes the introductory paragraph.

You can write your opening lines in several different ways, but you should always include the title of the position you’re applying for and the name of the company that’s offering it. Hiring managers often have to fill multiple positions at once, so this detail helps them keep their stacks of applications straight and gives them context as they read the rest of your letter.

As you write your opening, think about how to briefly introduce yourself and your reasons why you think you’d be a good fit for the job. One good way to do this is to mention your two or three strongest qualifications that match what the company listed in the job description. If getting to work for this particular company is a driving factor, you can mention that as well.

For example, here’s what this section might look like:

Physical Therapist Cover Letter Body

Once you’ve written your opening lines, it’s time to write your body paragraphs. Before you start, go back through the job posting and highlight all of the qualifications that it lists. Note the ones that you meet, and plan to incorporate them into your cover letter.

As you’re writing, find ways to tell stories and provide examples as often as you can. Showing how you’ve used your skills is much more powerful than simply telling hiring managers that you have them, and your stories will allow your personality to shine through as well.

Here are some other tips for writing engaging body paragraphs:

1. Give quantifiable results. Add numbers and percentages to your cover letter as often as you can. For example, instead of simply saying that you created a new program that brought in more patients, explain that you made a program that increased the company’s number of clients by 15%.

   Including details like these allows hiring managers to fully grasp the weight of your accomplishments and understand what you’re bringing to the table.

2. Organize your paragraphs. As far as structuring your cover letter body paragraphs, you can use a couple of different organizational methods. One is to echo your resume and go in reverse chronological order.

   For example, you can write a paragraph on the position you have now, devote the following section to your previous job, and so on. Share your responsibilities, what skills you put into practice, and what you learned — anything that shows you’re an excellent match for this company and position.

   If you don’t want to do that, you can organize your cover letter by writing a section on why you’re the best person for the job and a section on what value you would add to the company.

   This may be your passion for their mission and vision, your ability to further a goal that you know they have for the position or even just your alignment with their values. Employers want to hire people who are invested in their company, so do some research on the organization and explain what’s in it for them if they hire you.

3. Weave in the reason why you want to work at the company. No matter how you structure your body paragraphs, you should find a way to mention what draws you to this particular position and company. Hiring managers want to see heart and personality in applicants’ cover letters, which is one of the best ways to do this.

   Talk about how you’ve admired the company for a long time, how you’ve heard good things about it from others who have worked there, or how the position perfectly aligns with your skills and passions. It may take a little research and thought to come up with a genuine reason, but do your best to find one.

Here’s an example of what your cover letter body paragraphs may look like:

Physical Therapist Cover Letter Closing Lines

The body of your letter should take up the most space, but be sure to leave a little room for your closing lines. This section can be brief, but it’s necessary to wrap up your letter and leave a good impression.

All you need to include in this section is a thank you note and a call to action of some kind. This can be as simple as expressing your enthusiasm for talking with them further about the position, or it can be a request for them to contact you.

This paragraph may look something like this:

Example of a Physical Therapist Cover Letter

Tips for Writing a Physical Therapist Cover Letter

• Mention any specialty training or experience you have. If you have education, training, or experience working in a specialty of physical therapy, be sure to mention that in your cover letter. This is a unique set of skills that sets you apart from other candidates, and it could make the difference in getting an invitation to an interview.

• Talk about how you’ve continued your education. Employers want physical therapists who intend to further their knowledge, training, and education even after they get a job. Show how you’re already in this habit by talking about the classes and certifications you have or are pursuing.