Cover Letters.
A cover letter complements your resume by connecting your skills to the organization’s needs, and showcasing your enthusiasm and professionalism and showing why you are a good fit for the position. It also demonstrates your ability to write in a professional capacity. Tailoring each cover letter highlights your motivation and shows how your background aligns with the employer’s goals.
The basics
- A cover letter complements your resume with a strong, tailored presentation.
- It is not a recap of your resume. Rather it should highlight & enhance the skills & experiences that match with the job description.
- Keep it short, easy to read, & to the point.
- Address why you’re the right person for the role.
- Focus on WHY YOU. Make it easy for the hiring manager to make the connection between what they need (shown in the job description) & what you have.
Types of cover letter
In public health, there are generally two types of cover letter used – the traditional paragraph format and the “T-Style” or bulleted format. The Career and Practicum Office recommends using the “T-Style” format because:
- Saves you time and helps directly align your skills with a job’s requirements.
- Bullets make key points easier to scan – allowing hiring managers to quickly spot your qualifications.
- Research shows that application reviewers spend about 13 seconds reviewing an application.
- Saves the reader time and absorbs essential information faster than long paragraphs, increasing the chances that your cover letter will make an impact.
T-style or bulleted cover letters are particularly effective useful for roles requiring a clear demonstration of qualifications or when applying to fast-paced environments where hiring managers value efficiency like consulting, private industry roles, and health systems.
Many people also do a hybrid version combining paragraphs to portray their passion for the industry and organization they’re applying to and bullets to highlight their specific qualifications.
Key components of a T-style cover letter
The “T-style” cover letter is effective for graduate students entering public health as this approach demonstrates how your background meets the employer’s needs at a glance.
To easily develop a “T-style” cover letter that is tailored to the job, create a table (or “T”) with two columns: one labeled “Job Requirements” and the other “My Qualifications”.
In the “Job Requirements” column, list key qualifications from the job description; in the “My Qualifications” column, describe how your skills, experiences, or achievements match each point. Look at the list and choose 3-4 of the most impactful combination and create your resume bullets using those.
Job Requirements |
My Qualifications |
| Manage community partnerships | Collaborated with hospitals, neighborhood groups, and advocacy organizations to promote events and share best practices. |
| Understands adolescent learning theory | Developed sexual health training module for at-risk teens as part of a field study project with Peer Health Exchange. |
| Knowledge of sexual health | Above bullet incorporates sexual health |
| Evaluate programs | Solid understanding of how to plan, implement and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention interventions gained through MPH course work. |
This format offers clarity, highlights your fit, and saves time for hiring managers—making it an ideal choice for competitive public health roles.
Basic format
Header
Same format as your resume, including: contact information, date, and the employer’s contact information
Salutation
Addressing the letter to a specific person whenever possible
Introduction
Briefly introduce yourself, mention the job you’re applying for, and explain why you’re interested in the role and the organization and how it connects to your skills.
Body
- Explain how your qualifications and experiences align with the job description
- Highlight specific skills or public health projects that make you a strong candidate
- Showcase passion for public health and how your background fits the organization’s mission or goals
Closing
Reiterate your enthusiasm, fit, and express a desire to interview
Formatting & length
A well-formatted, concise cover letter is essential for making a strong first impression. Aim to keep your cover letter brief—ideally 1 page, around 3–4 short paragraphs. This helps maintain the reader’s attention and ensures you stay focused on key points.
Tips:
- Fonts stay consistent with the resume
- Use a professional format with a clear, readable font. Recommended fonts include Arial, Times Roman, or Calibri. 11 point font is optimal.
- Proofread for spelling errors, missing words, and missing punctuation. All sentences should end with a period. Check for consistent spacing and alignment throughout.
- Vary your verbs and sentence openings. Do not begin more than 3 sentences with the word “I.”
- Use the same verb tenses throughout the letter-be consistent.
How to tailor your cover letter to public health roles
It is very important to tailor your cover letter to each role you apply to. This shows employers that you understand their needs and are genuinely interested in contributing to their mission – leading to a much higher likelihood of an interview.
Use specific keywords and terminology found in the job description
Words such as “community health,” “disease prevention,” or “health equity” to demonstrate your familiarity with the field and relevant expertise
Connect your skills with the role & organization’s mission
“With my background in healthcare management and experience in clinical operations, I am eager to contribute to XYZ’s mission of improving community health outcomes. My recent project at ABC focused on increasing access to preventive care, aligning closely with XYZ’s goal to reduce healthcare disparities.”
