Graphic Designer cover letter example: a sample to adapt, and why it works.

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Graphic Designer cover letter

When to use: Applications for Graphic Designer roles.

Dear [Hiring manager's name],

I'm applying for the Graphic Designer position at [Employer], which I found on [where you saw the posting]. I bring [number] years of experience as a Graphic Designer, most recently [the scope you are responsible for].

At [Current or most recent employer], I keyed information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor for [how many / how often], and I reviewed final layouts, which [result you can prove: time saved, errors cut, people served]. I also determined size and arrangement of illustrative material, using [a tool the posting names, for example Adobe After Effects, only if you have used it].

Your posting mentions [a priority from the job description]. That is where my active listening and speaking matter most: [one short, true example of you doing it].

I'd welcome a conversation about how I could help [Employer] with [that priority]. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

1. Opening. Names the role, Graphic Designer, and where you saw it, then states your experience in the role.
2. Proof. “Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed” and “Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy”, in the past tense, plus your scale and result.
3. Skills. Active Listening and Speaking, the top-rated skills, get a real example.
4. Tools. Adobe After Effects stays in brackets: O*NET data, not your experience.

Career change into Graphic Designer work

When to use: You are moving in from a related job. O*NET lists Video Editor, UX Designer and Animator among the occupations related to this one.

After [number] years as [your current job title], I'm applying for the Graphic Designer role at [Employer]. In my current job I already developed graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites [or the closest thing you do], and I recently [completed training, a course or a project] in [a skill the posting names].

Moving up to a senior Graphic Designer role

When to use: Experienced candidates: O*NET places this job in Job Zone 4, considerable preparation.

I'm applying for the Graphic Designer role at [Employer]. Over [number] years I have created designs, concepts, and more recently [the larger scope or responsibility you took on].

Referral opening

When to use: Someone at the graphic designer employer suggested you apply.

[Referrer's name], who [works on your team / knows my work from Previous employer], suggested I apply for the Graphic Designer role. At [Employer] I used computer software to generate new images for [scale], which [result you can prove].

Data Related occupations in O*NET: Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers, Film and Video Editors, Web and Digital Interface Designers, Desktop Publishers, Special Effects Artists and Animators and Video Game Designers.

Data Also posted as: Artist, Brand Designer, Designer, Graphic Artist, Graphic Design Coordinator.

Data Knowledge areas: Design, Computers and Electronics, Fine Arts and Communications and Media. Tools reported: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Canva.

• Listing tools you haven't used: the tools above describe the job, not you.
• Describing duties instead of results: “Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed” is the job, not an achievement.
• Leaving out a license, certification or degree the posting asks for, when you hold it.
• Ignoring Design, a knowledge area O*NET rates important here.
• Writing only about tasks when the job involves constant contact with people (O*NET work context).
• Ignoring deadlines when the job runs under time pressure (O*NET work context).

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