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How to write a successful pharmacy cover letter

Writing a cover letter that helps you stand out from other applicants can be challenging. Pharmacy career consultant Amy Zydzienowski, from Vertica Career Consultants, explains how it is done.

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Also read:  How to write a successful pharmacy CV

Do I really need to write a cover letter? In my role as a pharmacy recruiter and career coach, I am often asked whether a cover letter is a necessary accompaniment to a CV as part of a job application. Some people believe that cover letters just repeat information from their CVs — others are concerned that recruiters never even read them. However, if you can write a cover letter that explains why you are the right candidate for the job you want, you can ensure that your application stands out for the right reasons.

Cover letters — what’s the point?

Traditionally, you would send a CV and cover letter by post in response to a job application or as a speculative approach. Your cover letter would introduce you in a professional sense, explain why you were applying for the position and provide some evidence of your competency for the role.

Nowadays, applications are less frequently sent by post — they are usually emailed or completed online. Despite this, presenting a professional cover letter is still part of the established protocol. If you are responding to a job advertisement in today’s competitive pharmacy jobs market, it is likely you will be one of many applicants (sometimes one of hundreds). Therefore, you need to do everything you can to ensure your application stands out, which includes an excellent cover letter.

Consider the hiring manager’s point of view

Before you start writing your CV and cover letter, you need to ask yourself: “What would the hiring manager want to see in the application?”

One way to find out is to simply call and ask the hiring manager or recruiter exactly what they would like to see. A recent survey of US employers by Saddleback College in America has shown that they can have differing views on whether a cover letter is important, how long it should be and what information it should contain. By asking the employer directly, you can find out their specific views and tailor your cover letter accordingly.

Laying out your letter

There are no set rules for your cover letter, but a good structure is important. The cover letter is telling a story about you and, like all good stories, it should have a beginning, middle and end.

The beginning

If the application is being posted then use a standard letter format, with your own address and date on the right and the organisation’s contact name and address on the left. For email applications, put your cover letter in the main body of the email and add your CV as an attachment. Your cover letter can be ignored more easily if you attach it as a separate document.

You should always try to address your cover letter to a specific person when possible. This will be easier if you have already called the hiring manager. Research by Forum3 (now called Charity People), a not-for-profit recruitment company for the third sector, suggests you are 10–15% more likely to receive a reply if you address your application to a person and 5% more likely to get an interview [1] . If you do not know the name of the person, then use a professional address such as “Dear Sir or Madam”.

Immediately after addressing the reader, you should state the purpose of the application, so that the reader can quickly understand the reason for the email. For example, “Reference: Application for Band 6 hospital pharmacist role”. This could also be included as the subject line of the email.

The first paragraph should describe what your current professional situation is and why you are applying for the position. This paragraph should also include any research you have done into the role or organisation, including anyone you have spoken to, any site visits you have undertaken and the name of anyone who may have referred you. If you have taken the time to research the organisation and the role, this could be a key differentiator for your application. However, you should avoid making generic statements, such as “I want to join your esteemed company”. Make sure anything you say about an organisation is relevant to them and based on the research you have undertaken.

Your cover letter should demonstrate to the reader that you have the key skills and experience relevant to the particular role. You can do this by providing specific examples, tailored to the requirements listed in the job description, of when you have demonstrated these from your own experience to date. Choose three or four of these relevant examples that each tell a story about your skills, experience or traits and provided a positive outcome for the stakeholders involved in the situation.

These examples could come from any part of your life, as long as they are relevant. Newly qualified pharmacists will likely use examples from their pharmacy placements, academia, part-time work and also extra-curricular activities, in order to demonstrate a range of skills. A more experienced pharmacist candidate would generally choose examples from their work history because it is the most relevant. However, sometimes it is appropriate to bring in other examples, such as voluntary work.

Always try to use an active voice when explaining your achievements, because this serves to make the reader feel that you were in control in these situations. Additionally, try to avoid making vague or generic statements that could apply to any applicant.

If an achievement is strong enough to be included in your cover letter, it should be repeated on your CV. Try not to repeat examples word-for-word on both documents — instead, try to interpret them differently. Sometimes, due to time constraints, the hiring manager may bypass your cover letter and go straight to your CV, which could mean they miss your best examples. In addition, repetition will serve to reinforce these key messages like a sales brochure would, which is, in essence, what your CV and cover letter are.

In your final paragraph, thank the reader for taking the time to read your application and summarise why you feel you are a good fit for the role, based on your skills and experience. State how and when you can be contacted with regards to arranging an interview and then make sure you are available when you say you will be.

Sign off the letter professionally with “Yours sincerely” (to a specific person) or “Yours faithfully” (to an unnamed person), followed by your name.

Formatting your letter

In terms of format, a cover letter is usually written as a traditional letter, laid out in paragraphs. It is different to your CV, which is an abbreviated document that uses various techniques to draw the eye to the most important parts quickly and make the document as succinct as possible. In your cover letter, keep your language concise and purposeful. To achieve this, you may need to redraft your letter several times.

