Occupational Therapy cover letter example

Occupational therapy takes on a whole different meaning for professionals in that field pursuing a job change. From a more introspective angle than you take when helping others attain their everyday living goals, an occupational therapist cover letter is vitally important to your own career success. For that kind of help and support, Resume.io is the right place to turn.

Whether you are looking at the physical or mental suitability for a role, occupational therapists should be intimately tuned in to their clients. This focus can show through in a personality-led cover letter, whereas a resume is more factual and dry. Share the difference that you have made in your work.

As a leading provider of job-winning resources, we’ve created dozens of occupation-specific writing guides and free cover letter examples. Our experts also offer formatting advice, plus field-tested templates and builder tools to help you create the most common application documents.

This cover letter writing guide, along with an occupational therapist cover letter example, will discuss:

• The best format to make a cover letter sample attractive and friendly
• Optimal impact of each cover letter part: header, greeting, introduction, body and conclusion
• Writing psychology used in our occupational therapist cover letter example
• Common mistakes to avoid in a cover letter sample

Best format for an occupational therapist cover letter

Now that you’re set to start writing your occupational therapist cover letter, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed. The basic structure and a few visual formatting tips will simplify the task.

Like any letter, it can be broken into parts, which we’ll guide you through one at a time. The sum of those parts will add up to an inviting-to-read “handshake” with your potential employer. 

Following our advice for each section will ensure you say just enough without going overboard. Be strict about keeping your cover letter short — 300 to 400 words is perfect. The single-page rule takes into account a large enough font size, with generous enough margins and line spacing to be easy on the reader’s eyes and brain.

Step by step, we’ll be creating an occupational therapist cover letter with these components:

• Cover letter header
• Cover letter greeting / salutation
• Cover letter introduction
• Cover letter middle paragraphs (body)
• Cover letter closing (conclusion and sign-off).

Here is an adaptable cover letter example for an occupational therapist that you can customize for your own version, tailored to the position and employer:

Cover letter header

The header of your occupational therapist cover letter should be visually eye-pleasing, but not for the sake of decoration. On the contrary, its purpose is to attract, not distract, the reader’s attention for all the right reasons.

• A well-designed header leaves no room for doubt or confusion about who your cover letter belongs to. Your name, occupation and contact information are prominently displayed at the top, so anyone involved in the recruiting process – possibly including HR and allied health professional staff in different offices — can readily trace it to you and know how to reach you.
• The thought and effort you put into a distinctively original-looking cover letter will likely not go unnoticed or unappreciated. It shows you care about seemingly little details that can make a big difference. In this case, you care enough about the time and energy of recruiters pouring over dozens of job applications to reward them with your more reader-friendly version.

You can include your city and state of residence, but you don't need to include your full address. There may be data protection issues here - you can share this at offer stage. Including the inside address of the employer is also somewhat of a waste of space. Use that one page wisely!

Goal of the cover letter header: Visually attract interest from hiring managers that sets you apart from other job applicants, conveying attention to detail and high quality. 

Cover letter greeting

In the cover letter greeting, it’s important to identify the appropriate recipient — the office or department manager, HR recruiter or someone else most closely involved in hiring decisions – and address your cover letter to them.

You can’t go wrong with “Dear Mr. / Ms. / Dr. Surname,” which never goes out of style. “Greetings” or “Hello” instead of “Dear” is only okay if you’re certain it suits the workplace. Otherwise, take no chances and err on the formal side. The same goes for addressing the recipient by first name — don’t, unless you happen to know each other.

Failing your attempts to find out the hiring manager’s name or job title, avoid “To Whom it May Concern'' even as a last resort. Any of these generic alternatives are better: “Dear <Office Name Team” or “Dear Occupational Therapist Hiring Team.” 

Goal of the cover letter greeting: Start off on a professional note while making a direct personal connection with the employer, addressing the recipient by name.

Cover letter introduction

The introduction of your occupational therapist cover letter has one instant goal: to grab the employer’s attention. It’s a three-pronged hook:

1. Launch your pitch for being a standout occupational therapist.
2. Express your keen interest in this particular opportunity and employer, reflecting what you know firsthand or have investigated.
3. Touch on backstory highlights and aspirations that fit directly with what you know this employer needs and wants.

On all three counts, your introductory content only offers high-level insights — just enough to intrigue recruiters so they know where you are coming from. But don’t go overboard. Leave the reader wanting more in transitioning to your next cover letter section.

Your language and tone should be authentic, conversational and professional. Sound energetic and confident, but not aggressive or pushy. 

