APA | How Did You Get That Job?APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Anne Hull, M.Ed., Career Strategist
Make Your Cover Letter Count in Your Job Search
• …is President of Hull Strategies, LLC
• … established and managed a top-ranked college career resource center
and was affiliated with a national outplacement firm for 12 years.
• … co-developed CareerScope for AAAS Fellows and Winning Strategies for
Mature Job Seekers and PhDs at the Crossroads for career coaches on
CareerPlanningAcademy.com
• … is an invited speaker for six years with APA PsycCareers APA
International Conference.
• … worked with NASA/Goddard engineers and scientists for five years and
with PhDs in other fields.
• …Served as President of DC American Career Professionals International
and is a member of NCDA, Career Directors International, Career Thought
Leaders and Maryland Career Development Association.
Headshot
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Webinar Objectives
• Make a Cover Letter work for you
• Analyze a Job Description
• Write for the right audience
• Recruiters
• Hiring Managers
• Format an enticing letter - Options
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Poll:
Does anyone read a cover letter anymore?
Yes
No
Sometimes
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
The stats…
74% of recruitment decision-makers prefer cover letters apart
from resumes.
72% of recruiters still expect cover letters even if the job ad
states they’re optional.
53% of employers feel a resume alone is not enough to get
noticed, while 49% of HR managers said that including a cover
letter is the second-best way to call attention to your resume,
behind customizing that resume for the job.
– CareerBuilder.com
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Poll: When do you need a cover letter?
When the job application tells you to include a cover letter
If someone referred you to the job
When you know the hiring manager by name or have an existing
relationship
If there is a gap in your experience
All the above
What other times?
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
-survey by OnePoll on behalf of ResumeLab
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Recruiters/Staffing Firms want to know…
• Years of experience
• Core competencies
• Specialization (industry)
• Type of companies that interest you
• Salary expectations
• Availability to begin the new job
• Where you are willing to work
49% of recruiters prefer the cover letter in the email body.
42% prefer a cover letter attached as a separate document.
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Hiring Managers want to know…
• You understand the organization’s needs
• Why you want to work with us
• Why you are the best fit for the position
• What unique elements you bring and how
that helps their team|organization
Do’s and Don’ts
• Send to Recruiter or Hiring manager, not job
board
• Keep it focused, short, and personalized
• Research on the company’s recent projects
and achievements, and briefly describe
what stunned you the most and why you
want to work exactly there. Show your
interest in the position.
• Match your skills and experience with the
key words and phrases in the job description
• Focus on accomplishments and results
• Ask for what your want—an interview!
• Its not about you, it’s about the employer’s
needs
• Don’t list your personal qualities, describe
the benefits an employer will get if they hire
you
• Don’t exaggerate
• Take out all of the superfluous words and
phrases; Remove the strings of
eye-glazing
words
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
I can send the same cover letter to many employers.
A cover letter is the same as a Letter of Intent.
Don’t send a cover letter unless it is specifically requested.
Include my photo in my cover letter.
True or False?
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Analyzing a Job Description
Key words:
Noun or noun phrase
Duty or responsibility
Technical and specific to the job
Knowledge, skill or ability
Verbs that describe specific actions
People skills
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Employer Job Description
Requirements include a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical, Counseling, or Forensic Psychology, MO license or license-eligibility,
and psychiatric forensic interest and/or experience. The qualified candidate may hold Certification as a Forensic
Examiner (CFE) from the DMH or, if not currently certified, willing to obtain certification. The candidate will be provided
supervision and training, as needed, for licensure, certification, and/or continuing education. The candidate will be
required to complete forensic assessments, which may include any of the following: Competency restoration
examinations, Sexual Violent Predator Evaluations, Pretrial mental evaluations, risk assessments for patients charged
with a sex offense, and conditional release assessments. The candidate may be expected to provide individual and group
therapy, as well as participate in an interdisciplinary treatment team. The candidate may also be involved in providing
supervision to practicum students and interns, as well as training to hospital employees. In addition to a competitive
salary and Merit System benefits, affordable medical, dental, vision, and retirement benefits are also available. Options
are available for tuition reimbursement, loan repayment, relocation repayment, and flexible scheduling. State employees
also receive discounts on products and services from various vendors, such as cell phone plans.
