How to build a great product designer cover letter
Product designers oversee the entire development of products – from brainstorming initial samples and prototypes to finalizing finished results. To become a product designer, you will need a cover letter that not only showcases your technical talents but also your professionalism and designing prowess.
In this guide, we will teach you the 5 essential elements of a product designer’s cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about:
- Formatting a cover letter header & headline as a product designer
- Creating a personalized greeting on your product designer cover letter
- Writing a compelling product designer cover letter introduction
- Showing your professional value as a product designer
- Ending your cover letter with a strong closing statement
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1. How to properly format a product designer cover letter header & headline
There are two key elements used to begin a well-written cover letter: a header and a headline.
A cover letter header is a brief block of text found in the top left corner of the document detailing all the necessary company and applicant information.
Following the header is the cover letter headline, a short title statement used to grab employers’ attention and preview what information the letter will cover.
To help illustrate how to create each of these elements, we have provided more in-depth examples of each below:
Formatting the header
In the header of your product designer cover letter, it is essential to include:
- The name of the company and department you are applying to
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information (phone number, email address, LinkedIn, etc.)
Here is an example of a well-composed product designer header
To: Meta Products, Design & Development Department
From: John Doe, Product Designer
(123) 456-7890 | johndoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/john-doe
Writing the headline
A cover letter headline is similar to a newspaper or magazine headline – it should accurately preview the information to come using compelling language.
When writing the headline of your product designer cover letter, it is crucial to include a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of an appropriate headline from a product designer’s cover letter
My-3 Step Approach to Product Design & How It Can Improve Your Company’s Work Flow
Trigger Word/Number: 3-Step Approach
Keyword: Product Design
Adjective/Verb: Improve
Promise: Your Company’s Work Flow – this statement shows the employer that you will not only describe your skills and product design methods but that you will also relate these directly to their company’s needs.
2. Create a personalized greeting on your product designer cover letter
These days, employers look for applicants who opt for personalized cover letter greetings over generalized ones.
A generalized greeting is vague and broad, such as “To Whom It May Concern.” Comparatively, a personalized greeting will address a specific person or department, showing employers you have thoroughly researched the company beforehand.
While it is preferable to use the exact name of the person who will review your application whenever possible, you may also use one of the following alternatives if this information is not readily available:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
3. Write a compelling product designer cover letter introduction
After you have successfully created your header, headline, and personalized greeting, it’s time to write an eye-catching introduction. Your headline and greeting do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of initially hooking an employer’s attention – it is then the job of the introduction to keep that attention.
A strong cover letter introduction will 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 is an example to help demonstrate how to write a product designer cover letter introduction
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am a detail-oriented Product Designer with over 6 years of experience in the makeup and skincare industry. Along with designing new products and overseeing production, I also am highly skilled in product testing and quality control. After speaking with your Head of Communications, Jane Smith, at a job fair, Ms. Smith recommended I apply for this position.
4. Show your professional value as a product designer
While your introductory paragraph should further grab the attention of employers, the body paragraphs should aim to provide more in-depth detail about your professional qualifications.
Well-written product designer cover letters should contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that answer 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?
Including accomplishments in the body paragraphs is particularly important, as your achievements as a product designer help to show employers the real-life value you can bring to their company.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a product designer cover letter
As a Product Designer for [Previous Employer], I implemented a new product testing workflow that increased productivity by 25% while simultaneously decreasing product errors by an impressive 75%.
5. End your cover letter with a strong closing statement
To end your product designer cover letter properly, you will need a strong closing statement that includes:
- 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 a great example of a closing statement from a product designer’s cover letter
My years of experience as a Product Designer in the mechanical industry coupled with your company’s commitment to excellence and industrial safety make us the perfect pairing. I would love to discuss this opportunity further with you directly within the next two weeks. The best time to reach is between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday at (123) 456-7890.
With Gratitude,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