Showcase relevant project experience & how it will contribute to the organization
“In my role as Consulting Intern at ABC Group, I led a data analysis initiative to assess the effectiveness of a new care delivery model, resulting in a 15% increase in patient satisfaction. I am excited to bring these analytical skills to the Project Manager role at XYZ, where I can help assess and refine strategies to improve care quality.”
“I am inspired by XYZ’s emphasis on equity in healthcare. In my previous role as a medical assistant, I worked with underserved populations, learning firsthand the importance of culturally competent care. I would be honored to contribute my skills and experiences to help XYZ advance its goals in creating accessible and equitable health services.”
Demonstrate your knowledge of challenges & trends in the related field
“I am particularly drawn to this role given XYZ’s focus on food access and nutrition. Through my recent research on food security and policy interventions, I have a solid understanding of current trends in addressing food deserts and am enthusiastic about the opportunity to develop and support sustainable programs that tackle these critical issues.”
Common mistakes to avoid
Using a Generic Cover Letter
Public health hiring managers seek candidates who show genuine interest in their specific organization and role. Avoid this by researching the organization’s mission and projects, and tailor your cover letter to reflect how your values align with theirs. Mention specific initiatives or goals that resonate with your public health experience and aspirations.
Repeating Your Resume
A cover letter should complement your resume. Highlight one or two achievements or experiences , explaining how they prepared you for this role. For instance, if you led a community health project, describe how it deepened your understanding of health disparities and how this insight will inform your work at the organization.
Making It All About You
Focus on how your skills will help the organization achieve its goals, not just your own. Explain how your skills will help the organization meet its public health mission – and solve their problems. For instance, discuss how your experience with epidemiological research can support their community health initiatives or advance key public health projects.
Overly Formal or Informal Language
Use a professional yet conversational tone—avoid language that’s too stiff or overly casual. This balance helps the reader connect with you easily.
Forgetting to Proofread
Public health is a detail-oriented field, so a polished cover letter reflects the same attention to detail you’d bring to the role. Grammatical errors and typos can detract from a strong cover letter. Proofread carefully and consider a second review to ensure it reflects the attention to detail essential in public health.
Using technology & AI for cover letter writing & editing
AI should serve as a tool to enhance your writing, not replace the personal touch, your unique qualifications, and passion you bring to the application. AI-generated content often lacks the understanding of an employer’s mission, values, and the specific demands of public health positions.
Employers value authenticity so make sure that your final cover letter is your own work, showing your genuine interest in the job and your qualifications in public health.
There are numerous tools available to help you create, edit, and fine-tune your cover letter to better match practicum and job opportunities. Here are some options and ways they can be useful:
Vmock
Vmock Uses AI technology and BU Center for Career Development input to provide real-time feedback with valuable insights on relevant parameters such as targeted keywords, content impact, and essential formatting checks.
Generating Cover Letter Drafts
ChatGPT, Grammarly, and Rytr can generate draft cover letters based on information you provide about the job and your experience. These tools can help create a strong foundation, but it’s crucial to edit and personalize it to ensure it reflects your unique qualifications and voice.
Optimizing for Keywords & ATS
Jobscan or ChatGPT allows you to compare your cover letter against job postings and help optimize your cover letter for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Improving Grammar & Style
ProWritingAid, Grammarly or Hemingway Editor can help catch spelling and grammar errors, improve sentence clarity, and enhance overall readability. These tools can also enhance readability by suggesting clearer, more concise ways to convey your ideas.
Sample AI prompts
“Review this cover letter and suggest if any sections should be omitted or rephrased to make it more relevant for a XYZ role.”
“Identify any overly wordy or repetitive phrases and suggest ways to make it more concise and direct.”
“Evaluate the tone and recommend any changes to make it sound more professional but approachable for XYZ position.”
“Check this cover letter for any grammatical errors, typos, or inconsistencies that might detract from its quality.”
“Compare this cover letter to the job description and highlight areas where I could better match specific keywords or requirements.”
“Take this cover letter and resume and provide suggestions on how to make me seem like an obvious choice for XYZ job at ABC company.”