The dentist’s guide to writing a job-winning cover letter
The dental industry is highly competitive, with many applicants searching for the best positions and openings. As a dentist, it is essential for you to showcase your industry knowledge and expertise in a well-written cover letter to win the job of your dreams.
In this guide, we will teach you how to write a job-winning cover letter as a dentist. Keep reading to learn all about:
- Why you need a well-formatted cover letter header & headline
- How to tailor your cover letter for the role of a dentist
- What to say in your dentist cover letter introduction
- How to describe your key skills & accomplishments as a dentist
- What to include in the concluding statement of your dentist cover letter
1. Why you need compeling dentist cover letter header & headline
When applying for a position as a dentist, professionalism is key.
Although the content of your cover letter is certainly important, the first key step is to give your letter a strong sense of structure and visual flow by creating a cover letter header and headline.
Your cover letter header comes first and should include:
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information
- The name of the company and department you are applying to
- The address of the company (especially if you are physically sending the letter through the mail or if the company has multiple locations)
Here is an example of a well-formatted dentist header
John Doe, Professional Dentist
(123) 456-7890 | johndoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/john-doe
To: Shining Smiles Dental, Dentist’s Department
1234 Street Address
Chattanooga, TN 37405
With your header in place, the next key element to focus on is your cover letter headline – a short and compelling title statement used to hook an employer’s attention. A good headline will include a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of an effective headline from a dentist’s cover letter
My Proven Track Record of Patient Satisfaction as a Dentist & How It Will Benefit Your Dental Office
Trigger Word/Number: Proven Track Record
Keyword: Dentist, Patient Satisfaction
Adjective/Verb: Proven, Benefit
Promise: Your Dental Office – this detail informs the employer that your cover letter is highly relevant to their open position.
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2. How to tailor your cover letter for the role of a dentist
Applying for jobs in the dental industry can be highly competitive, making it crucial for you to take the necessary steps to make your cover letter stand out to employers.
To achieve this, you need to tailor your cover letter for the specific job you are applying to. This requires you to complete a good bit of research on the company before applying but can be incredibly advantageous at getting you to the next stage of the hiring process.
When researching, look for key information such as:
- The language, values, and goals of the company. This information will help you to write a cover letter that shows why you are a good fit for the company.
- Current projects, programs, or initiatives the company is involved in. You can use this information to describe how your qualifications can contribute to the company’s current needs.
- The staff member at the company who will review your letter and application. Use this to create a personalized greeting that addresses a specific person by name.
Personalized greetings are especially important, as they immediately show the employer the level of research you have completed and your excellent attention to detail.
Here are 3 examples of personalized dentist cover letter greetings
- Dear Dr. Jane Smith D.D.S.,
- Dear Dr. Jane Smith,
- Dear Dr. Jane Smith & the Dental Team,
Pro Tip: When including an honorific such as D.D.S. or D.M.D, make sure you are using the correct one for the person you are speaking to. If you are unsure, stick to using just the Dr. honorific.
3. What to say in your excellent dentist cover letter introduction
The introductory paragraph of your dentist cover letter is incredibly important, as it can be the deciding factor of whether or not the employer continues reading.
As such, your introduction should include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and specializations
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible) – including a mutual acquaintance is a power move that helps you stand out from the competition. If you lack a mutual acquaintance, try connecting with relevant professionals on LinkedIn to build your professional network.
Here is an example of a well-written introduction from a dentist’s cover letter
Dear Dr. Jane Smith,
I am a D.D.S. with more than 8 years of experience performing dental surgeries. My colleague and mentor, Dr. Joe King, is a member of your office’s dental association and recommended I apply for this opening due to my high level of surgical experience. After reviewing your company’s mission statement and values, I believe I am the perfect addition to your team.
4. How to describe your key skills & accomplishments as a dentist
Describing your key skills and accomplishments as a dentist is key, as this shows the employer not just your experience but also your level of success and achievement within previous positions.
As you describe your skills and accomplishments, always use specific and quantifiable details whenever possible. This helps to show the real-life value you have to offer to a dental office, as well as gives excellent insight into your core competencies and abilities.
Here are 6 dentist skills that are great to describe in a cover letter:
- Knowledge of dental technology trends
- Surgical consultations and procedures
- Dental diagnostics and treatment plans
- Oral health examinations
- Patient care consultations
- Empathetic and active listening
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a dentist cover letter
As a dentist at [Former Employer], I worked directly with a team of more than 15 dental hygienists to create a new consultation and support program for patients suffering from gingivitis. After the implementation of this program, patients displayed a 35% decrease in disease severity. Additionally, patients expressed a 90% satisfaction rate with the new consultation program.
5. What to include in the concluding statement of your dentist cover letter
To conclude your dentist cover letter, you need a memorable closing statement that includes:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- How and when the employer can best contact your
- When you plan to reach back out regarding your application
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a strong closing statement from a dentist’s cover letter
I am eager to get to know you and your team better, and to contribute my years of expertise to the benefit of your clientele. I look forward to hearing from you within the next week and can be best reached at (123) 456-7890 any weekday during normal business hours. If I have not heard back by next Wednesday, I will reach back out to check on the status of my application.
Warm Regards,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