Goal of the cover letter introduction: Grab and hold the attention of hiring managers with a compelling preview of your qualifications that motivates them to read more.

Cover letter body

This section of your occupational therapist cover letter, literally, is an occupational showcase. The spotlight is on what makes you a lucky find for recruiters, matching your qualifications to what this employer needs for its patients or clients. You know exactly what that is from the advertised job description and researching the hiring organization. 

Single out several of the most relevant and impressive accomplishments from your resume, but without rehashing them in the same manner. Be sure not to overlook or downplay the soft skills that add depth and texture to your effectiveness as an occupational therapist.

Add context that will impress and resonate with your future boss by citing benefits to past employers in measurable terms: cost, efficiency, quality of care and patient outcomes. Don’t hesitate to share anecdotes in taking this success story angle, especially if they cast a poignant light on memorable career and personal moments. Above all, make connections with the life-changing impact of your work on people you have helped.

Goal of the cover letter body: Illustrate how this employer would benefit from your commitment to successful, life-changing outcomes as an occupational therapist.

Cover letter closing 

It’s almost time to end your cover letter, with one final affirmation that you’re the best occupational therapist for the job. Simply reinforce your greatest asset to this employer and add a word of thanks for the recruiter’s attention. Then close with an upbeat call to action that leaves nothing up in the air. At the very least indicate how much you look forward to a response. Perhaps ask if you could follow up in a week or so to arrange a possible interview. Imply some expectation of further contact. Find your own non-obnoxious way to leave the recipient feeling less comfortable setting your cover letter aside and forgetting about it.

Last, simply sign off with “Sincerely,” Best regards,” or “Best,” above your name. 

Goal of the cover letter closing: End on a positive, self-assured note with a call to action that ideally results in an interview.

Occupational therapist cover letter with no experience

If you are starting out on the occupational therapy career path and do not have so much experience, do not worry. There are plenty of transferable skills that you should be able to demonstrate. People will be taken on at lower levels of occupational therapy while they are studying for their qualifications, so if you don't ask, you don't get. You never quite know the needs of any given employer. Maybe they are looking for someone that is just starting out - check with the job description to make sure that you are not wasting your time, though. If you are budding occupational therapist with no experience, consider the following:

1. Always lead with any medical / psychology experience - being a people person is not enough.
2. Show that you are dedicated to the profession and on a path of learning towards it.
3. Say what you want the role and be specific about the part of OT that interests you.
4. Do your research into the organization that you wish to join. What is their culture like?

Writing psychology — the person inside the professional

Perhaps better than professionals in many other fields, occupational therapists can appreciate the psychological nuances of communication that hits the mark, on and off the job. For your cover letter to resonate with recipients as intended, imagine sitting at their desk momentarily and seeking a heart-and-soul glimpse into every job applicant’s personality and compatibility with the hiring organization. In the midst of countless other cover letters from equally qualified candidates, along with many more stand-alone resumes, what would make your cover letter captivating right away and impossible to set aside after reading?

Inspiration might come from the origins of occupational therapy itself in ancient Greek philosophical times. What drew you to the modern version of this holistic, client-centered health care specialty? What personal strengths do you bring to bear helping people optimize their quality of life? Where do they fit with the employer’s needs and core values? Consider the psychological impact on whoever is reading answers to questions like this in your cover letter.

Common mistakes to avoid in an occupational therapist cover letter

Now that your occupational therapist cover letter is drafted, we can’t overemphasize this final piece of advice: take time for error-proofing! Ideally, enlist someone who is objective and qualified to look it over.

Just like arguably the worst mistake of skipping a cover letter altogether, all of the most commonly encountered pitfalls when submitting one are preventable. Be sure not to:

• Send the same generic cover letter sample with multiple job applications.
• Waste valuable space with over-used clichés and fluff that add no value.
• Downplay your soft skills and personality.
• Ignore typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical gaffes, which apps like Grammarly and old fashioned proofreading were invented to eliminate.
• Overlook flawed design and formatting, which can be avoided by using a professional template.

Key takeaways

1. Occupational therapy is a favored career choice with exceptionally strong future job prospects.
2. A well-crafted occupational therapist cover letter gives you an edge over other qualified candidates for a job interview. It provides insights into your personality, passion, perspective and purpose that your resume alone cannot convey.
3. Each cover letter section has its own objective in making a favorable first and lasting impression on hiring managers.
4. A visually attractive design and reader-friendly formatting demonstrate your professionalism and regard for detail. Using a field-tested template relieves you of the guesswork and time-consuming aspects for expert results.
5. The most common cover letter mistakes can be avoided by giving yourself time to proofread.