Applying to Alberta Health Services (Should I write a referral cover letter)?

[hcho7136]

Hello,

I am trying to get a job at a local Alberta Health Services hospital as an external candidate, after so many failures.

I recently applied to one posting and got an answer from the manager that "the posting you applied for was already taken by an internal employee".

In the mean time another posting showed up and I am planning to apply for the opening. I am more hopeful about this time because I know an internal employee who works in that hospital and she generously referred me to my potential supervisor and said "I highly recommend hcho7136 for this position". I am trying to submit my application for the posting via AHS website, and now I am wondering whether I should (or shouldn't) write a referral cover letter (i.e. the cover letter that indicates the job applicant was referred by an internal employee). I am tempted to do it, because my name is somewhat unusual and although the person told my potential supervisor what my name is, the supervisor might not recognize my name on my resume. But I understand that AHS has it's strict policies on hiring process, and the referral cover letters can be considered inappropriate in their eyes...

Should I write a referral cover letter? I could ask my reference that next time she sees my potential supervisor she could inform the supervisor about my name one more time. :S (but to be honest I don't want to bother my references too much because of personal job application).

Thank you for reading.....

PS: I am not trying to get a job just by the connection. I am a qualified candidate, and in fact this time my qualifications even slightly exceed what is stated in the job posting....

[Fiona59]

AHS has to interview all qualified internal applicants before they can look at external applicants. Managers want to avoid grievances at all costs.

In fact being overqualified for the job may act against you as Managers will assume you are using the position as an entry point to get to where you want to go.

My unit recently had a posting. Over 100 internal applicants and the person who had been in it temporarily got it.

It's all about the interview scores.