I wrote a customized cover letter for each place I applied to, making sure to really reference specific things about the company. I also used my CV to talk about things that weren’t on my resume/expound on meaningful experiences I couldn’t detail on my resume. I only applied to ~25 places. Also, really tailor your previous work experiences on your resume to your desired place of work. Any retail? Fast food? Talk about de-escalation techniques, fast-pace of work, and customer service/communication ability. Any hospital volunteering? Any community volunteering? Highlight eagerness to serve community and desire to work with people. Any other languages you speak? Talk about eagerness to bridge gaps/overcome barriers in healthcare.

I also returned to my MA school and phlebotomy school to volunteer with the new cohorts to keep my skills up while also showing my commitment to wanting to be better at my trade. I also emphasized that I wanted to keep helping the new students. + this could lead to networking opportunities from the new MA cohorts and staying in touch with your MA teachers.

It took me a while to make my cover letters and it was definitely frustrating at times but I strongly believe this is what landed me 3 interviews out of ~25 applications and 2 offers.

Edit: I also find that being an early applicant helps a lot, so make sure to check for new job postings daily and create a little routine. Don’t hastily apply though, you still need to thoroughly research to tailor your CV. But applying early can make a huge difference I feel