How to Write an Effective Graphic Design Cover Letter

In a previous post, we have discussed how to build a great graphic design resume and make it attractive for new, prospective employers. When you send your resume to a company to apply for a graphic design job, you also have to attach a cover letter to introduce yourself and the purpose of contacting the employer, or Human Resources manager of a company. Since the company manager reads your cover letter before even looking at your resume, it is important to write a professional graphic design cover letter to attract the manager’s attention to open and review your resume and artwork.

The cover letter, especially its first paragraph, can send a very important message to the manager whether you meet the job requirements or not. So, you should focus on building this first impression that may last even after getting the job.

From my personal experience, I have noticed that many applicants are not very concerned with their graphic design cover letter but focus more on their resume and work portfolio., I personally see this is as one of the fatal mistakes that every designer should avoid, and start to learn how to write an effective graphic design cover letter before applying to any job. Therefore, I thought I would share with you some of the practical tips that can help you build a professional-looking cover letter. You can always share your ideas and other tips you find useful when writing a cover letter, or your own experience with writing cover letters.

 

 Length of the Cover Letter

When you think of a graphic design cover letter, you will find it is an introductory text about yourself to the employer and the job that you are applying for. Therefore, the cover letter should not be long and boring, and has to be direct and focused on its real purpose. Do not mention all your information in the letter, and only focus on the  two or three most important pieces of information, such as your highest qualification, your total years of experience and why you are a good fit for the position.

 

To Whom It May Concern

Your graphic design cover letter should address a real person. The “To whom it may concern” greeting does not do any good in getting your prospective employer’s attention.  Try to address the person in charge, such as the human resources manager or the creative director, if you are applying for a position in a creative or advertising agency. If you do not know a real person to address your cover letter to, just call the company and ask for the person’s name whom you should contact.

The beginning of the graphic design cover letter should be as follows:

 

You name

Add your address here

Telephone number . Email address . Portfolio website

 

Insert date (Month day, year)

 

(Insert contact person’s name)

(Insert his or her title)

(Insert the company address)

 

Dear Mr. (contact person’s last name),

 

The Aim of the Cover Letter

At the beginning of a graphic design cover letter, you need to add two important pieces of information. The first one is the reason for sending the cover letter, which is the job you are applying for. The second piece of information is where you have found the job posting, or how you have learnt about the job. So, the first paragraph can be as follows:

“Recently, I have found your job post in (add the source) that your agency is looking for a (add the position). Upon reviewing the job requirements, I am confident that I am a perfect match for the job”.

 

Add a Brief Summary of Your Experience

The second paragraph should include brief summary of your experience and why you think you are the perfect candidate for the position. You need to pinpoint the most important skills related to the job, and your previous experience with similar jobs and projects. The second paragraph can be as follows:

 

“My professional experience includes 15 years in the field of graphic design as a senior graphic designer. My creative skills allow me to work in different graphic design projects, such as logo design, corporate identity, and printing. My graduate degree in design helped me to acquire excellent creative skills and I enriched them with getting professional certificates in different graphic design applications”.

Additionally, you can add links about yourself, such as your website, the projects you have worked on, and your awards. Just make sure to avoid adding too many links in the graphic design cover letter.

 

Use Professional, Mistake-free Language

Your language is proof of how good your education and professional skills are. Therefore, you need to make sure that your cover letter is free of typos and grammar mistakes. You can use Microsoft Word spell check to make sure that your letter is free of mistakes, or you can use any other writing application like White Smoke.

Make sure that the language you are using is of a professional standard. There is no place for casual and funny expressions in a cover letter. Be professional and serious about the job you are applying for.

 

Follow the Instructions

If the job requires special or additional information, you need to provide it in the cover letter or attached to it. For example, if the job requires a personal photograph, you can attach it to the cover letter along with your resume.

Do not just skip this part because many applicants get rejected because of the lack of provided information. In this part, do not forget to mention that you are attaching your resume to the cover letter to direct the employer’s attention to it.

 

Ending Your Cover Letter

At the conclusion of your cover letter, you have to show your enthusiasm about the job. Also, try to use a call-for-action language in an indirect way in order to get a reply for your message with either accepting or rejecting. The closing of your graphic design cover letter can be as follows:

 

“I look forward to meeting you to further discuss the job and my mentioned skills and experience.

Thank you for your time.

 

Sincerely,

(Your name)”

 

Personalize Your Cover Letter, Avoid Templates

One of the most common mistakes you can notice in low quality cover letters is using templates. Some graphic designers just search for a template to use for all job applications. Unlike your resume, the graphic design cover letter should be personalized and directed for the specific job title at the specific company.  You have to know that using templates can easily kick you out of the job candidacy list.

 

Finally, many designers lose their jobs because of the mistakes they make in the resume submission process. The employer does not have the time to search for your information, as they go through the profiles of hundreds of other candidates.  Any mistake can get you out of the job race even before reviewing your resume. Therefore, you have to take the job submission process very seriously, and make sure that your graphic design cover letter is professional and targeted.