Embarking on a job search, you’ve meticulously prepared your graphic designer resume, only to hit a roadblock when faced with the daunting task of crafting a creative cover letter. Unlike a repeat of your resume, your cover letter should weave a compelling narrative around your crowning professional achievement. Striking the delicate balance between formality and originality, and keeping it under one page, can be tough. Yet, this guide will help you sidestep the clichés and captivate your future employer with your authentic story.
- Write a creative graphic designer cover letter that helps you stand out (and get the job);
- Understand how to start and end your creative graphic designer cover letter with the appropriate greeting;
- What to include in the body of your creative graphic designer cover letter to put your best foot forward;
- Your most important achievements - how to present them as part of your creative graphic designer cover letter.
And if you want to make your life even easier, simply drag and drop your creative graphic designer resume into Enhancv's AI cover letter generator, and it will write your cover letter for you in just a few moments.
If the creative graphic designer isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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Creative Graphic Designer cover letter example
Marcus Hall
New York, NY
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Emphasizing past success in a comparable role or company, such as Marcus's project at Coca-Cola that increased brand visibility, can demonstrate proof of competence and relevant experience.
- Drawing a connection between personal achievements and the company's goals, such as the increase in user engagement Marcus has experienced, aligns his objectives with the employer's needs.
- Expressing alignment in values and mission between the candidate and company can help to show that the candidate is a cultural fit and understands the company's driving principles.
- Mentioning readiness to discuss how one's skills and experiences translate into success for the company initiates a forward-thinking dialogue and shows preparedness to contribute meaningfully.
Designing your creative graphic designer cover letter: what is the best format
Let's start with the basics, your creative graphic designer cover letter should include your:
- Header
- Greeting
- Introduction
- Body paragraph
- Closing statement
- Signature (that's not a must)
Next, we'll move to the spacing of your creative graphic designer cover letter, and yes, it should be single-spaced (automatically formatted for you in our cover letter templates).
Don't go for a old-school font (e.g. Arial or Times New Roman), but instead, pick an ATS-favorite like Chivo, Volkhov, or Raleway, to stand out.
Our cover letter builder is also set up for you with the standard one-inch margin, all around the text.
Finally, ensure your creative graphic designer resume and cover letter are in the same font and are submitted in PDF (to keep the formatting in place).
P.S. The Applicant Tracker System (or ATS) won't be assessing your [job] cover letter, it's solely for the recruiters' eyes.
The top sections on a creative graphic designer cover letter
- Header with Personal Branding: This section should include your name, contact information, and a personal logo or design representing your creative identity, immediately showcasing your graphic design skills to the recruiter.
- Engaging Greeting: Use a personalized salutation to address the hiring manager by name, which shows attentiveness to detail and a commitment to personalized communication, a key aspect in client-oriented design work.
- Creative Introduction: Start with a hook that highlights your passion for design and a notable accomplishment or project that relates to the role, illustrating your ability to capture an audience's attention through storytelling—a transferable skill in graphic design.
- Design Philosophy and Skills Showcase: Provide an insight into your design philosophy and elaborate on specific skills or software proficiencies that align with the job description, effectively demonstrating your suitability and understanding of the field.
- Call-to-Action Closing: End with a strong closing that invites interaction, such as requesting an opportunity for an interview or a portfolio review, showing your enthusiasm and proactive approach, which are essential traits in the collaborative and client-driven field of graphic design.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Proficiency in Graphic Design Software: Mastery of tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) is essential, as it's the industry standard for creating and editing visual content.
- Creativity and Artistic Flair: An eye-catching portfolio that showcases originality, color sense, and an ability to think outside the box is crucial for standing out in a sea of applicants.
- Attention to Detail: Precision in design elements such as typography, spacing, and alignment shows meticulous work and can greatly influence the professionalism of the finished product.
- Time Management and Deadline Orientation: The ability to manage multiple projects efficiently without sacrificing quality, and consistently meeting deadlines, is highly valued in fast-paced design environments.
- Knowledge of Current Design Trends: Staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in graphic design demonstrates a commitment to the field and ensures relevance in the work produced.
- Strong Communication Skills: The capacity to interpret and translate client or team feedback into visual design, and effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams, is key to successful project outcomes.
Greeting recruiters with your creative graphic designer cover letter salutation
What better way to start your conversation with the hiring manager, than by greeting them?
Take the time to find out who the professional, recruiting for the role, is.
Search on LinkedIn, the company website. And for those still keen on making a fantastic first impression, you could even contact the organization, asking for the recruiter's name and more details about the job.
Address recruiters in the creative graphic designer greeting by either their first name or last name. (e.g. "Dear Anthony" or "Dear Ms. Smarts").
If you're unable to discover the recruiter's name - don't go for the impersonal "To whom it may concern", but instead use "Dear HR team".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Team,
- Dear [Department] Team,
- Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr.] [Last Name],
- Dear [Full Name],
First introductions in your creative graphic designer cover letter
Within your creative graphic designer cover letter introduction, genuinely state what you like about the organization.
Research the latest company projects, honorary awards, company updates, etc.
Write up to two sentences to let recruiters know what impresses you about the company,
This would help you to set a good tone for the rest of the communication.
What comes next: your creative graphic designer cover letter middle paragraphs
In the next three to six paragraphs (or the body of your creative graphic designer cover letter) you have to prove your unique value.
Most candidates tend to mess up at this stage. They tend to just copy-paste information from their resume.
That's one big no-no.
Remember that when writing your creative graphic designer cover letter, it has to be personalized. And, your ultimate aim is to catch the recruiter's eye.
So, look back on key job requirements and write down a list that includes the ones you cover.
Next, select just one key achievement from your professional (or personal) history that meets those advert keywords.
Narrate a story around how you've grown your skill set and knowledge. Also, aim to show the unique understanding or soft skills you bring about, thanks to your past success.
Time to wrap up your creative graphic designer cover letter
Writing the closing paragraph of your creative graphic designer cover letter is just as important as the salutation.
You have to make it personalized to the job advert and recruiter.
Experienced professionals advise candidates to end with a request or reminder for follow-up. Write that you're grateful for the opportunity, and, at the same time, hint that you're available for the next steps of the process.
Otherwise, you could also conclude your creative graphic designer cover letter by facing the future. How do you see yourself, as part of the team? In particular, how would you settle in your new role in the first six months to a year?
Creative Graphic Designer cover letter advice for candidates with no experience
If you're worried about writing your Creative Graphic Designer cover letter and have no professional experience, we sure have some advice for you.
Turn recruiters' attention to your transferable or relevant skills gained thanks to your life and work experience.
Instead of writing about past jobs, focus on one achievement (whether from your volunteering experience, education, etc.) and the skills it has helped you build.
Alternatively, you could focus your Creative Graphic Designer cover letter on your career objectives and goals. Always remember to make those relevant to the job you're applying for by detailing how you see yourself growing as part of the company.
Recruiters would be way more impressed with candidates who fit the job profile and can bring about plenty of skills and vision to the table.
Key takeaways
Writing your creative graphic designer cover letter has never been easier, so remember to:
- Select a creative graphic designer cover letter template that automatically meets industry formatting (e.g. has one-inch margins, is single-spaced, is in PDF, etc.);
- Make your creative graphic designer cover letter personal by mentioning the recruiters' first or last name;
- Within the introduction, describe what you like best about the company in no more than two sentences;
- Use your creative graphic designer cover letter body to tell a story of your greatest achievement, backed up by job-relevant skills and technologies;
- If you have no professional experience, be honest about it in your creative graphic designer cover letter, but also write about your unique talents.
