Pharmacy assistants are front-line health-care workers – experts in providing customer service, dispensing medications, counting pills, labeling bottles – almost all the same things licensed pharmacists do. It takes a buttoned-down mind, attention to detail and good people skills – all of which will come in handy in preparing that essential job-application document: a pharmacy assistant cover letter.
This writing guide, along with our pharmacy assistant cover letter example, will address everything you need to know about how to craft this essential pitch:
- The best format for a pharmacy assistant cover letter
- The six critical elements of a winning cover letter
- Common mistakes to avoid
Resume.io is a leading provider of all kinds of job-search advice and assistance, including 125+ cover letter examples and writing guides, so you’ve come to the right place.
Best format for a pharmacy assistant cover letter
To get the format of your cover letter right, first consider the structure, the basic framework. A pharmacy assistant cover letter should be one page only, a maximum of 400 words, and it should include these six crucial elements:
- Cover letter header
- Greeting/salutation
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
- Sign-off and signature
Proper format also involves issues of design and layout. Your cover letter needs a clean, professional look that’s pleasing to the eye at a glance. You need to use an appropriate font in a legible font size, and you need adequate margins and a judicious use of white space.
Review our comprehensive cover letter writing guide for more helpful tips and formatting instructions to help you write and design the perfect pitch letter.
Here’s a pharmacy assistant cover letter example that hits the right notes:
Dear Dr. Philpott,
Having worked in both local pharmacy and hospital pharmacy settings for the past four years, the role as pharmacy assistant with Hilltop would allow me to continue my pharmaceutical journey alongside my Pharmacist degree studies.
Although the majority of the role is operational and non-prescribing activity, I relish the chance to work alongside pharmacists and see who I will be at the end of my course. This year will focus on dispensing, and I welcome the chance as advertised in the job description to assist in that respect where required.
My retail skills are finely tuned – my last pharmacy served over 600 customers a day and I am at home stocking shelves, overseeing orders, taking over the cash register or advising customers. As a student, I am always clear about my knowledge base, but there are many occasions when I am able to help and take the pressure off my colleagues.
I am currently hitting 84% on my university assignments, putting me in the top 10% of my class and I am always keen to study the operational side of a pharmacy as well as the scientific side of the academics that we cover at university. In my previous two roles I made operational improvements to my employers that equated to $600k in extra sales and 14% in saved management time. I am constantly seeking efficiencies in everything that I do.
I have over 20 references from past colleagues and customers and would be happy to either come in for an interview or alternatively do a trial day’s work. I hope that my solutions-focused attitude will prove popular with your pharmacy clientele.
Sincerely,
Simona Goss
For more ideas, look through some of the related cover letter examples and writing guides for medical occupations:
- Nursing Cover Letter Sample
- Medical Assistant Cover Letter Sample
- Pharmacist Cover Letter Sample
- Caregiver Cover Letter Sample
- Lab Technician Cover Letter Sample
- Medical Receptionist Cover Letter Sample
- Dental Assistant Cover Letter Sample
- Pharmacy Technician Cover Letter Sample
- Pharmacy Assistant Cover Letter Sample
- Healthcare Cover Letter Sample
- Medical Cover Letter Sample
- Physician Assistant Cover Letter Sample
- Veterinary Assistant Cover Letter Sample
- Doctor Assistant Cover Letter Sample
- Phlebotomist Cover Letter Sample
Cover letter header: Always on call
The cover letter header is the attractively designed space at the top that contains your name, occupation, address, phone number and email. You can also choose to add a link to a website that focuses on your professional qualifications, like a LinkedIn page.
It’s important to choose a design that looks great and creates an eye-pleasing visual impact. You have a fair amount of creative freedom in the header for imaginative use of typography, layout and color. Don’t make it loud or gimmicky, but strive for a presentation that’s both professional and good-looking.
Your best bet is to use a professional template where the design is already done for you. Take some time to look through the free cover letter templates at Resume.io, find one you like and make it your own.
