Is your medical assistant cover letter limping behind your resume? If that's the case, now is the right time to make it shine!
In any area of healthcare, medical assistants are necessary team members that help to support both the staff and patients in their various needs. To get this point across, your cover letter has to highlight all your relevant skills and experience. Let us guide you through the writing process with our tips, customizable templates, real-life cover letter samples, and inspiring examples!
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In this guide, we teach you everything you need to know about writing a cover letter as a medical assistant. Keep reading to learn how to:
- Format your medical assistant cover letter header & headline
- Personalize your medical assistant cover letter for a specific job
- Write a captivating medical assistant cover letter introduction
- Showcase your best skills & accomplishments as a medical assistant
- Conclude your medical assistant cover letter with a strong closing statement
- Access top resources for job-seeking medical assistants
1. Format your excellent medical assistant cover letter header & headline
To begin writing your medical assistant cover letter, you must first focus on giving the document structure by creating a header and headline.
Having a well-formatted header and headline helps to give your cover letter a more professional and organized appearance. This, in turn, aids you in leaving a great first impression on an employer.
Your cover letter header should contain all the necessary information about you (the applicant) and the company you're applying to (the employer), including:
- Your name and your professional title
- Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, LinkedIn, etc.)
- The name and department of the company
- The company’s address (especially important if the company has more than one location)
Here is an example of a well-formatted medical assistant header
Jane Doe, Medical Assistant
(123) 456-7890 | janedoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jane-doe
To: Mountain Hills Hospital
Assistant & Support Department
1234 Street Address
Jefferson, NC, 28640
Following your header is your cover letter headline. This is a short title statement that is often considered an optional element. However, when well-written, a headline can help you tremendously with initially hooking an employer’s attention.
Good headlines include a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of a compelling medical assistant headline
My 3 Best Skills as a Medical Assistant & How I Will Apply Them to Support Your Medical Staff
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Skills
Keyword: Medical Assistant
Adjective/Verb: Best, Apply, Support
Promise: Your Medical Staff – the addition of this statement at the end of your headline informs the employer that you plan to directly talk about the needs of their specific company.
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2. Personalize your excellent medical assistant cover letter for a specific job
If you want to make your medical assistant cover letter truly stand out to employers, you'll need to personalize all of the information for the specific job you are applying to.
The personalization process requires you to thoroughly research the company before writing your letter, looking for information such as:
- The company’s values and mission statement – here you can find keywords and language the company uses that you can reflect in your own writing.
- Any projects or programs the company is involved in – using this information, you can explain how your skills and qualifications will help the company achieve its current goals.
- The name of the person who will review your cover letter – you can use this information to create a personalized greeting that addresses this specific person by name. This also shows the employer that you've done your research!
Here are 3 examples of personalized medical assistant cover letter greetings
- Dear Dr. John Smith,
- Dear Dr. John Smith & the Medical Staff,
- Dear Senior Medical Assistant Joe King,
3. Write a captivating medical assistant cover letter introduction
Making the actual text of your cover letter eye-catching and persuasive is crucial – and it starts with writing a captivating introduction.
To write a medical assistant introduction that impresses employers, you should include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Pro Tip: If you don't have a mutual acquaintance – as many applicants likely don't – you can use professional platforms like LinkedIn to connect with current employees and associates of the company. This is an important step, as it can give your cover letter a highly competitive edge.
Here is an example of a well-written medical assistant cover letter introduction
Dear Senior Medical Assistant Joe King,
I am a professional medical assistant with more than 5 years of experience providing administrative support to mental health facilities. My former professor and mentor, Dr. John Smith, recently joined your team of doctors and reached out to me about an opening in the medical assistant department. As my experience and skills are perfectly aligned with the needs of this position, I believe I am the ideal addition to your team.
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4. Showcase your best skills & accomplishments as a medical assistant
Once you have caught the employer’s attention with your captivating introduction, you must keep them interested by describing all your best and most relevant skills, accomplishments, and qualifications.
As you write about your various skills and accomplishments as a medical assistant, make sure the details you include are:
- Specific: Context is important in a cover letter. For instance, don’t just say you have excellent communication skills – explain how you apply these skills in the workplace.
- Quantifiable: Whenever possible, include quantifiable facts and statistics about your accomplishments.