• XXX is a 108-bed adult, inpatient facility that provides intermediate/long-term psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation,
and forensic services. It is in … a friendly community with a low cost of living. It is 50 miles north of …City and 34 miles
from the … International Airport. …
• If interested, please submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, three professional references, and two redacted
psychological evaluations (preferably related to a forensic issue) to:
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Your Turn… Staffing Firm: Psychologist
• We’re seeking Psychologists that are:
• Fully licensed in [State], including a Ph.D. or Psy.D.
• Experienced with caring for adult and/or child and adolescent populations.
• Experienced with testing intakes, planning batteries for assessments, report writing and feedback sessions.
• Some Psychological testing.
About Provider Health Provider is a national provider of behavioral healthcare services focused on evidenced-
based, medically driven treatment services for children, adolescents and adults suffering from a variety of mental
health issues in an outpatient care setting, both in-person at its 250+ clinics nationwide and through its digital
health telemedicine offering. At Provider, patient care is paramount – the driving force in everything we do.
Provider is committed to state-of-the-art clinical excellence, to partnership and collaboration with other treating
health care providers to ensure continuity of care, to utilization of data to individually tailor services for continual
improvement in outcomes, and to empowering patients to make informed choices and help them achieve their
goals. This is offered in a compassionate and safe environment that provides education, support, and best
practices in integrated care.
Provider employs 3,000+ psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and licensed therapists to provide
comprehensive mental health treatment services for patients of all ages. Every Provider team member is
dedicated to providing the utmost in compassionate care and treatment to serve the specific needs and concerns
of each individual patient. To learn more…
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Staffing Firm: Psychologist Job Description
• We’re seeking Psychologists that are:
• Fully licensed in [State], including a Ph.D. or Psy.D.
• Experienced with caring for adult and/or child and adolescent populations.
• Experienced with testing intakes, planning batteries for assessments, report writing and feedback sessions.
• Some Psychological testing
About Provider Health: Provider is a national provider of behavioral healthcare services focused on evidenced-
based, medically driven treatment services for children, adolescents and adults suffering from a variety of mental
health issues in an outpatient care setting, both in-person at its 250+ clinics nationwide and through its digital
health telemedicine offering. At Provider, patient care is paramount
– the driving force in everything we do.
Provider is committed to state-of-the-art clinical excellence, to partnership and collaboration with other treating
health care providers to ensure continuity of care, to utilization of data to individually tailor services for continual
improvement in outcomes, and to empowering patients to make informed choices and help them achieve their
goals. This is offered in a compassionate and safe environment that provides education, support, and best
practices in integrated care.
Provider employs 3,000+ psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and licensed therapists to provide
comprehensive mental health treatment services for patients of all ages. Every Provider team member is
dedicated to providing the utmost in compassionate care and treatment to serve the specific needs and concerns
of each individual patient. To learn more, …
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
How to Format a Cover Letter/E-mail
• Subject Line: Job, Source Clinical Psychologist referred by Joy Someone
• Your Name and Phone Number Anne Hull 000-000-000
• Name of the person you are sending your resume to Dear [Hiring Manager],
• Why they should interview you
My solid experience in forensic assessments and working with interdisciplinary treatment teams will enable you to
add a knowledgeable professional to your team who can begin being productive at once.
• 2-3 more concise reasons why they should hire you
• Ask for the interview Best time to reach me is
…
• Thank the prospective employer for their consideration
• “Sincerely,”
Example
Dear Dr. Smith –
Your interview in May 2021 Canadian Psychology inspires me to grow my career by bringing
therapy to under-served groups. I’m excited to learn that you are expanding your team at XYZ.
I have a Masters degree in Psychology, and five years of family practice experience testing,
evaluating and using evidence-based therapy models for a variety of mental health issues. I’ve
worked in an integrated care team providing both inpatient and telemedicine care.
