The perfect product designer cover letter doesn't exist … because you haven't written it yet!
Much like product designs, your cover letter needs to hit several marks, such as showcasing your skills and expertise while also conveying your dedication and enthusiasm for the craft. To learn how to do all that, dive into our guide, packed with valuable writing tips, sleek templates, detailed examples, and real-life cover letter samples.
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Keep reading to discover 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
- Accessing top resources for job-seeking product designers
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
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've provided more in-depth examples of each below:
Formatting the header
In the header of your product designer cover letter, it's essential to include:
- The name of the company and department you're 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's 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.
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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've thoroughly researched the company beforehand.
While it's 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 isn't 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've 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're 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.
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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'll need a strong closing statement that includes:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you're looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you'll 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.
6. Top resources for job-seeking product designers
Now that you know all the ins and outs of cover letter writing, there's only one thing standing between you and your ideal job — the actual job search! If you're unsure of where to start looking for suitable opportunities, our list of recommended resources can give you some inspiration:
- Online job search platforms: You can kick start your job hunt by looking at websites that aggregate job postings from across all industries, like Indeed, Glassdoor, SimplyHired, or Monster.
- Networking: Another crucial element of any career development is networking. Take advantage of platforms like LinedIn to connect with future employers. And don't miss networking events such as conferences, workshops, or expos.
- Online portfolios: Apart from job listings, platforms like Coroflot, Behance, or Dribbble allow you to set up your very own online portfolio and present your work in a unique and engaging way.
- Professional associations: Don't shy away from organizations like the World Design Organization (WDO), the Interaction Design Association (IxDA), the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). Not only can you find job listings there, but you can also gain access to networking opportunities and further training.
- Specialized publications: To succeed in a dynamic field like that of product design, you need to stay updated on the latest trends, innovations, and industry news. Following media like “Design Week,” “Core77,” and “Yanko Design” can help with that.
- Continuous learning: Finally, to move your career to the next level, you can't rest on your laurels for too long. Keep learning new skills and methods with Skillshare, Coursera, or Udemy.
To find your footing in a creative field isn't something that happens overnight. So don't let yourself be dissuaded if you won't succeed immediately. Keep on learning, be open-minded, stay curious, and continue creating. Good luck!
Product Designer Cover Letter FAQ
Start by scanning the job posting you are applying for. Look for words or phrases that describe candidate requirements (these can be skills like UX/UI, wireframing, prototyping, design thinking; specific degrees, or years of experience). Then use these keywords organically throughout your cover letter.
By far the biggest mistake you can make is NOT customizing your cover letter to fit each job posting you reply to. Other common errors include: misspellings, grammar mistakes, or typos. But you can easily avoid those by careful proofreading.
Instead of just compiling a list of your skills, present them within the context of your experiences or projects. For example, discuss a specific project where your UX/UI design skills played a crucial role. Outline the details of the problem and what skills you utilized to solve it. Remember to also mention the results you achieved! If you wish to give your accomplishments more weight, we recommend supporting it by quantifiable data.
It's crucial! Displaying knowledge about the company shows initiative and enthusiasm. And it's not just about regurgitating their 'About' page. You can, for example, mention a recent news item or project related to the company. Then highlight how your skills would well into their line of work or culture. Finally, you can also explain why their mission resonates with you.
Injecting passion into your cover letter can give you that extra personal touch. You can share how you fell in love with product design or what keeps you inspired. Dive into a project that you're particularly proud of— and explain why. Or talk about your involvement in design communities, further education or personal projects. Just remember to keep it brief! Your skills and projects come first, your passion and motivation second.
