Title Tips

Make your name big and make it noticeable (in a professional way). When I’m looking at 30+ applications, you want your name to make a statement on the page so that when they’re all spread out in front of me, yours continues to show me your name.

Have your font/colors from your resume match your cover letter. They should be sisters, not friends. 

DEFINITELY list your phone number and email address below your name. If you’re scrunched for space, get rid of your address. It is typically listed on cover letters, however, I won’t be reaching out to you using your address – it will be your phone number or email that I’ll be looking for.

Address/Greeting

You’re going to want each individual cover letter to be different for each hospital that you apply to. This is time consuming, but very doable. You should list the hospital’s address at the top of the page above the greeting (like below). For your greeting, if you have a name that you’re sending the application to (such as the internship or practicum coordinator), address the coordinator personally (i.e., “Dear Ms. Lewin,). If you don’t, then just start with the specific hospital information.

Ms. Jessica Lewin (Name)
Title (i.e., Child Life Internship Coordinator)
Hospital
123 Hospital Road
Hospital City, HS, 54321

Body of the Cover Letter

Paragraph 1: What are you applying for? Why do you want to be at this particular hospital? What about this hospital resonates with you? What would make you want to intern there?
**You want to make the hospital believe that you are ONLY applying for their hospital and that you are very committed to their program because of what they offer.

Paragraphs 2 and 3: What skills or traits do you possess that would make you a prime candidate? Find one experience, skill, or trait and build a paragraph around it (do the same for paragraph 3).
**Bonus points if you can use traits/skills you’d need to be a good child life specialist. After all, that’s what your end goal is, right?

Paragraph 4: Summarize your skills, experiences, or traits you’ve elaborated on throughout the cover letter. Thank them for their time and provide your contact information should they wish to schedule an interview.

EXAMPLE:

“Based on my ________, ________, and ________ I believe I would make an excellent intern at _________ Hospital. You may contact me for any questions or to schedule an interview at (insert phone number) or (insert email). Thank you for the consideration.” 

Closing Statement

“Sincerely” is always safe. Make sure you space down a couple spaces in order to fit your actual, physical signature on your cover letter and your typed name underneath that.

*Make sure you physically sign your signature with a pen – do not just leave it typed!* 

Cover Letter Info To Know:

• Cover letters should only be 3-4 paragraphs at the most; you need not share every detail – save some details for you to expand on during the interview process
• Your cover letter should be single-spaced with spaces left in between your paragraphs
• Your font type should be the same as your resume
• Font size should be no less than 10-point font
• Read your cover letter out loud in order to ensure you’re not missing any spelling errors
• Make sure you are sending the correct information to each hospital – nothing looks worse than stating in your opening paragraph that you’re excited to be  applying for their “fall internship” when you’re actually applying for their “summer practicum.“ 
• When sending applications through email, make sure you save your resume AND cover letter as a PDF to ensure that when they open it, it will open the same way you saved it on your computer. If they’re still working with Microsoft Word 1994 and open up your beautifully laid out 2018 Microsoft Word cover letter, it may look different for them and ultimately will look jumbled and not at all the way you intended to send it. Saving as a PDF ensures you’re both looking at the same application.
• There will be edits each time you apply! Slow down and read your work.