How to build an effective interior designer cover letter
Interior designers are responsible for envisioning and executing indoor spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful. To become an interior designer, not only do you need an excellent portfolio of work and past projects but also a cover letter that showcases your professionalism and dedication to the field.
In this guide, we'll teach you 5 easy-to-follow steps for writing a cover letter as an interior designer. Keep reading to learn all about:
- What to include in your interior designer cover letter header & headline
- Why your interior designer cover letter needs a personalized greeting
- How to write an excellent interior designer cover letter introduction
- Ways to showcase accomplishments in your interior designer cover letter
- How to create a powerful closing statement for your cover letter
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1. How to write interior designer cover letter header & headline correctly
A well-formatted cover letter header and headline are the first key elements to focus on when writing this type of document as an interior designer.
The cover letter header is a very short block of text – often found in the top left corner of the letter – that details the essential company and applicant information. Following this header is the cover letter headline, a concise title that grabs employers’ attention and previews the information to come.
To help demonstrate how to write each of these cover letter elements, we have provided more in-depth examples of each below:
Formatting the header
A cover letter header can vary in format and order of information depending on what overall style you want your cover letter to have. Regardless of aesthetics, however, a cover header letter should always contain:
- The company name (& department name, when applicable)
- Your name and professional title
- Your contact information (phone number, email address, website, etc.)
Here's an example of a well-formatted header on an interior designer’s cover letter
To: Furniture Depot, Showroom Design Department
From: Jane Doe, Interior Designer
(123) 456-7890 | janedoe@email.com | doedesigns.com
Writing the headline
When it comes to writing the headline of your cover letter, you should consider how journalists use compelling headlines to encourage people to read their stories. It should be both eye-catching and relevant, creating the perfect lead-in to your introduction and body paragraphs.
In this headline, you should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here's an example of an effective headline from an interior designer’s cover letter
My 5 Essential Interior Design Skills & How I Will Apply Them at Your Company
Trigger Word/Number: 5 Essential Skills
Keyword: Interior Design
Adjective/Verb: Essential, Apply
Promise: At Your Company – this promise statement indicates to the reader that you will not only showcase your skills but also explain how you can apply them at their company.
2. How to personalize your interior designer cover letter greeting
Between the cover letter headline and introductory paragraph is a formal greeting. For this greeting to be effective, your best choice is to personalize it.
Unlike vague greetings – like “To Whom It May Concern,” personalized greetings address the exact person reading the cover letter. In turn, this level of research shows the employer that you have excellent attention to detail, as well as your dedication and interest in the position.
If you have researched the company thoroughly and are unable to pinpoint which staff member specifically will review your application, try out one of the following alternatives:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
3. How to write an excellent interior designer cover letter introduction
Next up on your writing to-do list is your cover letter introduction. To create an introduction that is as compelling as it is effective, you should aim to include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Here's an example to help demonstrate how to write an interior designer cover letter introduction
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am a dedicated Interior Designer with 4+ years of experience designing corporate offices and lobbies. With a specialization in functional décor, I am highly skilled in creating office spaces with purposeful comfort. Our mutual acquaintance and my former client, John Smith, recommended I apply for this position after I fully re-designed the lobby of his dental practice.
4. How to showcase accomplishments in your interior designer cover letter
After your introduction come the body paragraphs of your cover letter. A strong cover letter will generally have between 2 to 4 body paragraphs total that answer each of the following questions:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?
Accomplishments are especially important, as they help you to give real-life examples of how you apply your skills during major assignments or projects.
Here's an example of how to describe accomplishments in an interior designer cover letter
As an Interior Designer with over 8 years of experience, I have a proven track record of delivering exceptional results for my clients. At XYZ Interiors, I spearheaded a luxury residential project, exceeding the client's expectations and increasing their property value by an impressive 25%.
Additionally, I led a commercial renovation for a prominent restaurant chain, resulting in a 30% boost in customer traffic and a 15% increase in revenue within the first quarter of the grand reopening. My ability to blend creativity with practicality has consistently led to remarkable outcomes, and I am confident that my design expertise and passion for creating inspiring spaces would make a significant contribution to your esteemed firm.
5. How to create a powerful closing statement for your interior designer cover letter
The last step to writing your interior designer cover letter is to write a powerful closing statement. To do so, your closing statement should include:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a strong closing statement from an interior designer cover letter
With my professional dedication combined with your company’s commitment to customer satisfaction, I am eager to discuss further what I can bring to your company. I would love to connect directly over the next week via phone call or virtual meeting. You may reach me anytime from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (123) 456-7890 to set up a meeting time.
Warm Regards,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.