Whether your patients survived an injury, underwent surgery, or dealt with chronic pain for any other reasons, you’re there to provide an examination and work out a recovery plan.
But how do you show you can handle anything the day throws your way when creating a cover letter and complementary physical therapist resume? What job skills and values should you present to demonstrate your fit as the ideal physical therapist?
After years of assisting physical therapists like you, we’ve developed five physical therapist cover letter examples and a cover letter generator to help launch you toward your dream job.
Why this cover letter works
- One way to make your physical therapist cover letter stand out is by showing an understanding of a potential employer. Even better, tell a story of how one of your relatives received the best care during a stay at the facility you’re looking forward to becoming an employee.
- To end on a high note, add your achievement metrics from other roles to highlight your impact on the success of the places you’ve worked before.
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Physical Therapist New Grad Cover Letter Example
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Why this cover letter works
- When you’re a new graduate stepping into the real world of work, you’ve got to show hiring managers all your skills. Don’t shy away from everything from volunteering experience, internship experience, or even unrelated experience such as tutoring.
- Drawing inspiration from Olivia’s physical therapist new grad cover letter, you’ll find her accomplishments even as an online tutor and aligning it with the company’s job description of maintaining a patient-oriented atmosphere.
Why this cover letter works
- Just the first look of this physical therapist aide cover letter exemplifies the fact that the candidate has put in the effort to showcase their intent in a structured and eye-catching way.
- When it’s time to build your own cover letter, make sure you’re serious about showcasing your personality through your piece. Remember, when it’s about getting your dream job, you need to leave no stone unturned. So go ahead and customize your cover letter by adding all necessary details such as your information and any enclosures.
Physical Therapist Assistant Cover Letter Example
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Why this cover letter works
- There’s no shortcut to making your physical therapist assistant cover letter stand out. You must prove your unique job skills through measurable achievements. And how do you do that? By showcasing your initiatives that improved patient outcomes and adding figures that underscore your impact.
- Taking a cue from this example, you can include a rehabilitation program for seniors, which saw improved post-operation mobility by an 18% margin.
Entry-Level Physical Therapist Cover Letter Example
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Why this cover letter works
- You just graduated, and you’re looking to break into the real world of your career and wondering where to begin. Your timing is perfect because this entry level physical therapist cover letter sets a perfect example you can emulate.
- Tap from your voluntary and internship experiences and be keen to highlight your achievements and impact to patients and facilities. As you conclude, show your enthusiasm to work and add value to the team.
Related cover letter examples
How to Write Your Best Physical Therapist Cover Letter
Tailor your cover letter to the job description! You’ll need to align yourself with the company and demonstrate that you’re a great fit by comparing your job skills with the job requirements—no two physical therapy practices are the same.
Check out the company website and see if they face any obstacles you can help overcome. Did you help with a community outreach program similar to one that’s coming up on their calendar? How have you boosted the same recovery rates they’re seeking to improve?
Writing an impressive greeting and intro
If you find yourself getting stuck at “Dear-” then it’s time for some research! Sometimes, the recruiter’s or hiring manager’s name is right on the job description! Otherwise, it might be on the company website somewhere, even if it takes some digging.
Once you’ve found a name for your greeting, it’s time to lay out a few traits and qualifications that make you a flawlessly aligned physical therapist. State that you want the job and why you’re qualified for it.
Make sure you arrange your introductory paragraph with a good hook (such as a company name drop or a reference to past instances of obstacles you’ve overcome.) You want the reader to crave more info about you!
Don’t write an opener like this, lacking a proper greeting and sounding both sloppy and questionable in terms of taste:
Oof . . .
Hey so I’m Carla and I did a lot of stuff in school that will help me do well in this role. I can make your patients feel great so that you look good too.
Instead, go for something more like this opener’s strong enthusiasm and connection to the company:
Ahh, that’s better:
Dear Ms. Wilson,
My passion for physical therapy started early and has only grown over the years. With a strong foundation in therapeutic exercise, manual therapy techniques, and patient assessment, combined with hands-on experience from volunteering opportunities and a significant internship, I am confident in my ability to contribute effectively to Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare’s esteemed team as your next entry-level physical therapist.
Writing up the body text
Recruiters have a couple of seconds to comb through your cover letter, so each paragraph should be clear and concise, focusing primarily on one key point. How did you improve a team’s success by helping a college star player to a speedy recovery from injury? Or how you maintained ongoing patient relationships with seniors!
Make sure your points are specific, relating directly to each job you’re applying for. Don’t hide your specialization beneath vague terminology and wind up pitching your oncology-specific success points to a facility with a niche in neurology!
Back up your success with numbers. Hiring managers love metrics that bolster your profile with solid evidence that you really are that good! Do you have any quantifiable data that aligns with points in the job description that you’ve handled before?
Here’s what you want in a body paragraph:
Over the years, I have honed my skills in physical therapy, achieving significant outcomes for my patients. During my three years’ tenure at TotalMed, I helped 93% of my patients with balance-related issues to regain confidence in their mobility and reduce the risk of falls. By implementing personalized gait training programs, 88% of my patients with walking disabilities showed substantial improvements, enabling them to walk unaided and with reduced pain.
Closing and signing off your completed cover letter
Your letter looks great, with solid body paragraphs outlining your physical therapist capabilities! Now, it’s time to polish everything up and conclude your cover letter in a way that cultivates more progress toward your ideal job role.
Quickly summarize again why you want the job and toss in a couple of fresh qualifying traits to make your point. Reconnect with the company (refer to your intro) over their current goals, values, or mission statement.
Don’t forget to include a call to action that invites further contact—that will be your next opportunity to expand upon your experiences—and thank the reader for their time!
You can say thanks either in your closer paragraph or as your official signoff. Just keep it professional and formal either way and always use your real name on your cover letter.
Don’t send anyone a closer like this. It’s too informal and murky despite having a call to action:
Ouch.
Well there’s the stuff that makes me a good physical therapist, I hope you liked it. I want to start this job really soon so let me know what’s up next and everything.
-Billy G.
Check out how much better it looks when a closer is formal, personal, and professional:
That’s a smooth closer!
I am eager to contribute to the esteemed team at TMC and help ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care, much like my grandmother did. I look forward to the possibility of furthering your noble mission by continuing the legacy of unparalleled patient care that I once witnessed firsthand. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Elena Andreev
Where do I find who I’m writing to?
If you couldn’t find the name of your letter’s recipient by sifting through the job ad or browsing the company’s website, that’s okay! You can independently research the company’s team or look on social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn.
How long should my cover letter be?
Keep it nice and neat at just one page! Your reader will thank you for respecting their time, and you’ll demonstrate your ability to convey information efficiently, which is important in physical therapy. Anything longer than one page is likely to go unread.
How do I handle enclosures?
Easy! Just write “Enclosures:” at the bottom of your cover letter, and then list whatever you add to your complete application package. Alongside your physical therapist resume and the company’s application form, you might include additional medical certifications or professional letters of recommendation attesting to your excellence on the job.
