Veterinary Assistant Cover Letter

Veterinary assistants serve an important multifunctional role in animal hospitals and clinics. Working alongside veterinary surgeons and nurses, these animal care workers:

• educate pet owners on pet health and hygiene
• oversee ongoing pet treatment
• prepare, clean, and sterilize equipment for use

The average salary for veterinary assistants in the US is $29,780 per year, according to the Bureau of National Statistics.

The outlook for this profession is positive, with employment for veterinary assistants expected to grow by 19% between 2021 and 2031, much faster than the national average.

Common requirements to work as a veterinary assistant include a high school diploma or equivalent, as well as people skills and specialized animal knowledge. Many centers will train you on the job, though obtaining an Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) qualification will improve your chances of finding the job you want.

However, veterinary assistant roles are technical and can be physically and emotionally draining.

A strong veterinary assistant cover letter can help convince employers that you have the right hard and soft skills (industry knowledge and personal attributes) to benefit their team. Here’s how you create an effective cover letter for a veterinary assistant role:

1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the position

A common mistake many people make when writing cover letters is creating a generic cover letter and sending it out to multiple positions.

Aside from making your application seem impersonal (and lazy to some employers!), generic cover letters don’t show how much you know about the specific job you’re applying for.

But employers will only consider applicants that have a clear understanding of animal care. After all, people like the idea of working with animals, but not everyone can handle the demands of a veterinary office.

As a result, employers look for applicants that demonstrate awareness of the work they’re applying for, even if they have limited formal experience.

Highlighting job-relevant skills and achievements in your cover letter shows you’re knowledgeable about the responsibilities of veterinary assistant work:

This applicant might only have administrative experience at a veterinary clinic, but they’ve highlighted skills and responsibilities that are valuable in a veterinary assistant:

• Customer service skills
• Communication skills
• Working well under pressure

2. Back up your achievements with numbers

Your veterinary assistant cover letter is your chance to explain to employers why you’re the best candidate for the job.

But employers don’t have a lot of free time to read your cover letter. Even with the right cover letter length, poor formatting and long paragraphs will put them off reading it fully.

Including numbers in your veterinary assistant cover letter grabs the employer’s attention and makes it easier for you to get your point across.

Using exact numbers also makes it easier for the employer to quantify your achievements.

Putting numbers on your cover letter also demonstrates strong written communication skills (a common requirement on veterinary job postings) by showing you can present important information clearly and concisely.

3. Highlight important veterinary assistant skills

To provide high-quality care for animals, veterinary assistants need a caring and compassionate nature, interpersonal skills, and proficient knowledge of veterinary medical equipment and procedures.

Though many clinics will train you on the job, employers seek candidates with the right personality traits and interests to benefit a veterinary clinic.

Here are some important veterinary assistant skills that’ll make your cover letter stand out: