35+ Successful Cover Letter Tips & Advice (With Examples)
Cover letter writing tips—sure to turn any boring letter into something employers want to read.
You’ve found the best graphic design cover letter example on the web.
What makes it so perfect?
Writing a graphic designer cover letter is hard.
Say the wrong thing, and the hiring manager will skip you so fast your 4K monitor will spin.
Say the right thing, and *poof* you’re hired!
But what’s the right thing? And how do you say it?
Fear not. This isn’t our first rodeo. We’ll have you in the Stefan Sagmeister zone in minutes.
This guide will show you:
- Graphic design cover letter examples better than 9 out of 10 others.
- A creative graphic design cover letter template to brand you better than Chobani.
- How to write a graphic designer cover letter step-by-step (even with no experience).
- One trick to use on a cover letter for graphic design that catches the eye like a Dali print.
Want to write your cover letter fast? Use our cover letter builder. Choose from 20+ professional cover letter templates that match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.
Sample cover letter for a resume—See more cover letter examples and create your cover letter here.
Considering similar positions too? See other cover letter examples for jobs in your industry:
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- Cover Letter for an Architecture Internship
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Want to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career: Best Cover Letter Examples for All Professions
Sample Graphic Design Cover Letter
Hiring Manager Name
Title
Mailing Address
Phone Number
Email Address
Date
Your Name, AIGA (if you’re a member)
Title
Current Company (If Any)
Mailing Address
Phone Number
Email Address
Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
Winning the D&AD New Blood Award made an exciting start to my career. However, increasing client transactions by 30% at Senna Kenno, Inc. was even more exciting. I learned about your goal to boost transactions at Redinger & Hoff last week when I heard you on the Call to Action podcast. I think I can help.
As a graphic designer with 10+ years of experience, I'm energized by the idea of working at Redinger & Hoff. You've got a phenomenal team already. Plus, you've got lots of opportunities to do more business with your existing clients. Here are a few relevant past achievements:
- Slashed client costs an average of 15% in 18 months. Paradoxically, that increased the total spend per client. (I believe the low costs invigorated our customers' desire to buy.)
- Developed an average of 150+ graphic design projects per year. (My quick turnaround made it easy for existing clients to book new work.)
- Contributed to a customer site that received the Shopify Design Award. (Advertising achievements like this increased client confidence.)
I'm enthusiastic about seeing what I can do for Redinger & Hoff. Can we set aside some time to talk about ideas to raise your client transactions 25% in the next 6 months?
Best Regards,
[Your Name]
PS—I'd value the opportunity to show you how my team boosted revenue for an e-commerce client by 22%!
Hellooooo David Airey. The hiring manager just sat bolt upright on her yoga ball. That flawless graphic designer cover letter unzipped the contents of her brain.
Now let me show you how to write a cover letter for graphic design jobs just like it that fits your career.
Is your resume on fleek? Double-check with our guide: Graphic Designer Resume Examples.
Want to see a gallery of inspiring cover letter designs, instead of a writing guide? See: How to Make a Cover Letter Like a Pro
1
The Best Graphic Design Cover Letter Template
Now you’ve seen a great sample cover letter for graphic designer jobs.
What makes it so textured?
It starts from a time-tested cover letter format.
Here’s how to make it yours.
The Best Graphic Design Cover Letter Template [Checklist]
- Heading
- Your name, title, and contact info
- Date
- Addressee's details
- City (optional, but it helps)
- Salutation
- Dear [hiring manager’s name] is perfect.
- Dear Hiring Manager works if you can’t find the name (but try to find the name!)
- To Whom it May Concern should be avoided.
- Main Body: Three-Paragraph Graphic Design Cover Letter Format
- First: A “hook.” Showcase your most attention-getting fact. (In a cover letter for a graphic design internship, that could be a commendation from a teacher.)
- Next: Say why you want this job.
- Last: List bullet points with more achievements that match this job’s challenges.
- Call To Action
- Don’t just ask for an interview—make an offer.
- Don’t say, “Thank you for your time.” (It’s the graphic designer cover letter equivalent of Lorem Ipsum text.)
- Cover Letter Ending
- Use a “sincerely” synonym.
- Add “PS” with another achievement. (It draws the eye like a well-done modal box.)
Want more info to write the best cover letter for graphic design this side of Happy Cog? See this guide: Cover Letter Format: How to Format a Cover Letter for a Job
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Learn how to write a graphic designer cover letter opening that wows any art director—up next.
2
A Graphic Design Cover Letter Opener Managers Love
You’ve got three seconds to convince the hiring manager to read your cover letter.
Hook her with your first sentence or she’s as gone as glossy buttons.
The problem? Most employers don’t read cover letters.
But they will read the right graphic designer cover letter.
Your first sentence must highlight your strengths like 5,000-point display type.
Let these two graphic design cover letter examples paint the picture.
Graphic Design Cover Letter Examples [Opening Paragraph]
| wrong |
|---|
I'm a graphic design pro with 10 years of experience. I saw your job opening on LinkedIn and I’d like to apply. My resume is attached. |
That looks like hammered lamb chops.
