Public Health Cover Letter: Examples, Tips & Guide

You have in-depth knowledge of the best prophylaxis, nutrition advice, and disease prevention, and you’re willing to share. One question though:

Does your public health cover letter prove that sufficiently well? Because if not, you’re in trouble. An uninspired letter is just like a stale public health campaign—likely to fall on deaf ears.

But we have the panacea for all of these troubles.

This guide will show you a perfect public health cover letter example. Then, we’ll dive into the details of writing a cover letter for public health jobs to get you hired ASAP.

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Public Health Cover Letter Example

That’s a picture of health! Let’s show you how you can write a cover letter like that yourself.

While you’re here, why not get yourself checked out? It’s free, and ensures your application is the complete package. We’re talking about our Guide for Public Health Resumes, of course!

Cover Letter for Public Health Jobs: Template

Here’s how you write a public health cover letter:

1. Format Your Public Health Cover Letter the Right Way

The field of public health grows ever larger and finds continued engagement on all continents.

It’s a valiant effort, too—informing the public about health hazards can’t be easy. It definitely requires a lot of thought put into the structure—just like your public health cover letter should.

Have a cover letter outline in mind. Then, work around it by choosing the right font style for your letter, setting appropriate cover letter margins and line spacing, and an elegant cover letter header at the top.

If you’re unclear on the suggested cover letter length, anywhere between 300–400 words split into 3 or 4 paragraphs will put you on the right track.

Read more: Best Cover Letter Layout Examples

2. Write an Excellent Public Health Cover Letter Header

Your public health cover letter is a formal letter, and as such it needs a formal header and structure. Here’s how to get it right:

• Write your name and contact details in the top-left corner. Email and phone number are essential, mailing address is optional.
• Follow that with a blank line and then the date and city of writing.
• Leave one more empty line, then write the hiring manager’s name, and the address and name of the institution you’re applying for.

After your cover letter header, include a professional greeting (Dear + hiring manager’s name) and another empty line. 

Pro tip: Addressing the cover letter is slightly more complex than it seems. Your best bet will always be to research the name of your recipient, but if all else fails, opt for “Dear Hiring Manager”. Definitely avoid the phrase “To Whom It May Concern”.

3. Open the Public Health Cover Letter with a Great Intro

Now comes the tricky part: the introduction. Your first words, after the cover letter salutation, should include the position you’re applying for. Then, mention your years of experience and background, followed by a couple of your best professional achievements to catch the reader’s attention. 

Refrain from lifting your achievements from your resume verbatim. Instead, rephrase your achievements or bring in some extra ones.

Read more: How to Start a Cover Letter: Guide and Examples

4. Convince Them There Is No Better Choice Than You

Now that you have the recruiter’s attention, it’s time to bring out the big guns. 

Take a look at the job posting one more time, and try to figure out who their “ideal employee” is. Any keywords related to that will earn you extra points. If they need someone well-versed in wide-scale vaccination programs, try to use the same wording when describing your accomplishments.

Outline more of your achievements in the context of those keywords. Add numbers to make everything look more real and exciting, and use action words for impact. 

Pro tip: Want to really impress? Seek out free online courses from public health institutions! The World Health Organization has some, as does the American Center for Disease Control.

5. Explain Why You Want This Job

The toughest part is over, but we’re not quite done yet! Now comes the time to explain your motivation for wanting to work at this particular institution or company. What makes it the place for you?

Here are some tips for what to include and how to get there:

• Look at their website, and investigate! You should be on the lookout for things that stir excitement in you when you envision yourself working for them. Take note of their company values, biggest wins, and what they’re focused on right now.
• Mention your fondness for that special mission statement, equality project, or awareness campaign. They’ll be all over you.

Keep in mind that doing the exact opposite, i.e. writing a generic cover letter, is bad news for you. The WHO needs a lot of people in its ranks with a wide array of skills of all levels, for example, but they won’t settle for a copy-pasting chump.

6. Seal the Deal with a Call to Action

The last paragraph should be a concise closing statement, summing up your excitement and the reason behind it. Hammer home the point that you’re the whole package, and suggest setting up an interview. 

For maximum impact, it can help to offer to share something exciting with the company (like an innovative idea of yours), or to promise to achieve a specific goal for the new employer (e.g. I am confident I can apply my skills towards ensuring your XYZ project runs smoothly). 

Read more: How to End a Cover Letter: Examples and Tips

7. Sign, Send, Deliver

End with a simple sign-off, such as “Sincerely”, or “Best regards”. Repeat your (full) name and include a digital signature if you have one. 

Finally, add a postscript with one more impressive achievement of yours, just as a final nod. 

Read more: How to Follow up on a Job Application

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You can rest easy with a public health cover letter like that!

Still not sure how to start yours? Are there any parts of your public health cover letter you’d like some feedback on? Leave us a comment and we’ll be right with you!

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Sources

• https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/watchmetraining/index.html