Write a Great Cover Letter

The cover letter is one element of your job application package, along with your resume and portfolio website. Tailor each cover letter to the specific job description you’ve seen for that position.

A well-written cover letter can make a strong, immediate impression. It is more personal than your resume and gives you a chance to show your professional personality. The goal of your letter/email is to have them eager to have you in for an interview.

BACK TO PROFESSIONAL BASICS

Why is a cover letter important?

Stand Out

A great cover letter helps you stand out in a crowded field. It can be the extra information that puts you ahead of a competitor.
Tell Your Story

A cover letter is a place to tell your story and gives you a chance to tell the company how you can help them.
Show Your Research

Your cover letter lets you show that you know about the company and what is important to them.
Interview Prep

Writing your cover letter requires some of the same work as preparing for an interview. It’s great practice!

Cover Letter Basics

The key goal of a cover letter is to show your value to the company and show them why they should hire you specifically.

The letter should be 3/4 of a page to one page long.
Learn who the hiring manager is and address the letter to them directly: First Name Last Name. Make sure to spell their name correctly.
If you can’t find that person, address your letter to the whole team: Dear ArtCenter:
Always write your cover letter to address a specific job description. If there isn’t a job description, you can write an Outreach Letter. See our Outreach Messaging page for more information.
Use key words from the job description to show how your skills match what the company is looking for. Use our Aligning Yourself: Job Description resource to help with this. View the video to the right to learn how to analyze a job description.
Tell stories and use specific examples. Numbers are great if you can include them.
Write a new cover letter for each job or internship you are applying to. Don’t submit the cover letter you wrote to one company for another company’s application.

Cover Letter Template

Introduction

Introduce yourself. Include your current status (student at ArtCenter, area of study, anticipated completion date). Let them know why you are contacting them, and mention the job for which you are applying. If someone referred you or recommended that you apply, identify them.
Why Them?

Describe why you are interested in the organization or their products and services. Why do you want to work with them? How does your work align with theirs? Be specific. Show you’ve done your research by sharing how you connect with the company’s mission statement or other places they’ve identified their values. (See Aligning Yourself: Company Research). Give an example of how a specific company product or project inspires you, your work, or your creative process.
Why You?

Align your skills with the employer’s needs by communicating how those skills would be valuable to them. This shows that you have done your research. (See Aligning Yourself: Job Description.) Describe your education, work experience (including specific projects), and how these have prepared you for the position. Us key words from the job description. Use concrete examples to show why you see yourself fitting in at their company. What can you contribute to the organization?
Closing

Wrap it up and let the employer know that you appreciate their time. Using the company name, reiterate your enthusiasm for working with them. Indicate the best way to reach you and be specific: email or phone (your preference). Identify what you are sending. (“I have attached my resume and a link to my portfolio.”) Include a signature on your email or letter (name, contact info, program at ArtCenter).