Your job application’s cover letter is incredibly important. It serves as an introduction to who you are and what you can do, as well as what you’ve done in the past. Without a good cover letter, your resume, no matter how impressive, may not even get a first glance (let alone a second)..
We recently shared the dos and don’ts of writing a medical sales cover letter. Now, it’s time to apply them to your job search. Remember, your cover letter should be less than one page because while cover letters are important, recruiters do not spend very long reading them. It’s crucial to share as much information as possible in as brief a manner as you can.
Here is a cover letter template for landing your next role in medical sales:
Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself
Lead by identifying the role you’re interested in and why it attracted you. This should be very straightforward and just one sentence. Then, tie your “why” to one of your key traits that makes you the most qualified person for the role.
For example:
I’m excited to apply for your medical sales rep role because it includes X and Y responsibilities. I am the perfect person for that position because of my years of experience with Z.
Paragraphs 2-3: Showcase your Experiences
After introducing yourself, quickly transition into discussing three to four experiences that show skills noted in the job description. These should be brief, digestible stories that explain why you fit the job.
Each experience should demonstrate how you’ve directly benefited a company’s sales goals in the past and how you plan to apply the experience to this role in the future. Since medical sales reps can make up to $198,000 a year, depending on their specific field, you need to show that you can sell their products. Use this as an outline for each experience:
In my role as a medical sales rep at Medical Sales Company, I did A and B, which made me a top earner. I can apply those experiences to this C and D in the job description for this role.
Things to consider including are how much time you’ve previously spent in the field (since around 60% of all medical sales representatives spend quite a bit of time out of the office), as well as any education that you’ve received, as over 95% of all people working in this field have at least a bachelor’s degree. It’s important that you show that you qualify for the job, while selling yourself as the best candidate.
Once you’ve outlined each experience you want to showcase, make sure the language is varied and you proofread this section. Despite all of the examples you’ve shared, it’s important to be as concise as possible so you don’t lose the recruiter’s interest.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion and Call to Action
The last critical step is to wrap up your cover letter with a conclusion and call to action. Restate your interest and why you’re the perfect person for the job. Then for your call to action, express your hopes to further discuss your qualifications in an interview at the recruiter’s earliest convenience.
All of my A and B experiences make me confident that I will be a great medical sales rep at your company. I look forward to discussing my qualifications soon.
Keep it this simple, remember the do’s and don’ts, and you’ll have the perfect cover letter!