Veterinary Assistant cover letter example

Veterinary assistants work hand-in-hand with veterinarians to examine and treat animals. That means you need a passion for pets as well as a caring yet clinical demeanor. When you write your veterinary assistant cover letter, these qualities need to shine through. This guide and the corresponding cover letter examples will focus on the following topics:

• Choosing the best cover letter format and what paragraphs the cover letter should include
• Maximizing each cover letter paragraph (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
• Approaching the writing of your cover letter
• Avoiding common mistakes when writing your veterinary assistant cover letter.

Best format for a veterinary assistant cover letter

The goal of your veterinary assistant cover letter is to get those hiring managers purring over your experience and personality in one page. To do that, you need to know what goes into a great CV.

The format of a veterinary assistant cover letter should contain the following elements:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting / salutation
• The cover letter intro
• The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
• The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)

The comprehensive cover letter guide offers more general advice about how to go about compiling cover letters, but below you will find specific advice on how to maximize the effectiveness of each specific letter paragraph and section.

This veterinary assistant cover letter example is a good starting point for developing your own application:

Cover letter header

Your veterinary cover letter header acts as a design element, but more importantly, it gives hiring managers easy access to your contact information. It sits either at the top or along the side of your document. When your letter inspires you don’t want any obstacles to arise in scheduling an interview. Make sure your email address and phone contact are front and center! Our adaptable cover letter sample can serve as a starting point.

Cover letter greeting

When you meet new clients and their pets, you greet them warmly and calmly because you know first impressions last. When you “meet” hiring managers and prospective employers you must also strike the right tone. That tone begins with your greeting or salutation.

We suggest sticking with “Dear Dr./Mr./Ms. [Surname].” Most of our cover letter samples begin this way. Why? Because it is professional with a personal touch. It gives the reader the sense that you are addressing them and that you took the time to get to know their name. If you absolutely cannot find out who to address your letter to, you may use “Dear Veterinary Team.” 

Cover letter introduction

There’s no space to waste in your veterinary assistant cover letter, so get to the point in your introduction. Why are you the best person for the job? Is it your temperament? Your medical expertise? Are you a cat whisperer? Get that out there in your first paragraph and preview what’s coming up in the following paragraphs, otherwise you may lose your audience and a chance at the job. Check out the introduction from our cover letter sample below.

Cover letter middle part (body)

You’ve laid out the key reason for your hiring, but the middle part, or body, gives you space to expand. Show off your love and knowledge of animals and offer one or two highlights of your career that will cement the recruiter’s impression of you as a worthy candidate for the job.

Blend your technical and medical know-how with your ability to get along with both veterinarians and pet owners. Describe yourself with vivid, positive language. Make sure you tailor your examples to the type of practice for which you are applying. No point expounding on your passion for horses if you are applying at a cat hospital! See our adaptable cover letter example below.

How to end a veterinary assistant cover letter (conclusion & sign-off)

The ending of your veterinary assistant cover letter needs to accomplish three things:

1. Remind your prospective employer why you are the best person for the job.
2. Politely ask for an interview.
3. Reveal an anecdote or insight into your personality.

Why get a bit personal? Recruiters are looking for more than your hard skills, they want to make sure you are a good fit for the practice. Illustrating who you are as well as what skills you have tells how you will fit among your future colleagues. It also differentiates you from other candidates.

See our cover letter sample text below for an idea of how to word your call-to-action.

Avoiding basic mistakes in a veterinary assistant cover letter

The three errors below can sink your application as quickly as a puppy chews your shoes.

1. Failing to personalize each letter. We don’t just mean changing the name in your greeting, but using examples from your experience that mesh with the veterinary practice you are applying to.
2. Adopting the wrong tone. Sure, it’s tempting to get a little casual when you are writing about your childhood cat, Fluffy, but remember that you need to keep your tone professional, just as you will keep your behavior professional on the job.
3. Typos and grammatical errors. Definitely take care when spelling the names of the hiring manager and the veterinary practice, but go beyond that. Proofread several times and get another set of eyes to proofread, too.

Key takeaways

1. Illustrate your personality in a professional manner.
2. Personalize your letter using examples that pertain to each veterinary assistant job you apply to.
3. Describe your medical knowledge and other skills necessary for the job as well as your love of animals.
4. Check out our veterinary assistant cover letter sample for more ideas on creating a great header.