How To Write A Laboratory Technician Cover Letter

So you need to write a laboratory technician cover letter after you graduated with your B.S. / B.A. degree in biology, chemistry, microbiology, etc. You may be tasked with finding a laboratory position either in research, quality control, or maybe pharmaceuticals.

Whichever the case, you need to portray your skills and why you would be a great candidate for the lab tech role. Let’s jump into how to structure and write an effective cover letter for your application.

Laboratory Technician Cover Letter:

Opening Statement

Stay away from “I found X position and new I had to apply.” It’s boring. It’s overused. It doesn’t stand out.

Remember in English class when your teacher drove the point home that the hook was super important? Yeah, that doesn’t only apply to essays about the theme of A Perfect Day for Bananafish.

Examples of good opening statements for a laboratory technician cover letter:

Show Excitement and Eagerness

[Company X] ‘s mission statement caught my attention and excited me because it resonates with my career goals and aspirations.

This opening statement is a good one because it shows excitement. It also shows that you researched the company and understand what their underlying goal is. That is a hugely important step for standing out from other candidates.

You’re not just someone who wants to have a job. You’re someone who wants to have a job at THIS company. This is also a good general statement for any cover letter, not just laboratory technician.

Drop Keywords

In my previous positions as a quality control associate for a cGMP compliant pharmaceutical manufacturer, I developed strong laboratory skills that align well with the skills you are looking for in your next candidate.

It’s really important for a lot of laboratory jobs that you are familiar with cGMP guidelines. By dropping those kinds of keywords in your opening statement, you can catch the eye of the recruiter right at the beginning.

Tailor your cover letter to the job description. Scour the skills they are looking for and incorporate the same skills in your cover letter.

If You Have No Professional Experience

With my eagerness to learn quality control at a cGMP compliant company, [X position] is a great fit for further developing my professional skills. I learned the basic molecular biology techniques required to succeed in the [X Position] during my undergraduate career.

Without professional skills, you have to show what you learned in school is pertinent to the role. For this one, the first statement could be a good option, also.

You don’t have to be general about it either. Instead of saying “basic molecular biology techniques,” specifically use skills from the job description. These could include PCR, ELISA immunoassays, gel electrophoresis, DNA extraction, and purification. The list goes on.

Keywords appear in this opening statement as well. You may not have GMP experience yet, but you’re showing that it’s something you want to learn.

Body

The body of the cover letter is where you will show your qualifications. Here’s the meat of the sandwich, the good stuff. This is what the recruiter is really looking at.

Important Note: Don’t just list your skills. What you want to show the recruiter is how you can make improvements at their company. They aren’t just looking for someone who can do the job. They want to see someone who can do more than that.

Let’s look at examples where we can word skills in a way that show improvements.

If you can quantify your improvements in any way, do so. Quantifying your achievements is an obvious indicator of your qualifications.

No Professional Experience

Here are examples of what to put in the body if you have no career experience:

• In my academic career, I worked as a laboratory assistant to help facilitate smoother lab classes and increase student productivity.
• As an academic research assistant, I worked directly with leadership to develop protocols and procedures and conduct testing.
• My coursework at [X University] taught me attention to detail and thorough documentation procedures.

Again, look through the skills required on the job posting. If there is anything you can link to your education, then do so when explaining your qualifications.

Closing Paragraph

We’ve done the intro and the body, now we have to close it out. This is where you tell them why you want the job.

In addition to my skill set, I am enthusiastic about the biotechnology industry and the potential for growth at [X Company]. I have attached my resume for further reference. I look forward to hearing back from you about this opportunity.

You’re driving the point home that THIS specific company is right for you. Your cover letter should always be tailored to the company.

Put It Together

Let’s look at a fully written cover letter to see how these elements will flow together.

Dear Hiring Manager:

[Company X] ‘s mission statement caught my attention and excited me because it resonates with my career goals and aspirations. With my eagerness to learn quality control at a cGMP compliant company, [X position] is a great fit for further developing my professional skills. I learned the basic molecular biology techniques required to succeed in the [X Position] during my undergraduate career.

In my academic career, I worked as a research assistant to help facilitate research and increase productivity, which produced faster results. As an academic research assistant, I worked directly with leadership to develop protocols and procedures and conduct testing. Additionally, my coursework at [X University] taught me attention to detail and thorough documentation procedures.

In addition to my skill set, I am enthusiastic about the biotechnology industry and the potential for growth at [X Company]. I have attached my resume for further reference. I look forward to hearing back from you about this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Maci Meyers

Remember to add your name and address at the top, and the name and address of the company you are applying to right below it.

Congratulations! You have written a killer cover letter for a job application. With these tips, you can confidently apply to multiple jobs. Stick to the formula and show employers your capability. With these tips, you can be confident someone will reach out to you. Be sure to look for more career advice at Maci On The Move. You can also follow MOM on Pinterest.