Most emergency medical technicians know that in order to apply for employment it is necessary to compile a resume, but where many of them fail is in the writing of an EMT Cover Letter. Writing a good cover letter is just as important to securing an interview for the job of your dreams as your actual resume is.
The EMT Cover Letter is the document that introduces you to the prospective employer; it contains very specific information relevant to the position for which you are applying. Many applicants never get to the interview stage because they either do not include a cover letter with their resume, it does not give the required information or there are errors in it.
One needs to remember that in the difficult economic times in which most of the world economies find themselves in currently, there are many applicants for the same post and the interviewing process really begins when the interviewing officer receives your resume. The interviewing officer hence has to read through many resumes in order to make a shortlist of applicants that will be interviewed one-on-one. If they cannot find the required relevant information in your covering letter your paperwork will end up in the trash, otherwise know as the ubiquitous “file thirteen.”
Apart from including all contact details and previous experience, your cover letter must highlight the most relevant experience from your resume and connect your experience with the position for which you are applying. Remember, your cover letter is your first and best chance at selling the hiring manager on why you are the perfect person for the position, so make 100% sure that it is perfect in every way.
Layout For An EMT Cover Letter
A cover letter is comprised of several sections; contact information, a salutation, the body, an appropriate closing, your signature, and enclosures:
Your Contact Information
This is the very first section of your cover letter and must contain:
- Name
- Address
- City, State, Zip Code
- Phone Number
- Cell Phone Number
- Email Address
The Employer’s Contact Information
Filling in the contact information of the person/company to which you are applying for a job shows that you are precise and pay attention to detail, something that is very important in an emergency medical technician.
Salutation
An appropriate salutation at the beginning of the EMT Cover Letter is very important. Find out the name of the contact person and include it:
- Dear Mr. Smith
- Dear Ms. Jones
- Dear Jane Doe
- Dear Dr. Haven
The salutation should be followed by a comma and then the heading, e.g.
Application for the Post of Ambulance EMT
If you do not have a name for the contact person then you are free to use a generalized greeting such as To Whom It May Concern, Dear Human Resources Manager, or just plain Dear Sir or Madam.
Body
The body of the EMT Cover Letter is where you effectively make your case as to why you are the best person for the job:
- First Paragraph – Why you are writing
This is the section where you tell the interviewing/hiring officer what position you are applying for and how you found out about the position, and should read something similar to this:
I am responding to your advertisement in the New York Herald for an emergency medical technician. My training and experience in this field over the past five years make me eminently qualified for the position, as is detailed in my resume.
- Middle Paragraphs – What you have to offer the employer (be specific)
In this section of your EMT Cover Letter you should inform the employer what you have to offer them and why they should bring you in for an interview. You should briefly include your relevant qualifications and experience, connecting them to the advertised requirements for the position. Rather make use of shorter paragraphs or a bulleted list for ease of reading. It should look something like this:
I am well-versed in the role of an EMT and can provide excellent care for patients in any kind of emergency situation. I have undergone all three levels of formal EMT training and have experience as EMT-basic, EMT-intermediate and EMT- intensive care.
I worked as an EMT at XYZ Company for 5 years where I:
- Worked as a member of a six-person team
- Attended emergency calls and provided immediate medical assistance as a member of an ambulance team
- Gained experience of dealing with stroke patients and victims of violent assaults, vehicle accidents and serious injuries
- Provided intensive care with the help of advance equipment and technology
- Communicated with team members, patients and family
I am detail oriented, have strong organizational skills and can think on my feet when under pressure. I am familiar with taking on the role of responsibility, work great in a team or individually and have excellent communication skills.
- Final Paragraph – How you will follow-up
The final paragraph should thank the prospective employer for considering you for the position and inform him or her that you will get in touch with them to schedule an interview. End off with your contact details such as your telephone number and e-mail address so that they are at their fingertips should they be interested and they may contact you immediately to organize an interview. An example:
I would appreciate if we could meet face-to-face for a follow up interview wherein we can discuss this further. I will contact you on Tuesday to talk discuss a meeting. If you have any queries in the meantime please do not hesitate to call me on (insert phone number) or drop me an e-mail at (insert your email address).
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and taking me into consideration for this post.
- Signature
Always close off your EMT Cover Letter in an appropriate manner:
Sincerely,
(Insert your full name)
You can also include some contact information here if you prefer:
Sincerely,
(Insert your full name)
Cell Phone Number
E-mail Address
Skype Contact Details
LinkedIn Profile
- Enclosures:
Whenever you are enclosing something with a letter, such as your resume, certificates, and references, you should make a note of what you are enclosing/attaching at the bottom of the letter:
Enclosures: Resume, Work Experience Certificates, Letters of Recommendation
Tips for Writing a Good EMT Cover Letter
- Your cover-letter should consist of only one A4 page
- Address your covering letter to a specific person if possible
- Make sure that you get the name and title of the person handling the application correct
- Determine your uniqueness – what makes you the best candidate
- Focus on the required criteria and keep your letter detailed but succinct
- Make sure to quote any reference number that was attached to the job advertisement
- Use business-appropriate language and never use slang or shortened forms
- Sell yourself and your abilities – this is the only chance you may get
- Print your EMT Cover Letter on plain white, good quality paper
- List your best achievements that meet the job requirements
- Read and review your cover letter two or three times to ensure that is reads easily and that there are no grammatical, typing or spelling mistakes. If possible, get someone else to proofread it for you
- Make sure that the layout of your cover-letter looks good and reads easily
- Do not be afraid to follow up on your letter
- Never send a generalized cover letter, make sure that it is tailored to the company or institution and to the job for which you are applying
- Do not include information that has nothing to do with the position for which you are applying in your cover letter
- Do not be passive, use strong and concise language to get your information across
- Avoid repetition of the same words or terminology
- Use a simple easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman, Helvetica or Arial
- Make sure that you use a uniform format for headings, bullet-points etc
- Do not discuss salary in the EMT Cover Letter
- Do not query company benefits should you get employed in our cover letter
- Be subjective in your desire to join and contribute to the company
- Do some homework on the company before you write your cover letter
- Do not rush your cover letter, rather spend some time on making it perfect, the person reading it will notice the difference
Remember that every resume that you send for a job application should be accompanied by a cover letter. An EMT Cover Letter should not duplicate your resume, it should complement it. The purpose of a cover letter is to interpret all the facts and data encapsulated in your resume and add a personal touch so that the interviewer gets a sense of the person that you are.