The grammar, spelling and formatting of your cover letter is just as important as the content of the document, so make sure it is perfect. Particularly, ensure you have spelt names and company names correctly and there are no typing errors. Research from student recruitment website StudentGems.com suggests half of employers discard job applications that contain spelling or formatting errors.

Choose a standard, well known and professional font, such as Arial, Verdana, Calibri, Times New Roman or Trebuchet. This will make the letter easier to read and will also support applicant tracking systems that may not be able to pick up lesser-known fonts. Keep your font size between 10 and 12 for ease of reading.

Through my own experience of recruiting pharmacists, I have observed that the standard of today’s pharmacy job applications is generally quite poor. If you spend time putting together a strong application, which includes an excellent cover letter, then it will stand out to an employer and increase your chances of securing the role.

[1] The company has since rebranded as  www.charitypeople.co.uk and the research is no longer available online.

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3 Pharmacist Cover Letter Examples That Worked in 2024

• Pharmacist Cover Letter
• Hospital Pharmacist Cover Letter
• Clinical Pharmacist Cover Letter
• Write Your Pharmacist Cover Letter

Administered prescribed medications? Answering customers’ questions about their scripts or co-pays? Switching between managing stock, answering phone calls, and assisting customers at the desk, you do a lot!

So, how do you make a cover letter that conveys all your capabilities and supplements your pharmacist resume ? How do you showcase which traits are best to spotlight as a pharmacist?

Don’t worry; we’ll help sort this out before you know it. We’ve spent years helping healthcare professionals like you and have created three pharmacist cover letter examples for you!

Pharmacist Cover Letter Example

USE THIS TEMPLATE

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Copy this text for your pharmacist cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Columbus, OH 43004 (123) 456-7890

August 20, 2023

Harper Clark Cardinal Health 123 Fictional Lane Columbus, OH 43004

Dear Mr. Clark,

Cardinal Health’s commitment to excellence, whether through the distribution of life-saving pharmaceuticals or innovative healthcare solutions, has caught my attention. Your proven record of enhancing patient outcomes through unwavering dedication reflects your multiple accolades. I’m eager to leverage my solid experience to deliver the same level of dedication as a pharmacist.

At Riverside Methodist Hospital, I handled an average of 113 complex prescriptions while maintaining an error of less than 1.3%. Careful consideration of each patient’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs helped improve therapeutic outcomes by 34%. At Mount Carmel Health System, I streamlined a system for prescription review, achieving a commendable reduction of 73% in medication errors within its first year.

I’m driven by the mission to innovate and advance healthcare, guided by a blend of operational prudence, data-driven insights, and a passion for making a heartfelt difference. our pioneering work bridging clinical and operational aspects to deliver healthcare solutions aligns seamlessly with my dedicated professional journey.

The prospect of contributing to your tireless endeavors to address healthcare’s most intricate challenges in the pharmacist role is satisfying. I look forward to discussing this position further.

Sincerely, Leila Ghafari

Enclosures: Resume Application 2 letters of recommendation

Why this cover letter works

• Including an exciting anecdote or two from previous workplaces is a great way to inject personality into your cover letter, elevating your odds of landing an interview.

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Pair Your Cover Letter with a Matching Pharmacist Resume

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Hospital Pharmacist Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your hospital pharmacist cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32034 (123) 456-7890

Ava Lewis UF Health Jacksonville 123 Fictional Lane Jacksonville, FL 32034

Dear Ms. Lewis:

I knew I had to apply for the hospital pharmacist position at UF Health Jacksonville when I got details about your impressive history of over 150 years of service to the community. Your unwavering commitment to fostering hope, healing, and brighter tomorrows for those in need deeply resonates with my professional values.

At Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital, I championed IV therapy protocols for a diverse group of patients receiving complex medication regimens. Optimizing dose adjustments and monitoring drug therapy outcomes helped reduce adverse drug events by 37% and shorten hospital stays by 21%. I also educated healthcare professionals and patients about proper medication usage and potential drug interactions.

While at Baptist Medical Center, I assisted the interdisciplinary healthcare team in identifying potential therapeutic targets, monitoring drug efficacy, and avoiding toxicity. Adhering to TDM best practices, we improved medication adherence by 31% and decreased medication-related complications by 17%.

My expertise in clinical pharmacokinetics enabled my team at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital to optimize medication therapy for critically ill patients. Through precise adjustments and close monitoring of individual patient responses, we achieved a 26% reduction in medication errors and a 33% improvement in overall clinical outcomes.

As a passionate advocate for patient care and medication safety, I’m confident in my ability to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing mission of UF Health Jacksonville to improve the health of the community. Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to discussing my qualifications further.

Eleni Katsaros

• It helps to supplement that positive first impression with instances where your pharmacy skills effected positive outcomes in your previous roles.

Clinical Pharmacist Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your clinical pharmacist cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Atlanta, GA 30033 (123) 456-7890

Mia Moore Correct Care Solutions 123 Fictional Lane Atlanta, GA 30033

Dear Ms. Moore:

Just as I have always been inspired by the complexity of the human body, especially how medications interact within it, my fascination with pharmacy has morphed into a drive for effective care delivery in underserved settings. My Doctorate in Pharmacy, combined with specialized skills like medication therapy management (MTM) and pharmacotherapy consultation, cultivated my desire to support a specialty care leader like Correct Care Solutions as a clinical pharmacist.

