When searching for any job, there’s the typical routine: You find a job you’re interested in, you read more about it, you get excited for the opportunity. Then comes a snag. Before you can submit your application for consideration, you have to include a cover letter. For most places, cover letters serve as an introduction to you as a person, balancing the data-driven résumé with a human-centered touch.

Writing cover letters isn’t something that comes naturally to many people, whether they struggle with the confidence to boast about themselves and their accomplishments or they aren’t strong writers. Since most job applications require cover letters, including those for health coaching jobs, we’ll dive into what they are and how to write one that’ll get you in the door.

What is a Health Coach?

Health Coaches are wellness experts who empower their clients to create personalized lifestyle changes that meet their unique health goals, whether they want to address their physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being. Coaches work with clients one-on-one, in groups, in person, or virtually. Coaches work with their clients to help them discover how to live a healthy lifestyle and discover the most effective wellness routines for their needs.

Health Coaches also emphasize holistic health beyond what’s on the plate. One of IIN’s core concepts is primary food, the idea that certain areas of your life impact your short-term and long-term health just as much as the food you eat. These include your relationships, career, physical activity, and environment.

Health Coaches contribute to improving health outcomes by supporting clients in their own coaching business or working in tandem with a physician or other medical professionals.

How do you write a Health Coach cover letter?

While your résumé covers what you’ve accomplished, how you accomplished it, and when, it doesn’t allow your personality to shine ‒ that’s where a cover letter comes in. A well-written cover letter brings your professional experience to life by giving you the chance to share why you’re passionate about this potential job opportunity.

Cover letters typically follow this format:

• Introduction
• Organized examples of accomplishments and problems solved, citing prior job experience
• Conclusion with a specific call to action

Cover letters are typically one page long (at the most), which doesn’t leave a lot of room for an in-depth examination of your whole career and other relevant life and work skills. Cover letters should include an overview of your most relevant career experiences that relate to the job you’re applying for and should provide a clear understanding of who you are and, most important, how you will add value to the employer.

When applying for a health coaching position, emphasizing tangible results, the number of clients you’ve worked with, and the education and certifications you’ve received can all help demonstrate your abilities.

Solve a specific problem.

Simply calling yourself a problem solver, no matter how true it is, doesn’t convey the issues you’ve tackled or how you’ve eliminated them. Explain the way you dealt with a particular problem, including how exactly you used your skills and training to do it. Even better: If you know the employer has a particular problem they are looking to solve, briefly explain how you can help them handle it.

Mimic the job posting language.

Many applications utilize software called an applicant tracking system (ATS), which helps companies organize candidates based on experience and skill set and filter applicants. This might be good for keeping the employer more organized, but it can often exclude qualified people simply because they didn’t use the right keywords.

Mimicking the language of the job description can help get you past this automated system and land your application in front of a human being. Often, an ATS will filter for specific keywords used in the job posting. You can revise your résumé to include these keywords. It’s also good practice to research the tone of the company; you wouldn’t address a wellness start-up the same way you’d speak to a larger, more corporate company.

Tell your story.

No one’s journey to becoming a Health Coach is the same. Whether you came out of undergraduate studies ready to help change lives or discovered your passion for wellness later in life, your unique path tells your story. Sharing how you became a Health Coach gives the employer a glimpse into the person behind the résumé – which is important because they’re hiring a human being, and people want to work with others who are authentic!

Address the recipient by name.

This isn’t always easy, but doing some digging on sites like LinkedIn and Indeed can help you figure out who is going to be reviewing your application and cover letter. Addressing the letter to them personally shows two things: 1) you care about this position and 2) you are willing to go the extra mile. If you can’t find who posted the job or will be reviewing applications, addressing the letter with “Dear Sir/Madam” or the gender-neutral “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager” is acceptable. 

Health Coach cover letter example

[Your Name]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I have been passionate about health and wellness my entire life, and I am excited about the opportunity to positively impact lives by working with clients at [Employer Name]. I have always been drawn to the opportunity to support others, and I’m writing to apply for the Health Coach position at [Employer Name].

I graduated with an undergraduate degree in nutrition from [College/University], where I gained knowledge about the building blocks of wellness. I participated in two internships while attending [College/University] and polished my client-relationship communication skills as well as gained experience in creating personalized health and wellness plans. These plans included meal-prep and recipe ideas, referrals for fitness experts and research on different types of exercise, and goal-setting and accountability-based strategies, all of which I developed with each client directly.

Most recently, I completed the Health Coach Training Program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and earned my certificate as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. IIN’s comprehensive education focuses on three pillars: nutrition and integrative health, coaching skills, and business development. With my skills for providing safe, supportive spaces to explore clients’ goals and intentions, I know I would excel at your organization.

Empowering clients to take their health into their own hands is the most important tool Health Coaches have, and I am fully equipped to bring this tool to [Employer Name] and begin changing clients’ lives. I look forward to hearing from you and scheduling an interview to talk more about how I can be an asset to your team and [Employer Name].

Email is the best way to reach me, though I can also be reached by phone. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best,
[Your Name]

The bottom line

Writing cover letters can be a daunting task, but don’t let it deter you from applying for jobs you want and are qualified for. When writing the letter, be sure to make it unique to the job you’re applying for – recruiters generally recognize generic cover letters. Doing this will also show that you are committed to this particular job and not just blasting out applications (even if you really are). With the hiring of Health Coaches on the rise, there has never been a better time to start your journey into health coaching.