Instead, imitate this graphic design cover letter sample:
| right |
|---|
Winning the D&D New Blood Award made an exciting start to my career. However, increasing client transactions by 30% at Senna Kenno, Inc. was even more exciting. I learned about your goal to boost transactions at Redinger & Hoff last week when I heard you on the Call to Action podcast. I think I can help. |
That’s high-res, low-noise. A graphic designer cover letter opening like that gets attention like the FedEx logo.
The best part is how you linked their needs to your best achievement.
Don’t have any Chip Kidd-level accomplishments?
Just pick your best. That could be a pat on the back from a professor, or a cool personal website.
Graphic Design Cover Letters [Opening Tips]
- Start with the hiring manager’s name. If you can’t find it, use, "Dear Graphic Design Team Hiring Manager,”.
- Use "Ms." not “Miss” or “Mrs.”
- For style points, add a link to your portfolio site.
Pro Tip: Avoid writing “to whom it may concern” cover letters. Can’t find the hiring manager’s name? Try harder—our HR statistics report shows that 84% of hiring managers toss graphic design internship cover letters without names. Try calling the receptionist or HR department.
Need help filling all that negative space? Still not sure how to handle cover letter intros or start graphic design internship cover letters? See our guide: How to Start a Cover Letter: Sample & Complete Guide
3
Write a Great Graphic Design Cover Letter Middle
You’ve set the hook.
Now reel that hiring manager in.
List more achievements that tell how you’ll help.
To do that, you need to know the hiring manager’s needs.
These graphic design cover letter samples sketch the basics.
Graphic Design Cover Letter Examples [Middle]
Pretend the hiring manager wants (1) experience, (2) cost-cutting, and (3) quick turnaround.
This middle cover letter for graphic design jobs has the right alignment:
Graphic Designer Cover Letter Example
As a graphic designer with (1) 10+ years of experience, I'm energized by the idea of working at Redinger & Hoff. You've got a phenomenal team already. Plus, you've got lots of opportunity to do more business with your existing clients. Here are a few relevant past achievements:
- (2) Slashed client costs an average of 15% in 18 months. Paradoxically, that increased the total spend per client. (I believe the low costs invigorated our customers' desire to buy.)
- Developed an average of 150+ graphic design projects per year. (My (3) quick turnaround made it easy for existing clients to book new work.)
- Contributed to a customer site that received the Shopify Design Award. (Advertising achievements like this increased client confidence.)
Widow, meet orphan. Every bullet point in that graphic designer cover letter example glitters.
Pro Tip: What about creative cover letter templates, or letters printed on cookie packaging? Don’t do it. Save the visual pizzaz for your portfolio.
Are you writing an entry-level graphic design cover letter? See our guide: How to Write a Cover Letter For an Internship
How long should you make a cover letter for graphic design jobs? See our guide: How Long Should A Cover Letter Be? Sample & Guide
4
How to End Graphic Design Cover Letters Like a Superhero
Does it matter how you end a cover letter?
You bet it does.
After all, you’re selling something—you. And the biggest mistake most sales pros make?
According to Zig Ziglar—one of the greatest sales pros of all time—they never ask for the sale.
So, ask. But don’t be:
- Pushy
- Wishy-washy
- Needy
It’s easy to get this wrong when you end your graphic designer cover letter.
But it’s also easy to get it right.
Check out the next two graphic design cover letter examples to see which is which.
Graphic Design Cover Letter Examples [Ending]
What’s wrong with ending a cover letter for graphic design like this example?
| wrong |
|---|
I’d love to work for you and I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your time. |
That’s low saturation. It’ll bounce off the hiring manager’s eyeballs like comic sans.
But what about the next of our graphic design cover letter samples?
| right |
|---|
I'm enthusiastic about seeing what I can do for you. Can we set aside some time to talk about ideas to raise your client transactions 25% in the next 6 months?
Best Regards,
Eve Dornan, Graphic Designer
PS—I'd value the opportunity to show you how my team boosted revenue for an e-commerce client by 22%! |
That’s practically embossed. Write a graphic designer cover letter ending like that, and you’re in the Kate Moross zone.
Pro Tip: See that “PS?” It grabs the manager like a pull quote. Add a PS with an accomplishment and your cover letter for design jobs will set off an interview storm.
Want to end your graphic design cover letter in Landor style? Need more examples to get the hiring manager to call you? See our guide: How to End a Cover Letter: Sample & Complete Guide [+20 Examples]
Key Takeaway
Here’s a quick recap of how to write a graphic designer cover letter:
- It starts with a great template. The graphic design cover letter template up top gets noticed like a hero graphic.
- Set the hook. Start with your best accomplishment. That’s guaranteed to make the art director drop her copy of How To.
- Show you understand the burning need. Stuff the middle of your cover letter for graphic design with more achievements. Link them to the company’s top challenges.
- End with an offer. You must make the hiring manager look forward to the interview. A PS gets attention like a Rob Janoff design.
Do you have questions about how to make a good graphic design cover letter? Want to share an example of a graphic designer cover letter that worked for you? Give us a shout in the comments. We’d be happy to reply!