During my tenure at Regional Medical Group, I led the development of MTM services for diverse patient clusters. Through this, I witnessed an impressive surge of 27% in medication adherence and a reduction of 19% in adverse drug events. My experience with DUE has proven invaluable in managing drug regimens. It manifested in over 63 triumphs where suboptimal therapies were identified and rectified in medical establishments like Riverwoods.

In addition to my clinical skills, I have collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to optimize patient-centered care. My work at Peach Hospital helped enhance pharmacotherapy consultations, leading to a 17% improvement in patient outcomes within a year. The meticulous monitoring and evaluation procedures of my team helped set a new standard of patient care and, as a bonus, aided in the reduction of medication costs.

Correct Care Solutions’ stellar reputation for delivering unrivaled healthcare to underserved populations aligns with my career aspiration. I’m drawn to your influential work and long to incorporate my clinical pharmacy skills to pioneer various strategies for uplifting these marginalized communities and creating wider victories for your team.

The opportunity to discuss this prospect further is something I’m fervently looking forward to. Thank you for considering my application.

Mateo Rodriguez

• Complement your previous achievements with concrete numbers. It’s a solid testament to your ability to perform well.

Related cover letter examples

• Medical assistant
• Customer service
• Executive assistant

How to Write Your Ideal Pharmacist Cover Letter

You don’t want to sound like you’re applying for just any pharmacist role: You want to show the company where you’re applying that you’re interested in working with them . To do this, you’ll have to create a cover letter tailored to the job description .

Take a look at what sets the workplace apart from other stores or clinics, and adjust the vibe of your cover letter around that. It shows you care!

Writing the greeting and your introduction

Just like you (probably!) wouldn’t send a relative a letter without greeting them by name, you shouldn’t send a “Dear Sir or Madam” cover letter. Do some research and figure out who you’re writing to, and greet them professionally!

You also want to treat this person to an interesting opening paragraph summarizing why you’re such an excellent pharmacist. Include a couple of defining traits that align with the company’s values, and state a couple of qualifications.

Last but not least, leave ’em with a hook! After stating that you’re a great fit for the job, mention something broader that leaves the reader wanting to know more about your pharmaceutical knowledge . . .

. . . Unlike this:

I’d love working for your company as the pharmacist. Read on to learn more about stuff I can do.

Make sure you use a formal greeting, like this one, and give precise examples of the claims you make:

This one’s for the win!

Just as I have always been inspired by the complexity of the human body, especially how medications interact within it, my fascination with pharmacy has morphed into a drive for effective care delivery in underserved settings. My Doctorate in Pharmacy, combined with specialized skills like MTM and pharmacotherapy consultation, cultivated my desire to support a specialty care leader like Correct Care Solutions as a clinical pharmacist.

Writing the body (your cover letter’s anatomy)

As a pharmacist, you’ll want to address your formal schooling and clinical accomplishments in your cover letter. Your letter should tell a story about what makes you the perfect pharmacist to fill your dream role.

Keep in mind that you have to fill the company’s idea of a dream candidate, too! So, whenever you customize your cover letter to the company, reference their values and specific skills they call for in their job ad .

In terms of metrics to back up each paragraph’s qualifying point, focus on success percentages and error eliminations that can be measured in hard numbers—but numbers that focus on patient success.

Example of a quality body paragraph

In addition to my clinical skills, I have collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to optimize patient-centered care. My work at Peach Hospital helped enhance pharmacotherapy consultations, leading to a 17% improvement in patient outcomes within a year. The meticulous monitoring and evaluation procedures my team helped set a new standard of patient care and, as a bonus, aided in the reduction of medication costs.

Closing and signing off on your cover letter

Every good story needs a conclusion, but also that little spark at the very end to leave the reader wondering what might be next! Sum up those qualifications with a quick mention or two of how you align with the company vision.

Then, follow up with a call to action. Invite the recipient of your cover letter to contact you for more information so that you can provide more insight on what makes you such a great pharmacist.

Mind your manners, too! Always thank the reader, whether that’s in your closer paragraph or as part of your professional signoff. In other words, don’t make it like this:

It’s cool you read this I really want to get a job soon so I hope you liked it.

Try a closer that’s more like this one! You can keep things streamlined and professionally formatted while still hitting key points like gratitude, enthusiasm, and an invitation for future contact:

Way better:

I’m excited about the prospect of contributing to your tireless endeavors to address healthcare’s most intricate challenges in the pharmacist role. I look forward to discussing this position with you in more detail.

Leila Ghafari

We really don’t recommend trying to work your way around the one-page rule! Trust us. Recruiters and hiring managers really prefer shorter cover letters and resumes, even for fields like pharmacy.

The best way for you to stick out in memory and increase your chances of that interview call is to demonstrate an understanding of the company. What’s the clinic’s company culture like? What kind of store chain are you applying to? Reflect these answers in each customized cover letter .

You don’t technically need to include a physical address on your cover letter since so many applications are digital! Just make sure you address the letter using the person’s name, and you’re probably good.