Crafting a design intern cover letter can feel as daunting as sketching your first prototype. You've ticked all the boxes on your job applications and then you hit a snag: the cover letter. This isn't just a resume echo; it's your chance to spotlight your proudest professional moment in a compelling narrative. Stay clear of clichés and remember brevity is key – your story should unfold on a single page, with formality woven through every line. Let's start your draft.
- Personalize the greeting to address the recruiter and your introduction that fits the role;
- Follow good examples for individual roles and industries from job-winning cover letters;
- Decide on your most noteworthy achievement to stand out;
- Format, download, and submit your design intern cover letter, following the best HR practices.
Use the power of Enhancv's AI: drag and drop your design intern resume, which will swiftly be converted into your job-winning cover letter.
If the design intern 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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Design Intern cover letter example
Michelle Sanders
Los Angeles, California
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Emphasizing relevant experience: The cover letter mentioned leading a sustainable athletic-wear line at Patagonia, showcasing direct experience that aligns with the prospective employer's industry and values.
- Quantifying achievements: The inclusion of specific metrics, such as achieving a 30% waste reduction and contributing to a 20% increase in annual revenue, demonstrates the tangible impact of the candidate's work and effectiveness in their role.
- Expressing alignment with company values: By expressing admiration for the company's commitment to sustainable fashion and presenting personal dedication to ethical practices, the candidate ensures a cultural fit with the potential employer.
- Offering to discuss further contributions: The candidate invites the opportunity for an interview to discuss how they can contribute to the company's mission, signaling a proactive and collaborative approach to their prospective role.
What should your design intern cover letter look like - formatting and organizing your information
Have you ever wondered what are the must-have sections you need to include in your design intern cover letter? Our builder sets those up for you with:
- Header - dedicated to your contact information, the role you're applying for, and the date (don't forget to include your name);
- Greeting and opening paragraph - to create a personalized and memorable experience for recruiters;
- Body paragraph - emphasizing your skill set and knowledge that aligns with the role and helps you to stand out;
- Closing paragraph - leaving a great impression and ending with an optional signature.
Use a cover letter template to discover the best formatting for your design intern cover letter: that is single-spaced paragraphs and wrapping your content in a one-inch margin.
Ensure that both your resume and design intern cover letter are in the same font. Stand apart from the crowd by using modern, yet simple fonts, like Chivo and Rubik, instead of the overused Arial and Times New Roman.
Did you know that the Applicant Tracker System (or ATS) won't be assessing your design intern cover letter? Instead, submit your profile in PDF to recruiters to keep the same formatting and the design intact.
The top sections on a design intern cover letter
Header: Include your contact information, the date, and the employer's contact details. This ensures that the recruiter has all the necessary details to reach out to you and establishes professionalism right from the start.
Greeting: Address the letter to a specific person, such as the design team lead or HR manager, showing that you've done your research and are truly interested in the company.
Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and express your enthusiasm for design and the particular design internship offered, capturing the recruiter's attention and setting the tone for your application.
Portfolio Highlight: In a separate section, mention one or two key projects from your portfolio. Elaborate on your creative process, tools used, and how the experience makes you a fitting candidate for the internship, showcasing your practical skills and understanding of design principles.
Closing: End with a strong conclusion reiterating your enthusiasm for the role, the value you can bring to the team, and a call to action, such as mentioning your availability for an interview, prompting the recruiter to take the next step.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Strong portfolio showcasing design skills: Recruiters look for a variety of work that demonstrates creativity, versatility, and a good understanding of design principles.
- Proficiency in design software: Knowledge of industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, or Figma is essential for creating high-quality design work.
- Eye for aesthetics and attention to detail: A good design intern must be able to produce visually appealing work and refine designs with meticulous care.
- Understanding of user experience (UX) principles: An awareness of how users interact with designs is critical for creating user-friendly and accessible products.
- Ability to accept and apply feedback: Being open to criticism and capable of utilizing feedback to improve designs is a trait recruiters value for a collaborative work environment.
- Good communication skills: The ability to articulate design choices and collaborate with team members, including non-designers, is important for the success of projects.
Greeting recruiters with your design intern 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 design intern 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 [Name of the Department] Team,
- Dear [Name of the Hiring Manager],
- Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr. Last Name],
- Good Day [Name of the Hiring Manager],
- Dear [Job Title] Hiring Committee,
Get creative with your design intern cover letter introduction
Recruiters are going to assess plenty of candidate profiles for the role. Thus, anything you do to stand out will win you brownie points.
Use your design intern cover letter introduction to share something memorable about your experience.
But before you go down the rabbit hole of creativity and humor, align your message with the company culture.
For example, if you are applying for a role in some startup, use those first two sentences to tell a funny story (about your experience) to quickly connect with the recruiter.
How to select your best achievement for the middle, or the design intern cover letter body
You probably feel exhausted by this point in your application: you've dived into all the details of your success and skills in your design intern resume.
What else can you include in your design intern cover letter body?
Well, for starters, the next three to six paragraphs should show you further value as a professional. Or, why should recruiters choose you?
Think back on a noteworthy achievement that answers key job requirements and dive deep.
Structure your design intern cover letter middle as you'd a story: following chronological logic and highlighting outcomes, thanks to skills.
At the end of the day, you'd want recruiters to be able to see you as the best candidate for the role and understand more about who you are and what makes your success unique (and valuable to the role).
Ending your design intern cover letter to avoid "Sincerely yours"
Yes, this sort of closing statement may work best before your signature.
But you want to give recruiters something more with your design intern cover letter ending.
Some professionals choose to go down the path of promises. In a single sentence, they map out what they'd bring about to the role (whether that's a particular technical skill set or personal traits).
Others, decide to be more concrete by thanking recruiters for their time and prompting for their next interview.
Whatever path you choose, remember to always be polite and respectful of the opportunity you've had. Good manners go a long way.
Lacking experience: here's how to write your design intern cover letter
As a candidate with no experience, it's important to be honest from the get-go of your application.
Use your design intern cover letter to sell your unique talents. Choose an accomplishment from your academic background or your volunteer work to show the skills that are relevant to the role.
Focus on your career objectives and how you see the job to align with them. Be specific and, at the same time, realistic about where you picture yourself in five years.
Key takeaways
Winning at your job application game starts with a clear and concise design intern cover letter that:
- Has single-spaced paragraphs, is wrapped in a one-inch margin, and uses the same font as the design intern resume;
- Is personalized to the recruiter (using their name in the greeting) and the role (focusing on your one key achievement that answers job requirements);
- Includes an introduction that helps you stand out and show what value you'd bring to the company;
- Substitutes your lack of experience with an outside-of-work success, that has taught you valuable skills;
- Ends with a call for follow-up or hints at how you'd improve the organization, team, or role.