Recently, as a long-term contract therapist, I learned that the clinic was closing. We needed to
find new resources for 120 clients where continuity of patient care was paramount. I let them
know that I had previously done this and outlined how we could find resources and effectively
communicate with both clients and the community. We made data-driven tailored referrals for
successful transitions.
For the next step in my career, I would like work with a group that provides compassionate care
and treatment to adult and/or child and adolescent populations, while learning from and
contributing to the best practices at XYZ.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to talking with you about joining your team. Best
times to reach me are in the evenings. [000-000-0000]
Sincerely,
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Format your letter with matches
Your requirements
• PhD & Licensed in Iowa
• Forensic experience
• Psychological testing and assessments
• Risk assessment
• Individual & Group Therapy
• Interdisciplinary team member
My Experience
• Psy.D. and IA License 2019
• 2 years with County Detention + Lab
• Certified in battery of 8 assessments
• 100% accuracy in 52 risk assessments
• 4 years in supervised and independent
therapy – individual and groups
• 2 years with interdisciplinary team at County
hospital.
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
C - Challenge – State the task, project, challenge.
C - Context – Give the situation, issue or context.
A - Actions/Steps – Describe specific actions you took to
address the challenge. Include skills, knowledge and
abilities you used. Did you develop something? Did you
mitigate or solve a problem? Did you make
recommendations?
R - Results/Outcomes – Give specific examples of results of
your actions and quantify when possible.
C.C.A.R. Skills-Based
Accomplishment Statement
You are telling a story
Examples:
Diffused tense situations as on-call manager amid the
heightened security after 2020 DC BLM demonstration.
Received Leadership Award from Mayor for professional and
diplomatic handling of this particularly sensitive event.
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Initiated $75K proposal and managed on-going research study
of violence in media on pre-school children. Published in
Journal of Criminal Psychology 2017.
Direct 10 Interns in fast-paced clinic environment. Assign and
prioritize work, manage productivity, provide timely,
constructive feedback and annual reviews.
C.C.A.R. Skills-Based
Accomplishment Statement
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Results | Impact
• Time - efficiencies
• Costs – saved or revenue generated
• Quality – improvements, satisfaction
• Quantity – frequency, volume
• People – number|level involved, effected
• Collaboration - divisions, levels, agencies, states
“So what?“
“Why did it matter?”
C.C.A.R. Skills-Based
Accomplishment Statement
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
• Start With a Passion
I’ve always been curious as to why and how people choose their professions.
• Start With Your Love of the Company
I grew up hearing (and feeling!) the static testing of the Apollo rocket engines at
Marshall Space Flight Center. My father, uncle and aunt all worked for NASA, so I
feel like I’m part of the NASA family.
• Start With an Attribute or an Accomplishment
In addition to setting up a college career center from scratch, I’m most proud of
the program I co-developed for 200 AAAS for science and engineering PhDs.
• Start With Humor or Creativity – carefully!
Format your letter with Personality
https://www.themuse.com/advice/31-attentiongrabbing-cover-letter-examples
A “Disruptive” Cover Letter, WorkItDaily.com
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
How a cover letter helps you get hired
• It shows you're serious about the job
• It can help you connect with the person
• It shows some of your personality
• It always makes a good impression
• It can be a tie-breaker
The ResumeLab survey of 200 hiring managers also found
that, 83% of the time, a great cover letter was enough to
sway them to extend a job interview to a candidate with a
less-than-perfect resume.
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
Poll: Mark all that apply
The most helpful part of this webinar for me was:
What to include in a cover letter
How to analyze a job description for key words
Several options for formatting my letters
Other (write in chat)
APA’s webinar series where we interview
individuals with psychology degrees and
learn what skills they use on a daily basis in
their job, and how they got to their current
position.
Learn more:
https://www.apa.org/members/your-
growth/career-development/how-did-you-get-that-
job/index
How Did You Get That Job?
Webinar Series
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
APA | How Did You Get That Job?
THANK YOU
For more webinars, visit www.apa.org/members
