How to post a quote in the beginning of your cover letter?

[lullaby]

Hi,

I'm working on my cover letter and I'd like to begin it with my graduation quote (it's 3 sentences long) to try something new (and because I really like the quote).

My question is do I have the quote floating above the "Dear so and so" heading, or have the heading and then include the quote below it before my opening paragraph?

It would just seem odd to say Dear so and so and then have it go right into a quote?

So should it be:

Dear Ms. Jones,

"Graduation nursing quote........." - applicant, RN

Or:

"Graduation nursing quote........." - applicant, RN

Dear Ms. Jones,

------

I also have a question about incorporating a quote from the hospital's mission statement (one that I particularly like) in my ending, to tie it all together (and to show that I care and have read their mission statement). Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations about spacing, italicizing etc a quote towards the end of a cover letter?

Any advice and/or examples would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Hi, how are you? I'm a recent grad RN looking for work. Was wondering if you could by chance read two of my cover letters and lend any advice or critique it from a managers point of view?

Thank you

M-

sorry to hi-jack thread but your PM box is full.

I had no idea I was at my max in my PMs! Have now done some weeding out; feel free to send them to me and I'll let you know how they look IMO :)

[Seas]

I have a quote on my resume, but not on the cover letter. I don't think it would be appropriate in the cover letter.