Looking for an OT job with better pay, hours, or benefits? An occupational therapist cover letter that puts you a cut above the competition will help you on your way.
All the daily challenges of being an occupational therapist suddenly feel worth it when a patient progresses.
Get that feeling every day: land a job with an employer that appreciates your talent by writing an outstanding occupational therapy cover letter to match your resume.
In this article, you’ll get:
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Harrison Barrett
Licensed Occupational Therapist
770-684-6658
harrison.barrett@reslab.com
Seattle, 05/20/2023
Ariel Fleming
Hiring Manager
Seaview Medical Center
Seattle, WA 94245
Dear Ms. Fleming,
As a licensed occupational therapist with 8+ years of experience looking to move into an inpatient role, I was thrilled to see the job opening at Seaview Medical Center. While at Shoreline Health, I managed caseloads of up to 50 patients with consistently positive results. I’m eager to apply my skills and expertise towards providing the highest standard of care to Seaview Medical Center’s long-term care patients.
I gather you are looking for someone who can not only carry out existing treatment plans but also develop OT programs while considering individual patients’ needs and goals. I’m happy to report that in previous roles, I was able to achieve the following:
As it happens, I’ve been waiting for a suitable opening at Seaview to appear. I deeply admire your Center’s dedication to providing holistic, all-encompassing care that places the well-being of each patient at the heart of everything it does. OT is most effective when combined with a broader health plan, and I would cherish the opportunity to become an asset to your multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Would you be available for a call sometime next week? I’d love to discuss this role and the skills I can offer to Seaview Medical Center in more detail.
Best regards,
Harrison Barrett
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Harrison should have no trouble getting an interview, right?
And neither will you—
Let’s go over your own cover letter’s treatment plan. It won’t hurt a bit!
If you haven’t finished your resume or are looking for ways to improve it, check out this article later: Occupational Therapy Resume—Full Guide & Examples.
Occupational therapists help injured or disabled patients to recover the skills they need in their daily lives. OTs assess patients and then develop and implement treatment plans. An occupational therapy cover letter should outline how your experience has prepared you to succeed in this role.
Here’s how to write an OT cover letter just like that:
Before the recruiter even reads your cover letter, they’ll form an immediate impression based on how it looks—
Make sure it’s a good one by following these cover letter formatting tips:
Alright—
Now that your cover letter looks professional and ready to win jobs let’s see how to fill it with impressive content!
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Patients sure appreciate it when you remember their names, right? It’s this kind of personal attention that distinguishes professionals who genuinely care.
The same principle can apply to your cover letter greeting—no one likes to be called ‘Dear Sir/Madam,’ but most people will appreciate seeing their name in your application.
So, address your cover letter directly to the person reading it. If the job ad doesn’t mention the name of whoever’s responsible for recruitment at the organization, research online or simply call and ask.
Then, in the opening paragraph of your cover letter, grab their attention by mentioning a professional accomplishment that shows your value from a mile away, ensuring that they keep reading!
Expert hint: If you specialize in one area of OT and your specialty matches the job you’re applying for, mention it immediately—you’ll stand out from other candidates with more general experience.
In the second paragraph of your cover letter, do your experience justice—
Outline a few of your most relevant accomplishments that match the job. For ideas on what to include in your cover letter, look at the job advertisement—it should mention the skills and experience the employer is looking for. Select the most applicable tasks and accomplishments from your professional history to show that you’re the perfect match for the job.
You can use bullet points if you want—it will help you save some precious space on the page and give your cover letter a more organized look. Include numbers to quantify your achievements when possible and provide them with some context.
The BLS predicts around 10,100 occupational therapist openings annually in the U.S. alone in this decade. That’s a lot of jobs—
Why do you want this particular one?
In the third paragraph of your cover letter, outline your motivation behind applying. Try to focus on neutral topics (not money or convenience) like the organization’s values, achievements, approach to care, or opportunities for growth it offers to its OTs. If you’re unsure what to say, research their website and pick a thing or two that you like about them.
Although complimenting the company helps here, that’s not the whole point—the reason your motivation is important is because it lets the recruiter know you’re in it for the long haul. Hiring a new employee is costly and time-consuming, so every employer will prefer candidates who appear willing to stay for a few years.
Nearly there, and look at the progress you’ve made!
End your cover letter with an offer to discuss your skills further—it lets the reader know there’s even more you can offer the company. If you’re confident, ask for a meeting or call outright—it won’t hurt and might work!
Once you’ve finished, include a formal closing—like Best regards or Yours sincerely. Sign your cover letter with your full name, and if you can, include a digital signature for an extra-professional look.
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Here’s a quick recap of how to write an effective occupational therapy cover letter:
Thanks for reading! Do you have any questions about writing your occupational therapist cover letter? Perhaps you don’t think a cover letter for occupational therapy jobs is necessary? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!
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Caio is an expert in professional development and holds a certification in resume writing. He has accumulated 4+ years of experience in this field. His approach is to merge entertainment concepts with resumes, thus making your application more captivating.
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