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Designer cover letter: structure and examples
How to write a designer cover letter: when you need one, what goes in it, an example for a junior without experience, phrases to cut, and how to send it by email, on job sites or LinkedIn.
- Know the parts of a cover letter and how long it should be
- Get an example letter for a junior designer to adapt to each job
- Stop retelling your resume and start writing about value for the company
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How to write a cover letter: 5 steps
- 1
Step 1
Read the job post and find out who you're writing to
- 2
Step 2
Build the letter from four parts
- 3
Step 3
Write about value, not about yourself
- 4
Step 4
Take an example and rewrite it for yourself
- 5
Step 5
Send it in a way that's easy to read
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This guide is for you if you are
Applying for your first job
The cover letter field is empty and you don't know where to start or what to put there.
Sending one letter to everyone
You apply a lot, hear back rarely, and suspect the template is the problem.
Switching from another field
You have little design experience and need to explain why you're worth an interview.
In short
- A cover letter isn't always required, but if the job post asks for or suggests one, send it: even “optional” materials show you pay attention.
- A cover letter doesn't retell your resume. It answers two questions: why this company and role, and how you'll be useful.
- Keep it short: Work.ua recommends no more than half an A4 page.
- One portfolio case study close to the company's product is more convincing than a list of traits like “communicative, stress-resistant”.
- A template is for structure, not wording. Write a separate letter for every job.
How to write a cover letter: 5 steps
- 1
Step 1
Read the job post and find out who you're writing to
Start with the job post, not the text. Nielsen Norman Group advises submitting every material the posting requests or suggests, even if described as optional: resume, portfolio, letter, answers to questions. What to note down before you write:
- questions in the post: if they ask about your motivation or experience with a tool, the letter should answer them;
- two or three key requirements: you'll pick a case study to match them;
- the name of the reader: it's often in the posting or on the company website;
- what the product does: visit the company website and try the service if it's available.
💡 Couldn't find a name? Don't write “To Whom It May Concern”. Work.ua suggests a simple “Hello” or “Good afternoon” instead, without over-familiar openings like “Hi, dear recruiter”.
- 2
Step 2
Build the letter from four parts
A cover letter is a short text, not a second resume. Work.ua advises staying within half an A4 page. Four paragraphs are enough:
- greeting and role: which job you're applying for, in one sentence;
- why this company: what exactly caught your attention in the product or tasks, specifically, not “your wonderful company”;
- how you'll help: one case study closest to their product and your role in it;
- closing: a portfolio link and readiness to walk through the case study in an interview.
💡 Work.ua advises making the ending the strongest part of the letter. The last sentence should make them want to open your portfolio, not just say “thank you for your attention”.
Show your letter to the community
In the community you can share a draft cover letter and ask whether it makes people want to open your portfolio. Honest feedback before the letter reaches a recruiter.
Get feedback on your letterFree. 1,504 designers are already in the community.
- 3
Step 3
Write about value, not about yourself
A common mistake is explaining how the job will help you grow. Work.ua suggests explaining why you applied here with a formula: your skills + the company's needs = the desired result. What to cut from your letter:
- “I need this job because…”: the hiring manager cares more about what you'll do for the company;
- “As you could read in my resume…”: don't retell the resume, add what didn't fit in it;
- “Despite my limited experience…”: don't apologize for skills you lack, focus on those you have;
- “communicative, stress-resistant, a team player”: replace adjectives with a fact from a case study.
💡 If you're stuck, Work.ua suggests a trick: write the letter about yourself as a friend or mentor would (“Oksana is a great fit for this role because…”), then rewrite it in the first person.
- 4
Step 4
Take an example and rewrite it for yourself
Here's an example structure for a junior without commercial experience. Square brackets are where your own facts go. Don't copy it word for word: Work.ua warns that dozens of other candidates will send the same template from a search engine.
- “Hello, [name]! I'm applying for the Junior UI/UX Designer role at [company].”
- “I use [product] and noticed that [a specific observation about a flow or screen]. These are exactly the kinds of problems I want to work on.”
- “In my study project [name] I [what you did: research, a prototype, a test] and [what came of it]. It's the case study closest to your product, so it's first in my portfolio: [link].”
- “I'd be glad to talk through the decisions in this case study in an interview. [Name, contact].”
💡 If someone at the company referred you, Work.ua advises mentioning it right after the greeting. If there's no open role and you're writing speculatively, explain why you want to work there specifically: the odds are lower, but they exist.
Not sure what to write? Ask the community → - 5
Step 5
Send it in a way that's easy to read
The format depends on the channel. On Work.ua you tick “Додати супровідний текст” (add a cover text) when applying. If you send your resume by email, the letter goes in the body of the message. Before sending, check:
- the letter can be scanned rather than read word by word: Nielsen Norman Group advises making every application document scannable, so keep paragraphs short;
- files are labeled with your name, in PDF or Word, with no archives or passwords;
- portfolio and LinkedIn links are clickable and go to the right place;
- the company name and the reader's name are spelled correctly.
💡 Work.ua advises letting the text rest and rereading it with fresh eyes, or better, showing it to someone. A second pair of eyes catches mistakes you no longer see.
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Questions and answers
Didn't find your answer? Ask it in the community.
Is a cover letter required?
Not always. Work.ua's help center says a cover text is optional but recommended: it helps your resume stand out. Some companies state outright that they don't need cover letters; then spend the time on your resume and portfolio. If the job post asks for a letter or answers to questions, always send them.
How long should a cover letter be?
Short. Work.ua recommends no more than half an A4 page. In practice that's three or four paragraphs: the role, why this company, one case study, and a closing with a portfolio link. If it runs longer, cut general statements about yourself first, not the specifics of the case study.
What do I write in a cover letter with no experience?
Write about what you can do and have done: a study project, a design game, a volunteer website. Name the context honestly and explain your decisions. Don't apologize for lacking experience and don't focus on your degree: Work.ua notes that hiring managers care about practice, such as volunteering or an internship. How to get that experience is in [First design job](/en/guides/first-design-job).
Should I write in Ukrainian or English?
In the language of the job post. If the post is in English or the company is international, write in English, even if simply: short sentences without mistakes beat complicated ones. If the post is in Ukrainian, write in Ukrainian. Useful words for work correspondence are in [English for designers](/en/guides/english-for-designers).
Is the Spaceberry community paid?
No, Spaceberry Community is completely free. It's supported by Spaceberry Foundation, a non-profit public organization. All you need to join is a Telegram account: tap the button on this page, introduce yourself and ask your first question. The community has 1,504 designers who share their work, give feedback and take part in design games with the same brief for everyone. Conversations are in Ukrainian.
A good letter is easier to write once someone has read it
Join 1,504 designers who share their job-search experience. Show your draft letter and portfolio and find out what grabs attention and what to cut. The community talks in Ukrainian.
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Sources:
- Work.ua — Is a cover text required? (in Ukrainian)
- Work.ua — What to check before applying for a job (in Ukrainian)
- Work.ua — 21 tips for writing a cover letter (in Ukrainian)
- Work.ua — How a job seeker can improve a cover letter (in Ukrainian)
- Work.ua — 5 phrases to cut from your cover letter (in Ukrainian)
- Work.ua — How to write a cover letter in English, with examples (in Ukrainian)
- Nielsen Norman Group — How to Apply and Secure a UX Job
- Nielsen Norman Group — 5 Tips for UX-Internship Applicants