- High-Value: Assess how valuable each of your skills and accomplishments is to a specific employer, and then prioritize them as such.
Here are 6 excellent medical assistant skills to describe in a cover letter
- Patient record keeping
- Preparing lab specimens
- Strong verbal communication with patients
- Knowledge of various medical examinations
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Preparing and administering medications
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a medical assistant cover letter
As a medical assistant at [Former Employer], one of my core responsibilities was handling patient intake and record-keeping. To help better support the medical staff, I sourced a new electronic record-keeping platform that improved internal communication accuracy by 75%. Additionally, this digital platform sped up the patient onboarding process by 25%.
5. Conclude your medical assistant cover letter with a strong closing statement
Always conclude your cover letter with a strong closing statement that includes key information such as how and when the employer can contact you, as well as when you plan to follow up on your application.
Make sure to include details such as the best number or email to reach you at and what days and times are best for making contact.
Here is an example of a strong closing statement from a medical assistant cover letter
I am excited by this opportunity and am eager to learn more about you and your team. I would love to speak directly within the next week and am available to meet Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The best way to reach me is at (123) 456-7890, or at janedoe@email.com outside of the aforementioned hours.
If I have not heard back by next Tuesday, I plan to reach out and touch base.
With Appreciation,
[Applicant Name]
If you've ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
6. Top resources for job-seeking medical assistants
Now that you know how to craft the perfect medical assistant cover letter, it's time to talk about the next step — job hunting. Finding the right work opportunities isn't always a smooth process. But if you know where to look, you're bound to happen upon compelling vacancies sooner rather than later:
- Industry-specific job boards: By far the most straightforward way of finding suitable job offers is by using platforms like MedicalAssistantJobs.com, MediJobs, and Health eCareers that cater to the medical field specifically.
- General job search engines: Still, you shouldn't overlook websites like Glassdoor, Indeed, and SimplyHired. Although broader in focus, these can still yield compelling results.
- LinkedIn: It doesn't matter what career path you choose to walk, LinkedIn is easily one of the most essential job search tools out there! It's perfect for making new connections with fellow medical experts and potential employers alike.
- Professional associations: Additionally, becoming a member of organizations like the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the American Registry of Medical Assistants (ARMA), or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) can grant you access to more job listings, networking opportunities, and training programmes.
- Specialized publications: The best way to showcase your passion for the job is by demonstrating your knowledge of the latest findings and industry news. That's why you should consider following media like: “CMA Today,” “The American Journal of Medicine,” “Clinician Reviews.”
- Courses & certifications: Apart from professional associations, online learning platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, or edX can also help you gain new skills and certificates to boost your employability.
No matter how many job postings you end up responding to, alway remember to tailor each and every one of your cover letters to align as closely as possible to the specific job requirements. After all, every job position is unique, and your medical assistant cover letter should reflect that.
Medical Assistant Cover Letter FAQ
How should I showcase my medical assistant skills in my cover letter?
Highlight specific skills that are relevant to the job description. For example, if you have clinical skills such as taking vital signs or administering injections, mention your proficiency and any related achievements. Always use specific examples to demonstrate how you've successfully applied these skills in past roles, such as improving patient flow or enhancing record-keeping accuracy.
How long should my cover letter be?
Your cover letter should always be concise and to the point, ideally no more than one page. Aim for 2-4 body paragraphs framed by an introductory and a closing paragraph.
Should I include keywords in my medical assistant cover letter?
Yes, you should! Using keywords are essential if you're submitting your job application via the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Go back to your job posting, and identify key phrases such as "patient care," "medical coding," or "EMR/EHR proficiency." Then continue by incorporating these naturally into your cover letter.
How can I use quantifiable data to enhance my cover letter?
Quantifiable data serve as concrete evidence of your skills and achievements. For example, you might mention that you "Reduced patient wait times by 20% through efficient schedule management" or "Increased clinic revenue by 15% by improving billing processes." Numbers like these demonstrate your impact and the tangible benefits you can bring to the employer.
How can I demonstrate my ability to handle patient care effectively in my cover letter?
Simply by describing specific instances where you provided exceptional service. For example, you could mention a situation where you helped calm an anxious patient or improved patient satisfaction through compassionate care. Try to highlight your ability to communicate effectively with diverse patient populations and manage clinical tasks.
