According to 83% of hiring managers, cover letters are an important part of every recruiter’s decision-making process.
What’s more, 72% of them will expect you to hand in a great cover letter, even if this part is listed as ‘optional’ on the job advert.
And if you ask our experts, cover letters are an amazing opportunity to tell a personal story and make the right first impression.
But what exactly is a cover letter and how to write a good one? Let’s see…
Professional architectural designer cover letter tips to help you stand out
By now you’ve probably learned that a well-written cover letter will complement your resume and increase your chances of getting the job.
It will also introduce the recruiter to your strengths and your capacity to handle challenges.
In short - it will make them want to learn more about you!
Check out our guide on what your cover letter should include for some additional inspiration.
Now it’s time to move on to what you actually came for – our professional tips and examples that will help you write a memorable cover letter and land an interview.
Choose the right salutation and craft an introduction that gets you remembered
Choosing the right salutation might be tough – we get it. After all, you don’t want to sound way too formal or too friendly.
There are some things that should definitely be taken into consideration when it comes to addressing your cover letter. First and foremost comes the recruiter’s name.
Even if you don’t know who the person reading your cover letter might be, try to find out. Check company websites or social media profiles or even media articles.
If this doesn’t help, you can go for traditional gender-neutral salutations that don’t require knowing the hiring manager’s name.
Here are some of our favorites:
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear Head of [team you're applying for],
- Dear [company name] Recruiter,
- Dear Alex Johnson
We’ve all heard it – introductions are a big deal.
A good cover letter introduction can help you land an interview, while a bad introduction can ruin all your chances of getting your dream job as Architectural Designer.
So what are the things that can make your cover letter stand out? Honesty, excitement, and motivation.
Show your motivation and excitement to join the company in an honest way. And if you think that’d suit the company – share your vision with the recruiter. Tell them how you think being part of the team can help both parties grow.
Talk about your hard and soft skills
Listing hard skills on your resume is quite straightforward, isn’t it? But when it comes to writing a memorable Architectural Designer cover letter, you need to be a bit more creative.
The thing is, cover letters are designed to tell a story. To show the thought process behind your achievements and motivations. To put the recruiter in your shoes and allow them to get to know you better.
Maybe you want to share how you deal with challenges? Or what helps you reach your goals? It doesn’t really matter.
And while soft skills are important, hard skills shouldn’t be skipped either. Mentioning some hard skills (especially the ones listed by the recruiter) is always a great idea. This will help you pass applicant tracking systems (ATS) that screen documents for certain keywords.
Show how passionate you are to join the company
How can you prove your excitement about the company? By showing that you’ve taken the time to research its issues, goals, and plans. You can also link them to your skills and experience if you want to show that you're really a strong candidate.
In addition to making a great impression, researching the company will help you find out if you really want to be part of this team or not. After all, interviewing is a two-way process.
End on a positive note
While a strong introduction makes a great first impression, a confident, yet considerate conclusion is essentially what will get you a callback.
There are different ways to end your cover letter. But remember – the closing line you choose should match the company culture.
Your safest bet would be going for traditional phrases like “Looking forward to hearing from you” or “Looking forward to your reply”. For bonus points, add a simple “Thank you for your time and consideration”.
