Make an Instant Impact with a Great Cover Letter

You may have a brilliant CV, but submitting a poor cover letter with your application can pretty much ruin your chances of getting a great pharmaceutical job.

Your cover letter can sometimes be the only opportunity you get to tell the employer exactly why your CV is worth a read and why YOU are the perfect person for that pharma job.

Here are a few handy hints to ensure your cover letter stands out from the rest:

• Research the company/pharmaceutical industry: By doing your research you are actively demonstrating to the employer that you are serious about this pharmaceutical jobs. During your research, it is a good idea to focus on the following:
  • What is the organisation’s mission and values? Do you believe in it?
  • What are the organisation’s target market?
  • What is the history of the employer?

 These are all questions which will be useful when preparing for your interview also.

• Analyse the pharmaceutical job description: Keep an eye out for the key competencies and experience necessary for the pharma role – do you fit the criteria? 
• Personalise your cover letter: It is vital that throughout the letter you align your accomplishments and achievements with the criteria of the pharmaceutical job. You need to assure the reader that you are a great match! 
• Keep it brief and to the point: Don’t extend the letter to more than 1 A4 page. Think about using bullet points and highlighting to make important points stand out. 
• Check, check and check again: Submitting a cover letter that is littered with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors will ensure it goes straight in the bin. Use a spell checker AND get a trusted friend, or a CK Clinical consultant to check it over for you.  

Not sure how to structure your cover letter? Here’s how…

• Include your address in the top right-hand corner.
• Address the reader: ‘Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss…’ Always address the letter to the decision maker in charge of the pharmaceutical role.  If you are unsure who it is, the HR department will always help you.
• Paragraph 1: Clearly state your intention to apply for the pharmaceutical job, including any references numbers you have been given. If you are not applying for any specific job, and simply inquiring, ask if the company has any pharmaceutical openings and present and then state why you would like to work for that company.
• Paragraph 2: Outline your qualifications and experience and then match them to the requirements of the pharmaceutical job you are applying for (these will be found in the job description). Go on to demonstrate your motivation and enthusiasm to help the pharma company achieve their goals within the industry. This is where the research you conducted about the company will come in handy. Impress the employer and show off your research here!
• Paragraph 3: It is a good idea to end with a positive statement here. Then go on direct the reader to your enclosed CV and inform them of your availability for interview. Finally, thank the reader for their time and consideration and welcome them to get in touch to discuss the pharmaceutical job in more detail.
• Conclude with:
  •  ‘Yours Sincerely’ – if you have addressed the letter to the named contact
  • ‘Yours Faithfully’ – if you have used ‘Dear Sir/Madam’

       Then sign your name.