Cover letter greeting: Make it personal
The cover letter greeting should ideally be addressed by name to the individual responsible for hiring decisions: “Dear Ms. Schumacher,” “Dear Mr. Gonzales,” etc. If you don’t know the name of the appropriate person, try to find out. If that turns out to be impossible, then go with a more generic greeting like “Dear XYZ Corp. Hiring Team.”
Here’s an appropriate greeting from our pharmacy assistant cover letter sample:
Dear Dr. Philpott,
Cover letter introduction: Get their attention
The cover letter introduction should make a strong opening statement that you’re the candidate the company is looking for. Lead with your most impressive qualifications – ideally your relevant work experience. Or if you’re new to the job market, you may choose to lead with your education, training and/or certifications.
Avoid bland language and cliches, and hit the ground running with compelling language about what makes you an excellent pharmacy assistant. Take a look at the introduction of our cover letter sample below.
Having worked in both local pharmacy and hospital pharmacy settings for the past four years, the role as pharmacy assistant with Hilltop would allow me to continue my pharmaceutical journey alongside my Pharmacist degree studies.
Cover letter body: The heart of your case
The middle paragraphs of your cover letter, the body, should present a make-or-break case for your candidacy. Elaborate on your work experience, mentioning not just where you’ve worked but what you achieved at past jobs and how you brought value to previous employers.
Be specific, using facts and figures where possible, like the number of prescriptions you filled per day or the revenue growth you helped achieve for the pharmacies where you worked. You can also mention your education and any certifications you hold in this section, if you haven’t already.
Try to say something about the company you’re writing to, explaining why you want to work there and not just anywhere. Let the employer know that you’re not just mass-mailing multiple copies of the same cover letter. See the body section from our cover letter example:
Although the majority of the role is operational and non-prescribing activity, I relish the chance to work alongside pharmacists and see who I will be at the end of my course. This year will focus on dispensing, and I welcome the chance as advertised in the job description to assist in that respect where required.
My retail skills are finely tuned – my last pharmacy served over 600 customers a day and I am at home stocking shelves, overseeing orders, taking over the cash register or advising customers. As a student, I am always clear about my knowledge base, but there are many occasions when I am able to help and take the pressure off my colleagues.
I am currently hitting 84% on my university assignments, putting me in the top 10% of my class and I am always keen to study the operational side of a pharmacy as well as the scientific side of the academics that we cover at university. In my previous two roles I made operational improvements to my employers that equated to $600k in extra sales and 14% in saved management time. I am constantly seeking efficiencies in everything that I do.
Cover letter conclusion: It’s their turn now
The cover letter conclusion needs to contain a call to action, suggesting that it’s the employer’s turn now to get back to you. Mention that you’re always available for an interview or even an informal phone call, and say you are looking forward to a reply. Be sure to strike the right tone here – you don’t want to sound arrogant or presumptuous, but you want to project confidence and eagerness to take the next steps. Check out the conclusion from our cover letter sample below.
I have over 20 references from past colleagues and customers and would be happy to either come in for an interview or alternatively do a trial day’s work. I hope that my solutions-focused attitude will prove popular with your pharmacy clientele.
Cover letter sign-off and signature
The sign-off is the line that says “Sincerely,” “All my best” or something similar. Add a space below this line and type your full name, as in the cover letter example below.
Sincerely,
Simona Goss
Mistakes to avoid
- Typos, misspelling and other writing mistakes are often cited by hiring managers as the most common reason cover letters and resumes are rejected.
- Do not send the same cover letter to multiple employers. Tailor your cover letter for each employer you contact.
- Avoid poor formatting and unattractive presentation by using a professionally designed cover letter template.
Key takeaways
- Be sure your letter adheres to proper cover letter structure so that you’re building on a proven foundation.
- Use fresh, intriguing language that compels the hiring manager to keep reading.
- Make your letter look as good as it reads so that it presents a positive visual impression at a glance.
Best of luck!
